Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Space Explorers & Workers
  2011 Air and Space Trophy: Burt Rutan

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   2011 Air and Space Trophy: Burt Rutan
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-14-2012 08:53 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
National Air and Space Museum release
National Air and Space Museum's Trophy Awarded to Burt Rutan and the Cassini-Huygens Flight Team

The 2012 Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Trophy will be awarded in the Lifetime Achievement category to Burt Rutan and in the Current Achievement to the Cassini-Huygens Flight team. They will be presented their awards March 21 at a black-tie dinner in Washington, D.C.

"The winners of the 2012 Trophy Awards have challenged the established ways of thinking," said Gen. J.R. "Jack" Dailey, director of the museum. "Burt Rutan has inspired the aeronautical community to reach beyond the conventional for innovation and achievement; the Cassini-Huygens mission has changed our understanding of the Saturn system and contributed to our understanding of planetary systems' formation and evolution."

Established in 1985, the award recognizes outstanding achievements in the fields of aerospace science and technology and their history. As in past years, Trophy winners receive a miniature version of "The Web of Space," a sculpture by artist John Safer.

2012 Trophy Award Winners and Categories

Rutan has designed and built some of the most exciting machines ever to fly. His revolutionary lightweight, durable and efficient air- and spacecraft have broken numerous world records, including the first nonstop flight around the world without refueling (Voyager) and first privately developed reusable sub-orbital spacecraft (SpaceShipOne).

To date, five Rutan aircraft are in the museum's collections. Rutan's companies — Rutan Aircraft Factory and Scaled Composites — have produced an eclectic range of homebuilt, research, civilian and military aircraft that have changed construction and engineering, solved specific aeronautical problems and captured the imagination of the aerospace industry and the world.

Arriving at Saturn in 2004, Cassini has been chronicling Saturn and its satellites and rings. From characterizing Saturn's atmosphere and radiation belt, to imaging new faint rings, to detecting methane-carved stream-like drainage channels and lakes on Titan, to imaging geysers erupting from the south polar region of Enceladus, the discoveries made by this mission continue at a fantastic pace.

The Cassini-Huygens team has far exceeded the planned primary mission duration and objectives, taking maximum advantage of this invaluable asset. Further, by careful management of spacecraft resources, the mission may continue for years, thus allowing the Cassini-Huygens Flight Team to answer scientific questions far beyond those conceived at the mission's onset.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement