News | October 20, 2021

NASA Accepts Nuclear Lifetime Achievement Award

Lori Glaze accepts the award from Jim Walther — Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division, accepts the award from Jim Walther, director of the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, during the opening ceremony for Nuclear Science Week. *Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani*

Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA HQ in Washington, accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of NASA at The Observatory at the America’s Square on Oct. 19 during the opening ceremony for Nuclear Science Week.

National Museum of Nuclear Science and History Director Jim Walther, honored NASA and the Department of Energy with the 2021 Nuclear Lifetime Achievement Award for their work in nuclear science, space exploration, and discovery.

Glaze remarked on the successful partnership between NASA and the Department of Energy that has enabled more than 25 space science missions carrying a nuclear power system.

NASA Receives Lifetime Achievement Award - second photo — From left: Kathryn Huff, principal deputy assistant secretary for Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy, with Jim Walther, director of the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, and Lori Glaze, director of the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s Planetary Science Division. *Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani.*

As the scientific community continues to benefit from these missions, NASA is building on the success of nuclear in space and investing in new technology to enable a robust human presence on the Moon and eventually human missions to Mars.

This June marked 60 years since the launch of the United States’ first nuclear-powered spacecraft, Transit IV-A. Find out more about the history and future of nuclear power in space by reading “After 60 Years, Nuclear Power for Spaceflight is Still Tried and True.”

Illustration of NASA's RHU-heated and RTG-powered mission — This illustration lists RHU-heated and RTG-powered spacecraft and the many moons and planets they have visited. *Credit: NASA.* Full image and caption ›

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Video: After 60 Years, Nuclear Power for Spaceflight is Still Tried and True ›