Top Honors to Be Presented at SpaceOps 2018 Conference in Marseille, France Written 4 April 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Carmela Brittingham
703.264.7535
carmelab@aiaa.org
April 4, 2018 – Reston, Va. –The International Committee on Technical Interchange for Space Mission Operations and Ground Data Systems (SpaceOps Organization) is pleased to announce that the following awards will be presented during the 15th International Conference on Space Operations (SpaceOps), taking place 28 May–1 June 2018 at the Palais du Pharo in Marseille, France. The conference is being hosted and organized by the Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales (CNES).
The Cassini Flight Operations Team, led by team lead Earl H. Maize, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will receive the 2018 International SpaceOps Award for Outstanding Achievement, which is presented for outstanding efforts in overcoming space operations and/or support challenges and recognizes those teams whose exceptional contributions were critical to the success of one or more space missions. The Cassini Flight Operations Team is receiving this award for outstanding performance in the planning and execution of the Cassini mission leading to unprecedented scientific data return from the Saturn system. A trophy and certificate of citation will be presented to recognize the team for their outstanding and unique achievements.
Also winning the 2018 International SpaceOps Award for Outstanding Achievement is GRACE Operations Teamfrom DLR-GSOC, NASA-JPL, GFZ and CSR, led by Team lead: Jaap Herman. The GRACE Operations Team is receiving this award for one of the most successful missions ever with already more than 4,100 peer-reviewed papers. Operations are especially challenging because the two satellites themselves are the probes in the terrestrial gravity field. The interaction between payload and satellite operations intensified even more with the mission in its sixteenth year now, more than threefold beyond the original expectation. A trophy and certificate of citation will be presented to recognize the team for their outstanding and unique achievements.
Michael Kearney, NASA (retired),will receive the 2018 International SpaceOps Distinguished Service Medal. This award is presented to give unique recognition to an individual who has distinguished himself or herself with service to the SpaceOps Organization and who has shown exceptional dedication to the interests of the organization by making significant contributions over an extended period of time. Kearney is receiving the award in appreciation of outstanding and steadfast support to the SpaceOps Organization and for distinguished service to colleagues and organizations around the world for the betterment and interests of space mission operations. A medal and certificate of citation will be presented to Kearney.
Nestor Peccia, ESA/ESOC, will receive the 2018 International SpaceOps Exceptional Achievement Medal. The award is presented to give unique recognition to an individual who has distinguished himself or herself in the field of space operations and support. The recipient shall be an individual whose exceptional contributions were critical to the success of a space mission or has achieved a significant contribution to the field of space operations. Peccia is receiving the award for always emphasizing the importance of Ground Systems allowing flawless operations, being a leader of international cooperation, and fostering the development of international standards for cross-support between space agencies. A medal and certificate of citation will be presented to Peccia.
Kaneaki Narita, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, will receive the 2018 International SpaceOps Lifetime Achievement Medal. This award is presented to give unique recognition to an individual who has distinguished himself or herself in the field of space operations and support over an extended period of time. Narita is receiving the award for his dedication in modernizing satellite operation ground control, especially increasing the ability of interoperability, and for being a trailblazer in the field of cross-support operations through education. A medal and certificate of citation will be presented to Narita for his dedication in the field of space operations and support.
The SpaceOps Organization is a spacecraft operations-oriented international association consisting of representatives from most of the spacefaring nations. SpaceOps fosters managerial and technical interchange on all aspects of space mission operations, including robotics, human, Earth orbiting, and deep space. For more information, visithttp://www.spaceops.org.
Hosted and organized CNES, SpaceOps 2018 will bring together the space operations community to discuss state-of-the-art operations principles, methods, and tools. Held biennially since 1990, the conference attracts technologists, scientists, and managers from space agencies, industry, and academia, and fosters managerial and technical interchange on all aspects of space mission operations, including robotic and human spaceflight, Earth orbit and deep space missions, lunar and planetary missions, and orbital and surface operations. For more information about this event, visit http://www.spaceops2018.org.
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