Al Seiff Award
Purpose and Background
The Alvin Seiff Memorial Award is presented annually at the International Planetary Probe Workshop. The award honors scientists, engineers, technologists, or mission planners for their outstanding career contributions to exploration of the solar system. Honorees have applied their expertise to understanding solar system atmospheres by way of probes, and entry, descent and landed systems. They’ve also been leaders in mentoring the next generation of solar system explorers.
Alvin Seiff’s contributions to the fields of planetary exploration and planetary probe technology, as well as his mentorship of a generation of world class planetary scientists and technologists, are legendary. His leadership in using ballistic ranges and innovative engineering analysis played a key role in determining the aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics of the Apollo entry vehicle used to return astronauts safely from the Moon.
In 1962, shortly after President Kennedy proclaimed that, within the next decade, the United State would put a man on the Moon and bring him safely home, Seiff assembled a group of young people from across the nation to contribute to this goal. Under his leadership, the team made key contributions in defining the aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics of the Apollo Earth return vehicle.
Alvin Seiff
Later in his career, Seiff pursued his goal of inverting the entry physics “problem” into the “solution” by using the response of an entry probe to determine the structure and composition of an unknown planetary atmosphere. This powerful concept was proven with the Planetary Atmospheric Entry Test (PAET) project, which demonstrated that inversion of the entry physics problem could be accomplished in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Seiff was the principal investigator on experiments which used the entry probe-based approach he had pioneered to determine the structure of the atmospheres of Mars (Viking), Venus (Pioneer Venus), and Jupiter (Galileo). Seiff’s work on planetary atmospheres is broadly published in scientific literature and textbooks. He is widely recognized for his contributions, both nationally and internationally. He won the NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement three times and was awarded the honor of the Dryden Lectureship by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics for his work on planetary atmospheres.
Perhaps as important as his contributions to NASA’s goals in science and engineering was his leadership in coaching and mentoring. Scores of young engineers and scientists who worked for and with Seiff became world-class researchers, leaders, and managers for NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense. Seiff’s protégés have included an Ames center director, organizational directors, division chiefs, and branch chiefs. Seiff embodied the best of what is expected from a leader, exemplifying the saying “Give more than you take from the circle of life.” He truly soared to the stars, literally touching three planets with his experiments. Seiff gave his all to the international planetary science community. Alvin Seiff passed away in 2000, but his inspiration continues.
In the fall of 2008, Alvin Seiff was selected as a member of NASA Ames Hall of Fame, joining the likes of H. Julian Allen (Blunt Body Concept) and Jim Pollack (Planetary Science). With only 21 inductees, this is a high honor. The purpose of NASA Ames Hall of Fame is to recognize those whose contributions have had the most sustained and far-reaching influence on the mission of NASA, or whose work at NASA Ames has generated fundamental advancements in a scientific or engineering field.
About the Award
The young researchers today will stand on the shoulders of the giants from the past to discover great things in the future.
An important element of the International Planetary Probe Workshops is to introduce, motivate, and educate young people in the scientific studies of planetary atmospheres. Only by placing today’s research activities in the proper historical context through recognizing the contributions of our predecessors can we define a framework for future explorations.
As solar system explorers, we are bound by our colleagues’ achievements and are obligated to further this chain of scientific discovery to the next generation. The award also provides young researchers, who never had the chance to know him, with the opportunity to learn how Al Seiff’s work truly influences virtually every aspect of planetary exploration.
Nomination Process
Anyone may nominate an exceptional candidate for this award. The nomination process consists of filling out the form, which can be downloaded here, preparing a letter of nomination including details of significant career contributions to the understanding of planetary atmospheres utilizing entry/descent probes, and at least one additional letter of support. Other supporting materials are encouraged but not required, including additional letters of support, bibliography, abstracts of up to three papers by the nominee, and curriculum vitae. The weight factors for selection
All nomination materials should be sent (in electronic form, PDF preferred) to Bernie Bienstock, Chair Al Seiff Award Committee (bernard.bienstock@jpl.nasa.gov) and Miguel Pérez-Ayúcar, Chair, Al Seiff Award Committee, miguel.perez.ayucar@esa.int with the subject line "Al Seiff Award Nomination 2024".
2024 Al Seiff Award Committee
Chair: Bernie Bienstock, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Co-chair: Miguel Pérez-Ayúcar, Aurora Technology for European Space Agency (ESAC, Madrid)
Alicia Dwyer Cianciolo, NASA Langley Research Center
Athena Coustenis, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon
Ralph Lorenz, Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Pat Beauchamp
2024 Alvin Seiff Memorial Award Winner
Winner of the Alvin Seiff Memorial Award (2024)
Dr. Patricia (Pat) Beauchamp, Caltech/Jet Propulsion Laboratory(JPL),
Retired
Pat’s contributions to science and engineering have been extensive, and have been achieved through a series of challenging assignments. After joining JPL in 1992, she was appointed to lead JPL’s Center of Excellence for In Situ Exploration and Sample Return (CISSR). Her participation in OPAG and VEXAG has enhanced the work of both assessment groups. Pat went on to serve as Chief Technologist for JPL’s Engineering and Science Directorate. In that role, Pat led the effort to develop NASA’s Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA) best practice. She took part in significant collaborations with international colleagues on numerous studies. These ultimately resulted in ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission, now on its way to Jupiter, and NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, scheduled for launch this year. In addition, Pat has played a key role in attracting and mentoring young scientists and engineers, including guiding many young women in their science and technology careers at JPL and NASA. For these achievements in science, technology, and mentoring in the tradition of Al Seiff, IPPW has selected Pat as the 2024 recipient of the Al Seiff Award.
Previous Winners of the Alvin Seiff Memorial Award
2023 — Paul Mahaffy, NASA Ames Research Center
Paul is an internationally recognized leader in the investigation of chemical and isotopic composition of the atmospheres of Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter, and the surfaces of Mars and the Moon. He has consistently delivered high impact science on the relationship of measurements to planetary processes and their evolution from the mass spectrometers he developed and flew on the Galileo and Mars Science Laboratory planetary probes. In addition, Paul has developed and led an outstanding cadre of scientists that is continuing his legacy to address a range of core planetary science questions of high priority to NASA’s exploration program. Paul Mahaffy embodies not only the scientific excellence of Al Seiff, but his pioneering spirit of exploration as well.
2022 — Ethiraj (Raj) Venkatapathy, NASA Ames Research Center
Raj has made extraordinary contributions to engineering and science enabling the exploration of Solar System bodies with atmospheres. Included in his long list of accomplishments are development of game-changing, innovative thermal protection systems (TPS) and heat shields using textile engineering, maturation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques as a tool for modeling flow dynamics, and his outstanding leadership in entry system technology. Throughout its 19-year history, Raj has fostered international collaborations and mentoring as a leader in planning and conducting the series of the International Planetary Probe Workshops.
2020 — Dr. Ralph Lorenz, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Ralph epitomizes the best that can be achieved by combining scientific enquiry with technological skill. Ralph Lorenz is a multi-talented, highly productive planetary scientist and engineer who has played essential roles in several probe missions: Cassini-Huygens, Deep Space 2, Mars Polar Lander, Insight. Although specializing in Titan, he has made ground-breaking measurements including Mars, Venus and Earth, leading to multidisciplinary insights into surface, meteorological processes and comparative planetology. With a very creative approach, and over 250 papers in refereed journals, he experiments both in the backyard, out into the desert and in large scientific and technical facilities. Ralph’s vision has helped in defining how future probe missions are instrumented. He has taken scientific leading roles, as Instrument Investigator, Participating Scientist, and Project Scientist, as in the recent projects TiME and Dragonfly. He shows an engaging enthusiasm for the field and continues to inspire the wider planetary community. In addition, Ralph has been a key member of the organization and lecturing of the Interplanetary Probe Workshop since its start on 2003.”
2020 — Ms. Michelle Munk, NASA Langley Research Center
In recognition of her leadership of NASA's Entry, Descent and Landing Capability, significant technical contributions to this field, mentoring of younger researchers/students and the dedicated service she has provided to the International Planetary Probe Workshop Series.”
2019 — Athena Coustenis, Paris Observatory, Meudon, France
For career contributions to the advancement of outer solar system science, particularly atmospheres and surfaces of icy satellites in the outer solar system, for contributions to in situ and remote sensing exploration of Titan with the Huygens probe and the Cassini orbiter, for her dedicated advocacy for future in situ missions to study outer solar system destinations, for all her efforts in organizing sessions and conferences that promoted planetary science at large, and for her continued engagement of young researchers in planetary research programs.
2018 — Sushil K. Atreya, University of Michigan
In recognition of his career achievements in advancing the knowledge of the origin, formation, and evolution of the solar system and solar system atmospheres, planetary atmospheric structure, chemistry, and cloud physics; developing and continued promotion of and advocacy for the concept of multiple probe missions to multiple outer planets; and his significant contributions to developing the future generation of planetary explorers.
2017 — Benton C. Clark, Lockheed Martin
In recognition of his exemplary contributions as a Scientist and visionary in conceiving novel mission concepts, his perseverance in ensuring that his visions became reality by mentoring and leading the community of scientist, engineers, mission designers and instrument developers around the world is an enduring tribute to his legacy, and critical contributions not only to every Mars Orbiter and Lander that Lockheed Martin build and delivered, but also to sample return missions beginning with Stardust and continuing with OSIRIS-REx.
2017 — Chul Park, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
In recognition of his exemplary contributions in atmospheric entry technology development, his work, through personal research and as a teacher, in the field of aerothermodynamics, has resulted in worldwide capabilities to predict entry environments and design vehicles for both robotic and human missions.
2016 — Rob Manning, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Rob Manning has been deeply involved in in the technical design of nearly every US Mars mission that has occurred during the Mars Renaissance of the past 20 years. Rob’s first foray into the world of interplanetary missions came in 1993 when he was appointed Chief Engineer for Mars Pathfinder and subsequently volunteered to lead Pathfinder’s Entry Descent and Landing (EDL) team. From then on, Rob’s career has followed the trajectory of the successful Mars program. Mars EDL problems are intense and demand a good team with a diverse set of disciplines and human talent; Rob’s skill and team leadership have been well imprinted on NASA’s Mars Exploration program.
2015 — Boris Ragent, NASA Ames Research Laboratory
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to our understanding of planetary atmospheres and cloud structure, including service as the Principal Investigator for the Pioneer Venus and Galileo Nephelometers, the co-PI, with former Al Seiff award winner Jaques Blamont, of the VEGA Nephelometer, as well as significant mentoring and teaching of the next generation, including positions at Stanford and the University of California extension system.
2014 — Gentry Lee, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to solar system exploration, including service as the Chief Engineer for Galileo, Director of Science Analysis and Mission Planning for Viking, engineering oversight of multiple missions including MER, Stardust and MSL, and significant mentoring and public outreach that has grown the planetary science and space technology community.
2013 — Dr. James Arnold, NASA Ames
In recognition of his 51 years of accomplishments in planetary entry, including pioneering work on shock layer radiation physics, reentry aerothermodynamics, and thermal protection systems, his leadership of NASA Ames high enthalpy facilities and entry system technologies, and his mentorship of countless young engineers.
2013 — Prof. Mikhail Marov, Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry
In recognition of his exemplary and unique contributions to planetary exploration, including taking the first direct measurements of the atmospheric pressures of Mars and Venus. Dr. Marov served as the PI or Co-PI of 15 different planetary probe instruments over a span of ore than 30 years, and was the project scientist for 8 generations of Mars and Venus landers.
2012 — Dr. Robert Braun, University of Colorado Boulder (then at Georgia Tech)
In recognition of his extraordinary and ongoing contributions to the field of planetary entry, descent and landing (EDL), including teaching a new generation of EDL system engineers, serving as the first NASA Chief Technologist in over a decade, and his leadership and engineering knowledge that have contributed greatly to all NASA Mars surface missions from Pathfinder to MSL.
2011 — Dr. Jean-Pierre Lebreton, CNRS
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the field of space exploration, including being a co-founder of the IPPW series, mentoring younger researchers and especially for his leadership that led to the spectacular success of the Cassini-Huygens probe mission to Titan, the IOC of the IPPW bestows the 2011 Alvin Seiff award upon Dr. Jean-Pierre Lebreton.
2010 — Dr. Martin Tomasko, University of Arizona
In recognition of seminal contributions to the development of instrumentation for in situ studies of planetary atmospheres, including the Venus atmosphere from the Pioneer multiprobe mission, the Jupiter atmosphere from the Galileo probe, and the Titan atmosphere from the Huygens probe, and for career achievements in the understanding of the composition, cloud structure, and heat balance of planetary atmospheres throughout the solar system, the IOC of International Planetary Probe workshop bestows the 2010 Alvin Seiff award upon Dr. Martin Tomasko.
2010 — Mr. Michael Tauber, Eloret Corporation
In recognition of his contributions over the past fifty years as an Entry System Engineer, as a teacher and in developing concepts and successfully leading thermal protection systems (TPS) and entry system design of such missions as Galileo and Mars Pathfinder, the IOC of the International Planetary Probe Workshop bestows the 2010 Alvin Seiff award upon Mr. Michael E. Tauber.
2008 – Professor Jacques Blamont, University of Paris
In recognition of his contributions to the Pioneer-Venus and Vega Missions, the development of nephelometry and balloon technologies for atmospheric exploration, for decades of landmark scientific achievements and for his key contributions to establishing a European presence in modern solar system exploration.
2007 – Dr. Hasso B. Niemann, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
In recognition of his contributions to the advancement of mass spectrometry technologies and the development and use of the techniques of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to solar system exploration spanning the missions from PAET to Huygens.