Skip to main content Skip to secondary navigation
Main content start

AIAA Honors the Stanford/NASA/Lockheed Martin Gravity Probe B Team with 2016 Space Science Award

aiaa space
AIAA Space 2016 Program Cover

Every election year, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) hosts a Space and Astronautics Forum and Exposition.

This year’s forum and exhibition was called AIAA Space 2016, and was held at the Long Beach, CA Convention Center from September 13-15. The theme of Space 2016 was Open Space: Opportunities for the Global Community.

This year’s forum and exhibition included six main sections:

Plenary Program

The plenary program began with talks by NASA Administrator, Charles Bolden Jr., Winston Beauchamp and Steve Jurveston. Other plenary talks focused on two themes: Technologies for the New LEO Economy and Next Stop: Mars.

Forum 360

The Forum 360 panel discussions built on the themes and discussions of each day’s opening plenary session. Topics included:

  • Icy Moons and Ocean Worlds
  • Commercial Crew Update
  • Thriving Within Complexity
  • Limiting or Unlimited: Envisioning a Free Market Space Industry
  • Earth Observations: Space & the Paris Agreement
  • Launch 2020
  • On-Orbit Satellite Servicing
  • Space Traffic Management
  • Global Perspectives

Technical Program

The technical program contains more than 650 technical papers from about 600 government, academic, and private institutions in 28 countries reporting on the latest in space and astronautics research, and offering scores of opportunities for collaboration and discussion on high-impact topics.

Continuing Education

A number of continuing education courses were offered during the conference.

Recognition

Recognition events included the William H. Pickering Lecture with Juno project manager Nybakken and principal investigator Bolton, Wanda Austin delivering the Yvonne C. Brill Lecture, the von Kármán Lecture and a recognition luncheon to celebrate achievements in space and astronautics.

During the Recognition Luncheon, seven awards were presented, including the Space Science Award given to the Gravity Probe B team “For performing with NASA support two revolutionary new tests of Einstein’s theory of gravity, general relativity, with cryogenic gyroscopes in Earth orbit.” The award was accepted by Stanford Research Professor Emeritus, Francis Everitt, Principal Investigator of the Gravity Probe B mission, which was administered by HEPL for nearly half a century, from first NASA funding in 1963 through the spacecraft launch in April 2004, the final results announcement in 2011 and, most recently, the publication of the November 2015 focus issue of the journal, Classical and Quantum Gravity, containing a preface and 21 scientific and technical papers covering every aspect of this landmark experiment and space mission.

Special Events

During special events, conference participants had opportunities to Meet and hear stories from astronauts; network during receptions, luncheons, and poster sessions; attend book signings, explore the exposition hall, and make a silent auction bid for the benefit of the AIAA Foundation.

Space 2016 included nearly 1,500 participants from 28 countries. More than 650 papers were delivered, covering the latest innovation in astrodynamics, space technology, exploration and operations. The conference also included dedicated events for students and young professionals and an evening of astronaut stories.

For More Information:

Stanford Gravity Probe B Website

Gravity Probe B History

aiaa award
aiaa medal
aiaa space science award