The National Air and Space Museum presents the Michael Collins Trophy annually to recognize both past and present achievements involving the management or execution of a scientific or technological project, a distinguished career of service in air and space technology, or a significant contribution in chronicling the history of air and space technology. Winners receive a trophy featuring a miniature version of the "Web of Space" sculpture, which was created by John Safer of Washington, DC, and donated it to our Museum.
The award was established in 1985 and was renamed in honor of Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins in 2020.
2024 Peggy Whitson
2022 Wally Funk
2021 Eugene "Gene" Kranz
2020 Dr. Charles Elachi
2019 General Charles "Charlie" Bolden
2018 Gen. John R. “Jack” Dailey
2017 Peter Theisinger
2015 Stamatios "Tom" M. Krimigis
2014 Norm Augustine
2013 Joseph F. Sutter
2012 Burt Rutan
2011 George Mueller
2010 Christopher C. Kraft, Jr.
2009 John R. Casani and C. Gordon Fullerton
2008 Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr.
2007 Robert A. "Bob" Hoover
2006 James A. Van Allen
2005 Frank N. Piasecki
2004 Neil Armstrong
2003 (no award)*
2002 Stanley Hiller Jr.
2001 Sen. John Glenn
2000 A. Scott Crossfield
1999 Dr. Simon Ramo
1998 Richard T. Whitcomb
1997 Anthony "Tony" LeVier
1996 Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, USAF (Ret.)
1995 Najeeb E. Halaby
1994 Dr. Michael H. Carr
1993 Olive Ann Beech
1992 Francis M. Rogallo
1991 Arthur E. Raymond
1990 Kelly Johnson and the SR-71 Design Team
1989 Edwin Land
1988 Harold Masursky
1987 John Steiner
1986 Sir Frank Whittle and Dr. Hans von Ohain
1985 Robert R. Gilruth
2024 Double Asteroid Redirect Test (DART) Mission Team
2023 James Webb Space Telescope Team
2022 MiMi Aung & the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Team
2021 SpaceX and Crew Dragon Team
2020 Hubble Space Telescope Team
2019 LIGO Scientific Collaboration
2018 Shaesta Waiz of Dreams Soar Inc.
2017 Kenn Borek Air’s South Pole Rescue Team
2016 NASA's New Horizons Mission Team
2015 Kepler Mission Team
2014 The Dawn Flight Team
2013 Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) Team
2012 The Cassini-Huygens Flight Team
2011 Michael Suffredini and the International Space Station Program Office
2010 Flight crew of US Airways Flight 1549: Chesley B. Sullenberger III, Jeffrey B. Skiles, Sheila Dail, Donna Dent and Doreen Welsh
2009 (no award)
2008 Stardust Comet Sample Return Mission Team
2007 NASA's STS-121 Space Shuttle Team
2006 Mars Exploration Rover Team
2005 Burt Rutan, Paul Allen, and the SpaceShipOne Team
2004 USAF/Lockheed Martin Milstar Team
2003 (no award)
2002 Predator Development Team
2001 NEAR Mission Team
2000 The Chandra X-Ray Observatory Team
1999 The Breitling Orbiter 3 Team
1998 The Mars Pathfinder Team
1997 Dr. Shannon W. Lucid
1996 The Boeing 777 Civilian Airliner Development Team
1995 The X-31 International Test Team
1994 Patty Wagstaff
1993 Dr. Compton J. Tucker
1992 The Magellan Project Team
1991 John C. Mather and the Cosmic Background Explorer Team
1990 The Pegasus Launch Vehicle Team
1989 The Voyager Spacecraft Team
1988 Paul MacCready
1987 Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager
1986 John W. Young
1985 Astronauts Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D. and Capt. Bruce McCandless, USN
Two Trophies are awarded yearly: one for Current Achievement and one for Lifetime Achievement.
The Michael Collins Trophy for Current Achievement is awarded to an individual, group, team, or group or team leader for an achievement made since the beginning of the previous calendar year.
The Michael Collins Trophy for Lifetime Achievement is awarded to a living individual.
Nominations will reopen in Spring 2025.