---
title: "Frank J. Malina Astronautics Medal"
chunk: 1/1
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_J._Malina_Astronautics_Medal"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:09:09.702780+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

The Frank J. Malina Astronautics Medal is an annual award by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). It was established in 1986 in memory of Frank Malina, an American aeronautical engineer who pioneered rocket propulsion research and helped establish the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The medal is presented annually to an educator who has demonstrated excellence in promoting the study of astronautics and space sciences.
Each organization of the IAF may nominate a candidate each year, and candidates are reviewed by a committee during the annual spring meeting in Paris, France. Awards after 1996 have been conferred upon only one person. In total, 42 awards have been given granted to engineers, academics, astronauts, and scientists from 11 countries.


== List of recipients ==
1984:  László Gazdag
1985: None
1986:  Christa McAuliffe (posthumous)
1987:  Luigi G. Napolitano
1988:  André Lebeau
1989: None
1990: None
1991:  Gerald M. Gregoreck
1992:  Oleg M. Alifanov
1992:  Willy Sadeh
1993:  Hans H. Von Muldau
1994:  Richard A. Seebass
1995:  John L. Whitesides
1996:  Julius E. Dash
1996:  Motocki Hinada
1997:  Vladimir V. Prisniakov
1997:  Leroy S. Fletcher
1998:  Kiran Karnik
1999:  John Junkins
2000:  Roland Doré
2001:  Carlo Buongiorno
2002:  Martin Sweeting
2003:  William A. Hisock
2004:  Eugene Dzhor
2005:  G. P. "Bud" Peterson
2006:  Tetsuo Yasaka
2007:  Peter M. Bainum
2008:  Anne Brumfitt
2009:  Barbara Morgan
2010:  Jean-Marie Wersinger
2011:  Yves Gourinat
2012:  Amalia Ercoli Finzi
2013:  John Logsdon
2014:  Bryan DeBates
2015:  Boris Pschenichner
2016:  Bénédicte Escudier
2017:  Lynn Cominsky
2018:  David B. Spencer
2019:  Mengu Cho
2020:  Peter Martinez
2021:  Filippo Graziani
2022:  Shinichi Nakasuka
2023:  Klaus Schilling
2024:  Bob Twiggs
2025:  Bernard Foing


== See also ==
List of space technology awards
List of engineering awards
Prizes named after people


== References ==