The US Department of the Air Force and Boeing together have won the 2019 Robert J. Collier Trophy for the autonomous space craft, the X-37B. The Collier Trophy, awarded by the National Aeronautic Association, rewards the greatest of American aeronautical and astronautical achievements for the preceding year.
The X-37B completed a record 780 days on orbit, setting a new mark for endurance of the technology. The spaceplane made an overflight of the US prior to touching down at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The “reliable, reusable, uncrewed space test platform” was produced by Boeing and is operated in a joint effort with the US Space Force, and currently managed by the USAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office.
“The X-37B team should be commended for their accomplishments over the last decade and more importantly for what they accomplished in 2019,” said NAA’s chairman, Jim Albaugh. “As the world’s only autonomous, reusable spaceplane, it continues to contribute to our understanding of both space and air flight.”
The Collier Trophy’s selection committee, comprised of 35 aviation and aerospace professionals, reviewed presentations from nine nominees and selected the X-37B team as the recipient on August 11.
“Underscoring the importance of space to the nation, the Collier Trophy celebrates the record-setting mission of the X-37B,” said Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett in a Boeing press release. “Most Americans use space daily for navigation, information, and communication. Sophisticated and uncrewed, the X-37B advances reusable spaceplane technologies and operates experiments in space that are returned for further examination on Earth.”
Joining Secretary Barrett in accepting the award, Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said, “We are truly honored that the women and men of the X-37B team are being recognized with the Collier Trophy. Not only have they earned a place among our industry’s legends through their commitment to innovation and performance, but their accomplishments will influence the next generation of space and aerospace development for the benefit of all humanity.”
