The National Space Club and Foundation is pleased to announce the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter team is awarded the 2022 Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy in recognition of the team’s exceptional service to this country and its space program. The trophy is the Club’s highest honor and is presented annually to honor the individual, or group of specifically named individuals that have made a significant contribution to U.S.’ leadership in the field of rocketry and astronautics. The award will be presented at the 65th Annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner, taking place at the Washington Hilton Hotel on Friday, March 18, 2022.
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter team is recognized for an exciting new phase of space and planetary exploration. Taking Flight On Another World – Ingenuity demonstrated powered, controlled flight on another planet. Once Perseverance reached a suitable “airfield” location, it released Ingenuity onto the surface where it performed a series of test flights over a 30-Martian-days. During its first flight, on April 19, 2021, Ingenuity took off, climbed to about 10 feet above the ground, hovered briefly, completed a turn, and then landed. It was a major milestone: the very first powered, controlled flight in the extremely thin atmosphere of Mars, and, in fact, the first such flight in any world beyond Earth. Ingenuity then performed additional experimental flights of incrementally farther distance and greater altitude before transitioning to a new operations demonstration phase, exploring how future rovers and aerial explorers can work together.
Members of the team include: Dave Lavery, NASA Program Executive; MiMi Aung, Project Manager; Bob Balaram, Chief Engineer; Teddy Tzanetos, Operations Lead; Havard Grip, GN&C Lead and Chief Pilot; Jaakko Karas, Operations Chief Engineer; Tim Canham, Software Lead; Farah Alibay, Rover-Helicopter Surface Operations Lead; Karen Lee, Flight Systems Engineer; Josh Ravich, Mechanical Lead.
 
Mr. Lavery will accept the Trophy on behalf of the team at the 65th Annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner. Individuals and organizations interested in attending may find more information on our website www.spaceclub.org. For specific questions, please contact NSCF at info@spaceclub.org or by calling 202-547-0060.
 
 
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The National Space Club and Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to fostering excellence in space activity through interaction between industry and government, and through a continuing program of educational support. Youth Education is a premier focus of the Club, providing over $160,000 in scholarships and internships each year. Awards are offered to recognize the advancement of space technology, and recognize and honor people who have contributed significantly to the fields of rocketry and astronautics. 
 
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