NewSpace Awards
On Saturday, July 30th, the Space Frontier Foundation will host the annual NewSpace Awards Gala at the NewSpace 2011 Conference in Silicon Valley, CA. Come enjoy an elegant evening filled with live music performed by the Magnolia Jazz Band, a candlelit dinner with delectable food and drinks, and wonderful conversation as we celebrate the accomplishments of several successes in the private space industry.
NewSpace Awards 2011 Press:
NewSpace Awards Gala Honors the Stars of Commercial Space
Alyssa Voightmann
NewSpace Awards Gala Manager
Space Frontier Foundation
alyssa[dot]voightmann[at]gmail.com
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Past Annual Formal Awards Events:
The Apollo 11 40th Anniversary Gala 2009
Arthur C. Clarke Legacy Banquet 2008
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 2007
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 2006
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 2005
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 2004
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 2003
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 2002
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 2000
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 1999
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 1998
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 1997
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 1996
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 1995
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 1994
Space Frontier Foundation Annual Banquet 1993
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SPACE FRONTIER FOUNDATION NEWSPACE AWARDS
The NewSpace Awards aim to recognize outstanding achievements toward advancing NewSpace and opening the space frontier. The awards are voted on by the Space Frontier Foundation Board of Directors and presented at the annual NewSpace Conference Gala.
“Vision to Reality Award”
The Vision to Reality Award is bestowed for outstanding achievement in the development and operation of a device, system, or entity that forwards the opening of the Space Frontier. The winners must actually have “pulled one off,” that is, they must have succeeded in reaching their goal. Good ideas, business plans, or anything requiring “unobtainium” don’t count. Qualified achievements must have taken place within the 12 months prior to call for nominations.
The first year’s winners in 1993 were the founders of the International Space University, which is still a successfully operating institution. Dennis Tito took the award in 2001 for becoming world’s first citizen space explorer.
In 2004, Burt Rutan accepted the Award on behalf of the team at Scaled Composites for flying the first private human-piloted spaceship into space. Other past winners include SpaceX, the Clementine team, SpaceHab, Inc., Celestis, Inc., Sea Launch, and XCOR Aerospace.
Gwynne Shotwell accepts 2009 Vision to Reality award on behalf of SpaceX. Photo credit: Sam Coniglio.
“Pioneer of NewSpace Award”
The Pioneer of NewSpace Award is for someone who was an early leader and pioneer in the creation of the NewSpace industry who has left a lasting legacy either through their own personal investment or the creation of an early NewSpace business enterprise. The first person to receive this award was Courtney Stadd in 2006.
“Vision of the Future Award”
The Vision of the Future Award is for outstanding achievement in presenting the possibilities of the Space Frontier to the general public. It is awarded to a future-oriented entertainment media related project (i.e. film, TV, radio), usually science fiction. An example is the award going to the team at OmniMax for their movie, L5: Cities in Space. Other past award winners include the creative team of Babylon 5 for using a derivative of an O’Neill colony as its base, and their consistent attempts to portray life in space in a realistic manner, and to Deep Space Nine for depiction of a solar sail in action.
Nominees for the award must have been “released” within the 12 months prior to the call for nominations.
Rod Roddenberry accepts 2009 Vision of the Future award on behalf of Star Trek.
“Best Presentation of Space Award”
The Best Presentation of Space Award is for outstanding achievement in highlighting past and present events in space exploration and development. It is awarded for excellence in mostly non-fiction efforts such as journalism, documentaries, and other projects to inform and enlighten the public. Recipients of this award include Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D, Black Sky: The Race for Space, Apogee Books, Andrew Chaikin, author of A Man on the Moon, and to Orphans of Apollo.
“NewSpace Journalism Award”
The NewSpace Journalism Award is for outstanding achievement in journalism spotlighting NewSpace. This award recognizes insightful and relevant reporting of this emerging industry. The $1,000 award is sponsored by Christophe Bosquillon. This was first awarded to Alan Boyle of MSNBC, followed by Jeff Foust for The Space Review, and David Livingston for The Space Show.
Charles Lurio Receives The 2009 NewSpace Journalism award. Photo credit: Sam Coniglio.
“Service to the Frontier Award”
This is the time for the Advocates to look amongst themselves and submit their nominations for the Foundation’s Service to the Frontier Award. This award is for outstanding achievement in volunteer service to the Space Frontier Foundation. What have been some significant Advocate Projects during the past year? Who would you acknowledge for stepping up and taking responsibility for getting something really frontier-enabling happening?
Past winners have included Charles Miller/ProSpace for their success with March Storm, David Anderman for the first CATS Symposium, Erin Medlicott for her work producing SpaceFront, and Rich Pournelle for founding the NewSpace Business Plan Competition.
“Founders’ Award”
The Founders’ Award recipient is decided by the Founders: Bob Werb, James Muncy and Rick Tumlinson. The Founders’ Award has gone to Walt Anderson, Peter Thorpe, (posthumously) to Dr. Gerard K. O’Neill, and Gary Hudson.
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2009 Award Winners
- Vision to Reality – SpaceX, for Falcon 1 Launch
- Pioneer of NewSpace – Dr. Pete Worden, for NASA and NewSpace collaboration
- Vision of the Future – Star Trek
- Best Presentation of Space - “The Universe”, Sex in Space
- NewSpace Jounalism – Dr. Charles Lurio, for The Lurio Report
- Service to the Frontier – Jack Kennedy, for Virginia NewSpace legislation
- Founder’s Award – Lori Barth, for 25 years of service to the Space Frontier
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2008 Award Winners
- Vision to Reality – NASTAR Center
- Best Presentation of Space – Orphans of Apollo
- NewSpace Journalism – Dr. David M. Livingston, for The Space Show
- Service to the Frontier – Vanna Bonta, for The Cosmos Review
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~ Awards Archive ~
Anousheh Ansari receives 2007 Vision to Reality Award
We are transforming space from a government- owned bureaucratic program into a dynamic and inclusive frontier open to people. We are determined to convert the image held by many young people that the future will be worse than the present, and we reject the idea that the world's greatest moments are in its past. 
