RNASA Foundation honors Colonel Robert D. Cabana
2015-05-04
The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Foundation presented the 2015 National Space Trophy (NST) to Colonel Robert D. Cabana, USMC (Ret.), director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and former NASA astronaut (STS-41, STS-53, STS-65 and STS-88). At the RNASA Gala on April 24 at the Houston Hyatt Regency, Stellar Awards were also presented to 23 individuals and 10 teams.
RNASA Foundation Chairman Rodolfo González welcomed the guests to RNASA’s 29th annual gala.
“RNASA’s mission is to encourage, recognize, honor and celebrate U.S. space achievements from across the entire country and across all sectors,” González said.
The Clear Lake High School JROTC Color Guard presented the colors, followed by Kam Franklin, lead singer for The Suffers, who sang the National Anthem. Clear Lake Presbyterian Church Lead Pastor Rev. Stephen Oglesbee gave the invocation.
The RNASA program kicked off with a year-in-review film by Space City Films. John Zarrella, former CCN correspondent who covered space for more than 32 years and current CCTV correspondent, served as the emcee of RNASA’s 29th annual awards gala.
The Stellar Award winners were announced by NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik and Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, who then presented the awardees with engraved marble trophies donated by Orbital ATK. The Stellar Awards were presented in Early Career, Mid-Career, Late Career and Team categories.
Johnson Space Center Director Ellen Ochoa, also a former NASA astronaut, presented the prestigious 2015 Rotary National Award for Space Achievement to Cabana.
“(Cabana) and his team developed the vision of Kennedy as the world’s premier multi-user spaceport, and he has worked tirelessly to make that a reality,” Ochoa said. “It has been more than a transition; it is a transformation. Bob and Kennedy Space Center are now enabling the world to explore and work in space.”
Cabana thanked all the Stellar Award nominees for their hard work and dedication and congratulated the winners.
“I am incredibly honored that the committee thought me worthy to receive the National Space Trophy this year,” Cabana said, and he recognized many of the previous national space trophy winners that had a direct impact on his life and shaped his thinking.
“At KSC (Kennedy Space Center), we truly have transitioned to be a multi-user spaceport of the future, supporting both government and commercial operations, crew and cargo, to and from low-Earth orbit and beyond,” Cabana said. “I can’t think of any place I would rather be than part of this amazing team. Thank you again, and don’t stop dreaming!”
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, former NASA astronaut and winner of the 2014 National Space Trophy, congratulated Cabana in a filmed message.
There was also a filmed message congratulating Cabana from astronaut Scott Kelly, who spoke from the Unity node aboard International Space Station, which was delivered by Cabana’s crew on STS-88, the first International Space Station assembly mission.
Lt. Gen Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini and Apollo astronaut and the 1993 National Space Trophy winner, presented an OMEGA watch to Cabana.
Lockheed Martin donated the portrait of Cabana by Pat Rawlings, which was on display at the gala and used as the cover of the souvenir program. The portrait will become part of the National Space Trophy display at Space Center Houston for one year.
Click here for more images from the event.
The RNASA Foundation was founded by the Space Center Rotary Club of Houston in 1985 to organize and coordinate an annual event to recognize outstanding achievements in space and create greater public awareness of the benefits of space exploration.
RNASA Foundation Chairman Rodolfo González welcomed the guests to RNASA’s 29th annual gala.
“RNASA’s mission is to encourage, recognize, honor and celebrate U.S. space achievements from across the entire country and across all sectors,” González said.
The Clear Lake High School JROTC Color Guard presented the colors, followed by Kam Franklin, lead singer for The Suffers, who sang the National Anthem. Clear Lake Presbyterian Church Lead Pastor Rev. Stephen Oglesbee gave the invocation.
The RNASA program kicked off with a year-in-review film by Space City Films. John Zarrella, former CCN correspondent who covered space for more than 32 years and current CCTV correspondent, served as the emcee of RNASA’s 29th annual awards gala.
The Stellar Award winners were announced by NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik and Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, who then presented the awardees with engraved marble trophies donated by Orbital ATK. The Stellar Awards were presented in Early Career, Mid-Career, Late Career and Team categories.
Johnson Space Center Director Ellen Ochoa, also a former NASA astronaut, presented the prestigious 2015 Rotary National Award for Space Achievement to Cabana.
“(Cabana) and his team developed the vision of Kennedy as the world’s premier multi-user spaceport, and he has worked tirelessly to make that a reality,” Ochoa said. “It has been more than a transition; it is a transformation. Bob and Kennedy Space Center are now enabling the world to explore and work in space.”
Cabana thanked all the Stellar Award nominees for their hard work and dedication and congratulated the winners.
“I am incredibly honored that the committee thought me worthy to receive the National Space Trophy this year,” Cabana said, and he recognized many of the previous national space trophy winners that had a direct impact on his life and shaped his thinking.
“At KSC (Kennedy Space Center), we truly have transitioned to be a multi-user spaceport of the future, supporting both government and commercial operations, crew and cargo, to and from low-Earth orbit and beyond,” Cabana said. “I can’t think of any place I would rather be than part of this amazing team. Thank you again, and don’t stop dreaming!”
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, former NASA astronaut and winner of the 2014 National Space Trophy, congratulated Cabana in a filmed message.
There was also a filmed message congratulating Cabana from astronaut Scott Kelly, who spoke from the Unity node aboard International Space Station, which was delivered by Cabana’s crew on STS-88, the first International Space Station assembly mission.
Lt. Gen Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini and Apollo astronaut and the 1993 National Space Trophy winner, presented an OMEGA watch to Cabana.
Lockheed Martin donated the portrait of Cabana by Pat Rawlings, which was on display at the gala and used as the cover of the souvenir program. The portrait will become part of the National Space Trophy display at Space Center Houston for one year.
Click here for more images from the event.
The RNASA Foundation was founded by the Space Center Rotary Club of Houston in 1985 to organize and coordinate an annual event to recognize outstanding achievements in space and create greater public awareness of the benefits of space exploration.
Gemini and Apollo astronaut Lt. Gen Thomas P. Stafford presents an OMEGA watch to Cabana. Image courtesy of the RNASA Foundation.
Colonel Robert D. Cabana, director of Kennedy Space Center, receives the 2015 National Space Trophy from Ellen Ochoa, director of Johnson Space Center. Image courtesy of the RNASA Foundation.
John Zarrella, former CCN correspondent, was the emcee of RNASA’s 29th annual awards gala. Image courtesy of the RNASA Foundation.