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The National Space Club & Foundation announced its annual award\u00a0recipients\u00a0March 13, 2026, in Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Two dedicated leaders from NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center were recognized for their contributions to human spaceflight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Orion Program Manager Howard Hu received the Norman L. Baker Astronautics Engineer Award for sustained technical contributions to multiple human spaceflight efforts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hu leads the design, development, production, and operations of Orion, NASA\u2019s spacecraft for Artemis missions to the Moon. He has held several leadership roles within the\u00a0Orion\u00a0program, including deputy program manager,\u00a0a\u00a0manager\u00a0of the Avionics, Power, and Software Office, and deputy manager of the Vehicle Integration Office. Hu has supported Orion since its\u00a0inception, beginning as the Vehicle System Performance and Analysis lead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On April 1, 2026,\u00a0Artemis II\u00a0launched on\u00a0a 10-day voyage around the Moon, marking the first crewed flight of\u00a0the\u00a0Orion\u00a0spacecraft.\u00a0NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen splashed down\u00a0safely inside Orion\u00a0April 10\u00a0in the Pacific Ocean\u00a0off the coast of San Diego. At their farthest point,\u00a0the crew\u00a0and\u00a0spacecraft\u00a0traveled\u00a0252,756\u00a0miles from Earth, setting a\u00a0new\u00a0record\u00a0for\u00a0the greatest distance traveled by humans in space.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The mission successfully proved\u00a0the capability of Orion\u2019s\u00a0critical\u00a0systems such as life support\u00a0with\u00a0humans aboard.\u00a0Data from Artemis II will help refine mission operations and\u00a0further evaluate Orion\u2019s performance in deep space, supporting future Artemis missions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA and its partners are now shifting their focus to Artemis III, which will test integrated operations between Orion and the human landing system in lunar orbit and advance plans to return astronauts to the Moon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before joining Orion, Hu served in multiple technical and leadership roles at Johnson, including chief engineer for exploration in the\u00a0Aeroscience\u00a0and Flight Mechanics Division, project manager and co-developer of shuttle abort flight management software for the Space Shuttle Cockpit Avionics Upgrades Program, and deputy guidance, navigation, and control system manager for the International Space Station program.\u00a0<\/p>\n
International Space Station Program\u00a0Manager Dana Weigel\u00a0received the Eagle Manned Mission Award. She leads development, integration, and operations for the\u00a0International Space Station.\u00a0The\u00a0space station\u00a0celebrated a\u00a0historic milestone\u00a0on Nov. 2, 2025,\u00a0marking\u00a025 years of continuous human habitation.\u00a0The\u00a0orbiting laboratory\u00a0remains\u00a0a critical testbed for future commercial destinations in low Earth orbit and for deep space exploration, supporting Artemis\u00a0missions and future human missions to Mars.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Weigel has held several leadership roles within the program, including deputy chief of the Flight Director Office, where she led the Extravehicular Activity Recovery Team following a major in-flight spacewalk anomaly. She also served as a NASA flight director for STS-123 and led the agency\u2019s geosynchronous Earth orbit satellite servicing habitat study.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selected by panels of experts across industry, government, and academia, the awards reflect achievements that advance aerospace and national interests. Honorees were recognized at the 69th Annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner at the Washington Hilton.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDana Weigel and Howard Hu\u2019s contributions to human space exploration, through their leadership and roles within the agency, are paramount,\u201d said Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche. \u201cIt was a privilege to be there in person to celebrate and champion them as they were recognized for the lasting impact of their work. Congratulations to Dana, Howard, and all the award recipients on this well-deserved recognition.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hu and Weigel\u2019s service exemplifies the leadership and technical excellence that continue to advance U.S. human space exploration.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n