Space Foundation — Astronaut John Young Reaches Even Higher To Receive Hill Top Award

Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle Astronaut Captain John Young, USN (Retired) will receive The Space Foundation’s highest honor — the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, which will be presented at a special luncheon event on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 sponsored by Raytheon. The event will take place during the 26th National Space Symposium at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Space Foundation Board of Directors selected Capt. Young, who walked on the Moon during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972 and piloted the first Space Shuttle in 1981. He is the only astronaut to have piloted four different classes of spacecraft: Gemini, Apollo Command Service/Module, Apollo Lunar Module, and Space Shuttle. During his 42 years with NASA, Young flew six missions including two to the Moon, set a lunar rover speed record on the Moon’s surface, and was the first person to orbit the Moon alone during the Apollo 10 mission.

“Each one of John Young’s major accomplishments would easily qualify him for lifetime space achievement recognition, but the breadth and depth of his experiences truly set him apart,” said Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham.

In addition award luncheon, the 26th National Space Symposium offers workshops, forums, panels, and presentations covering all aspects of space. This includes a spectacular Opening Ceremony; Congressional Luncheon; Corporate Partnership Dinner; and the Space Technology Hall of Fame Dinner, which honors technologies, organizations, and individuals for transforming space technology into commercial products that improve life on Earth. The Symposium also includes engaging programs for selected teachers and students, and the extensive AMERICOM Government Services (AGS) Exhibit Center.

The National Space Symposium’s attendees totaled nearly 8,000 in 2009 and can be a venue for networking and conducting meaningful business. In addition to the mainstream program, the 26th edition will include a new Cyber 1.0 Conference and greatly expanded programs for young, up-and-coming “new generation” space professionals.

Major sponsors of the 26th National Space Symposium include AMERICOM Government Services (AGS), ATK, AVIATION WEEK, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boeing, Cisco Systems, Inc., General Dynamics, GMV, Intelsat General Corporation, International Space University, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Raytheon, SAIC, Space News, and United Space Alliance.

Past recipients include: The Honorable Peter B. Teets; The Honorable Hans Mark, Ph.D.; Simon Ramo, Ph.D.; Buzz Aldrin, Ph.D.; The Honorable Edward C. “Pete” Aldridge, Jr.; the late Air Force General Bernard A. Schriever; Apollo 13 commander Capt. James A. Lovell, Jr., USN, (Retired); and Norman R. Augustine. Online registration and more information, including agenda, speakers, and exhibitors are available at.