posted 07-22-2025 01:44 PM               

Purdue announces launch of Neil Armstrong Space Prize

New international award to honor excellence and innovation in scientific achievement, economic opportunity and global security grounded in space discovery

Purdue University — recognized globally as the Cradle of Astronauts — announced the creation of a new international prize honoring excellence over the past 10 years in space discovery, innovation and human achievement. Named the Neil Armstrong Space Prize, the award is designed to stand alongside other prestigious honors in the scientific field, including the Nobel Prize, and become the premier global honor in space advancement.

Above: Eight Purdue-trained astronauts took part in a ceremony in Washington, D.C., announcing the creation of the Neil Armstrong Space Prize, a new international award honoring excellence in space discovery, innovation and human achievement. (Purdue University photo/Jon Garcia)

This transformative initiative leverages Purdue's unparalleled space heritage, having produced numerous astronauts and pioneering aerospace education and research.

The eponymous award honors aerospace pioneer and Purdue graduate Neil Armstrong (BSAAE '55, HDR '00), who led the team of three American astronauts who were the first to land on the moon on July 20, 1969.

Commemorating the 56th anniversary of the historic landing of Apollo 11, Purdue University President Mung Chiang welcomed dignitaries on Sunday (July 20) to celebrate the unveiling of the new award at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

"This prize carries Armstrong's name and Purdue's space legacy and the Boilermaker spirit of exploration," Chiang said. "We are honored that the Armstrong family is represented here today along with eight Purdue alum astronauts as we unveil the creation of a Nobel-level prize for space at a transformational time for the next giant leaps in space."

The inaugural Neil Armstrong Space Prize will be awarded in 2026 and aligns with America's 250th celebration, connecting Purdue's space leadership with this historic national milestone.

Three categories of prizes will be awarded:

• Innovation — for space technologies that benefit humanity

• Discovery — for breakthroughs that expand our understanding of the universe

• Human Achievement — for pioneering accomplishments in space that inspire progress

Astronaut Jerry Ross (BSME '70, MSME '72, HDR '00) announced the Armstrong Space Prize and was supported by an assembly of seven Purdue-trained astronauts, which reflects the profound influence of Purdue's academic strengths and highlights the expected impact of the awards program. Ross was joined by Sirisha Bandla (BSAAE '11), Roy Bridges Jr. (MS Astronautics '66), Marc Hagle (BSEE '71, MSIA '72), Beth Moses (BSAAE '92, MSAA '94), Mark Polansky (BSAAE '78, MSAA '78), Audrey Powers (BSAAE '99) and Charles Walker (BSAAE '71). Also attending the event were four Purdue trustees and leaders from government and industry.

Ross has been launched into space seven times.

Above: Purdue announced the creation of the Neil Armstrong Space Prize, a new international award named for aerospace pioneer and Purdue graduate Neil Armstrong who led the team of three American astronauts who were the first to land on the moon on July 20, 1969. (Purdue University photo/Jon Garcia)

The event in the nation's capital also included a panel discussion, "Space: The Next Endless Frontier," to examine the future of space exploration, bringing together leaders from academia, government and industry.

The discussion was moderated by Bandla, who as a commercial astronaut, flew on the Virgin Galactic Unity 22 suborbital test flight in July 2021.

Joining Bandla on the panel were:

• Dr. Gillian Bussey, deputy chief science officer for the United States Space Force, who advises USSF on science and technology issues and previously served as an analyst at the Office of the Secretary of Defense's Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation

• Michael Moses (BS physics '89, MSAE '95), NASA Space Shuttle program launch integration manager from 2008-11 and president of Spaceline commercial spaceflight program at Virgin Galactic since 2011

• William Crossley, Purdue's J. William Uhrig and Anastasia Vournas Head of Aeronautics and Astronautics in the College of Engineering

Academic, government and industrial partnerships — including with NASA research centers and leading space economy industries — serve as a hallmark of Purdue University as they foster innovation, enhance research quality and provide access to resources and expertise.

The collaborative efforts have resulted in advances in hypersonics, advanced propulsion systems, in-space manufacturing, and lunar and planetary surface mobility, which are critical to space discovery, economic opportunity and global security.

"At a time when space is more accessible than ever, this award aims to inspire the next generation of space leaders while highlighting Purdue's enduring role in space research, exploration, security and partnerships with NASA, the U.S. Space Force and the commercial space sector," said Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of Purdue's College of Engineering.

Along with astronauts bearing Purdue credentials, space exploration and innovation are in Purdue's DNA. The university leads all public institutions of higher learning for the number of alumni who have entered public and commercial space programs. Purdue's commitment to discovery of space is also well-grounded in research. The university's interdisciplinary expertise spans advanced manufacturing, aerospace research, astronautics, engineering and planetary science.

posted 04-21-2026 02:06 PM               

Purdue announces SpaceX team as inaugural recipients of the Neil Armstrong Space Prize

Researchers to be honored for their achievements on the reusable rocket system

The 2026 Neil Armstrong Space Prize was announced Tuesday (April 21) at Purdue University, heralding the Falcon 9 Booster Landing Team as the inaugural winner of the Neil Armstrong Space Prize for cutting-edge work on the Falcon 9 reusable two-stage rocket system.

The team is the first recipient of the international prize recognizing excellence over the past 10 years in space discovery, innovation and human achievement. This transformative prize leverages Purdue's unparalleled space heritage, having produced numerous astronauts and pioneering aerospace education and research.

The five-member team was nominated for their work in developing the Falcon 9 vertical landing capability, fundamentally changing the launch vehicle landscape. The SpaceX recipients are:

• Lars Blackmore, senior principal Mars landing engineer
  
• Shana Diez, senior director, Starship reliability
  
• Jon Edwards, senior vice president of Falcon and Dragon projects
  
• Yoshi Kuwata, principal guidance, navigation and control engineer
  
• Eduardo Velazquez, director, Crew Starship engineering

The selection of the research team for the honor was announced during an event in the Herman and Heddy Kurz Atrium at Purdue's Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering. Attendees at the announcement event watched via livestream as the Neil Armstrong Space Prize recipients were surprised by the news of receiving the award. Amit Kshatriya, NASA associate administrator, and other leaders participated in the event.

"Purdue alumnus Neil Armstrong took that small step and giant leap on the face of the moon in 1969," Purdue President Mung Chiang said. "Now as the dawn of space economy and the new frontier of human space exploration inspire us all, the Neil Armstrong Space Prize will recognize the most impactful steps and leaps each year."

The inaugural Neil Armstrong Space Prize will be formally awarded in September during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., aligning with the America250 celebration and connecting Purdue's space leadership with this historic national milestone.

The eponymous award honors aerospace pioneer and Purdue graduate Neil Armstrong (BS aeronautical engineering '55, honorary doctorate '70), who led the team of three American astronauts who were the first to land on the moon on July 20, 1969.

Dan Dumbacher, chair of the Neil Armstrong Space Prize selection committee, said Falcon 9 last year had 164 launches with one booster being used more than 30 times.

"The reusability resulting from vertical landing has been key in reducing the cost of launching payloads," Dumbacher said. "This team made it happen."

The research team was chosen from a long list of impressive nominees.

"In the end, the deciding factor was what we felt like was the team's impact to humanity," said Dumbacher, a professor of engineering practice in Purdue's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. "Their work has had a very clear impact and a very visible impact."

The SpaceX team was honored in the award's Innovation category. Three categories of awards fall under the Neil Armstrong Space Prize, and each year one or more of these categories might be awarded:

• Innovation — for space technologies that benefit humanity

• Discovery — for breakthroughs that have most expanded the frontiers of human knowledge

• Human Achievement — for pioneering accomplishment in space that most benefited humanity

Dumbacher said the Neil Armstrong Space Prize stretches internationally across the major areas of the modern space industry — including government, defense and commercial aspects — and the goals set by each area. Nominees were received in all three categories under the Space Prize. Dumbacher also wanted to thank BryceTech for its support to the process development.

Nominations received in 2025 were extensively reviewed and narrowed down to six finalists in January. The advisory committee is led by Kathleen Howell, Purdue's Hsu Lo Distinguished Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics; with Henry Yang, chancellor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara; and the late George Smoot III, formerly of the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The advisory committee joined Dumbacher and selection committee members Jim Free, an aerospace executive; Kathryn Lueders, a commercial space consultant and retired NASA Human Exploration and Space Operations associate administrator; Rob Meyerson, CEO and co-founder of Interlune Corp. and former president of Blue Origin; and Thomas Zurbuchen, a Swiss-American astrophysicist and ETH Zurich space director, to thoroughly revisit and discuss each nomination.

A final nominee recommendation was passed along to Chiang and Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, in March.

Purdue leads all public institutions of higher learning for the number of alumni who have entered public and commercial space programs. Academic, government and industrial partnerships — including with NASA research centers and leading space economy industries — serve as a university hallmark with collaborative efforts that have resulted in advances in hypersonics, advanced propulsion systems, in-space manufacturing, and lunar and planetary surface mobility, which are critical to space discovery, economic opportunity and global security.

Purdue will send five Boilermakers on a research journey into space aboard a Virgin Galactic suborbital flight, dubbed Purdue 1, in 2027. This groundbreaking flight will include teaching and real-time research on board, making Purdue the first university to operate in space.

Known as the Cradle of Astronauts, Purdue has 30 alumni who have flown in space or been selected as NASA astronaut candidates.