2017 ROTARY NATIONAL AWARD FOR SPACE ACHIEVEMENT Dr. John Grunsfeld 2017 National space trophy recipient The RNASA Foundation Missions is pleased to recognize Dr. Grunsfeld’s first flight was aboard STS-67 in March Dr. John Grunsfeld, NASA 1995. He and the crew were tasked with conducting Associate Administrator round-the-clock observations of the ultraviolet universe of the Science Mission using three telescopes in the payload bay. Directorate, as the 2017 National Space Trophy re- Grunsfeld served as flight engineer during his second cipient. flight on STS-81 which docked with Russia’s space station Mir and exchanged U.S. Nominated Dr. John Grunsfeld astronauts living aboard NASA Photo Dr. Grunsfeld was nomi- nated for the award by Dr. the International Space Matt Mountain, President of the Association of Universi- Station. It was during this ties for Research in Astronomy. Dr. Mountain remarked, mission that John had a “One of Grunsfeld’s unique strengths is his ability to dem- little fun with Tom and Ray onstrate the relevance and excitement of spaceflight by Magliozzi, hosts of Car Talk, bringing together the scientific community, NASA’s -in NPR’s call in radio show. ternational partners, Congress, the Administration, with During his flight home NASA’s Science, Human Spaceflight, Technology and Aero- Astronaut John Grunsfeld aboard the Space Shuttle nautics programs. His unique experience as an astronaut, performs work on the Atlantis, John called in and Hubble Space Telescope a teacher, scientist, and senior leader at NASA has enabled described some trouble he him to make unique contributions to all of NASA’s activi- as the first of five STS-125 spacewalks. was experiencing with his ties.” NASA Photo “government vehicle” ex- Early Life and Education Born in Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Grunsfeld earned his bachelor plaining that it had excel- of science degree in physics from the Massachusetts In- lent acceleration but runs stitute of Technology in 1980. He went on to earn a mas- extremely rough for 2 min- ter of science degree in 1984 and a doctor of philosophy utes, quieter for six and a degree in physics in 1988 from the University of Chicago. half, at which point the After serving as a Senior Research Fellow at the California engine stalls. The hosts Institute of Technology from 1989-1992, he was selected didn’t take long to figure by NASA to join the astronaut training program in March out that the caller was of 1992. He was initially assigned to the Astronaut Office John Grunsfeld. Mission Development Branch and led the development Grunsfeld in 1981 at the of portable computer use in space. His efforts resulted Grunsfeld flew on three Kagoshima Space Center in Japan supporting the in hardware and software which were used on the Space more shuttle missions to launch of the Japanese Shuttle to enhance mission success, and computers and service the Hubble Space Hinotori solar physics software which are used by crew on International Space Telescope. The first was on satellite. Station. Grunsfeld Photo 3 Dr. john grunsfeld 2017 National space trophy recipient STS-103 in December 1999 Associate Administrator in which he performed After returning to NASA in 2012 as Associate Administra- two space walks. Upon tor for Science, Grunsfeld managed more than 100 mis- his return home from this sions including the Curiosity Mars rover landing, the new successful mission, John Horizons Pluto flyby and the Deep Space Climate Obser- was asked to lead the Ex- vatory. These and dozens of other projects have laid the travehicular Activity (EVA) foundation to understand how our own planet is changing Branch and led the devel- while inspiring a whole new generation of explorers. opment spacewalk training NASA Administrator courses for astronauts that Mountaineer Charles Bolden (left); God- are still used today. Beyond space, Dr. Grunsfeld enjoys mountaineering. In dard Space Flight Center 2000 he appeared on the Director Chris Scolese; and John Grunsfeld, stand STS-109 came next in PBS NOVA show “Deadly in front of the four Mag- March 2002 where John Ascent” when he climbed netospheric Multiscale served as Payload Com- Denali, the highest peak (MMS) spacecraft stacked mander. It was after this in North America. He and in a clean room at NASA’s mission that he spent time companion, Dr. Howard Goddard Space Flight Center. serving as NASA’s chief sci- Donner were researching NASA’s Goddard Space entist in Washington D.C. the effects of body tem- Flight Center/Bill Hrybyk helping develop President perature at high altitudes. Bush’s Vision for Space He was forced to turn back Grunsfeld on an ice sheet Exploration following the tragic loss of Space Shuttle Co- at 17,200 feet but later led outside of McMurdo Sta- lumbia in 2003. His final mission was aboard STS-125 in a NASA team to the top of tion in Antarctica in 2015. May of 2009. This time, he served as the lead spacewalker Denali in 2004. John also This trip supported the on a mission to perform a major renovation on Hubble enjoys flying, sailing, bi- National Science Founda- which had been in orbit for 19 years. All told, Grunsfeld cycling, and music. He is tion and NASA research. Grunsfeld Photo has logged five missions, eight space walks, and 58 days married and has two chil- in space. He was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame dren. in 2015. Grunsfeld said, “I am honored and humbled to be award- The Hubble Repairman ed this distinguished recognition for my contributions to Affectionately known as the “Hubble Repairman”, John’s science and space exploration. The quest to unravel the contributions have extended well beyond his missions to mysteries of the Universe and to extend human presence space. In 2010, John left NASA to take on a role as Deputy beyond planet Earth has propelled me for most of my life, Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Balti- in part inspired by previous trophy winners. I have been more. It was here that Dr. Grunsfeld helped prepare the successful only as a member of the extraordinary teams institute for their joint efforts with NASA to develop the with whom I’ve shared this journey of discovery, and I re- James Webb Telescope which will be launched in 2018. gard this honor as a team award.” 4 Dr. MICHAEL GRIFFIN National space trophy presenter The RNASA Foundation is colonize the Solar System, and one day go beyond.” pleased to welcome the 2009 National Space Tro- Griffin left NASA in January 2009, taking the King-McDon- phy winner, former NASA ald Chair in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Administrator Michael Alabama in Huntsville. In 2012, he accepted the position Griffin, as this year’s NST of Chairman and CEO of the Schafer Corporation, where Presenter. he remains today. Griffin was born in 1949 Mike has served in numerous other roles earlier in his ca- Dr. Michael Griffin in Aberdeen, Maryland reer, including Space Department Head at the Johns Hop- NASA Photo and holds seven academ- kins Applied Physics Laboratory, President and Chief Op- ic degrees. He earned his erating Officer of In-Q-Tel, Inc., CEO of Orbital’s Magellan BA in Physics from Johns Hopkins University in 1971, and Systems division, and as both Chief Engineer and Associ- his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of ate Administrator for Exploration at NASA. He has also Maryland in 1977. He also holds five Master’s Degrees been an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, in Applied Physics, Aerospace Science, Electrical Engineer- Johns Hopkins University, and George Washington Univer- ing, Civil Engineering, and Business Administration. sity, and has co-authored the textbook “Space Vehicle De- sign” with James French. Griffin was appointed as NASA Administrator by President George W. Bush in 2005 following the tragic loss of the Griffin is a Registered Professional Engineer in Maryland Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. During his tenure as Ad- and California, a member of the National Academy of En- ministrator, he facilitated the return to flight of the Space gineering and the International Academy of Astronautics, Shuttle, and the completion of the International Space an Honorary Fellow of AIAA (2006), a Fellow of the Ameri- Station. Through his work on Constellation, a presidential- can Astronautical Society (2002), and a Senior Member ly mandated program, he oversaw the development of the of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. In Ares 1 and Ares V boosters and the Orion crew capsule, addition to the 2009 National Space Trophy, Griffin is the which will ultimately take astronauts to Mars. recipient of many other honors, including the National Space Club’s 2009 Goddard Trophy, the DoD Distinguished Mike has been a lifelong advocate of space exploration, Public Service Medal, and the Time Magazine 100 Most and that our nation should lead the world in pioneering Influential People of 2008. the space frontier. In a statement to the Washington Post in 2005, he said “The goal isn’t just scientific exploration... Going beyond the achievements of a long and very fortu- It’s also about extending the range of human habitation nate career, Mike is proudest of his marriage to the former out from Earth into the Solar System... In the long run a Rebecca Lee Hann, whom he met in Houston in the early single-planet species will not survive. If we humans want ‘90s, and of his four children. His hobbies include golf, fly- to survive for hundreds of thousands or millions of years, ing his Bonanza, scuba diving, amateur radio, and trying to we must ultimately populate other planets ..