Wargo Award

About the Award

The Michael J. Wargo Exploration Science Award is an annual award given by NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) to an exploration-oriented investigator or engineer who has significantly contributed to the integration of exploration and planetary science throughout their career. The prize is presented, along with an invited lecture, at the annual NASA Exploration Science Forum held each year.

About Michael Wargo

Dr. Michael Wargo (1951-2013) was an outgoing and strong advocate for the integration of science, engineering and technology. As a professor at MIT, he was awarded the John Wulff Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Hugh Hampton Young Memorial Fund prize for exhibiting leadership and creativity while maintaining exceptionally broad and interdisciplinary interests. In a nearly two-decade career at NASA, he received numerous awards including NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal and seven group achievement awards.

Serving as Chief Exploration Scientist for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, Mike worked closely with planetary researchers, especially in the lunar and Mars science communities, to develop collaborative and highly productive missions. As a scientific member of many lunar missions, including the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the LCROSS satellite, Mike helped map resources for human missions to the Moon and participated in the discovery of ice in the shadows of lunar craters. He was a member of the team planning the next robotic mission to Mars in 2020 and worked gathering crucial scientific information needed to allow humans to be sent safely to the moon, Mars and near-Earth asteroids. Much of his work has helped develop a “roadmap” for human and robotic space exploration for the next two decades.

As Executive Secretary of LEAG, Mike championed the Moon across the community and later at NASA Headquarters for several years. He provided guidance and insight to the direction of the initial NASA Lunar Science Institute and the creation of NASA’s Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute. His encyclopedic knowledge of science and exploration issues related to human spaceflight was legendary, and he freely advised the next generation of planetary scientists and engineers. Mike was a shining example of collaboration and open communication that has inspired many scientists and engineers.

Call for Nominations

Nominations for the Wargo Exploration Science Award should summarize the contributions of the nominee and succinctly state the qualifications and rationale for their selection (2000 characters). Nominees should be relatively senior scientists who have significantly contributed to advancements in exploration science for the Moon and small bodies of the Solar System.

Nominations are welcome from anyone at any time, but should be submitted no later than March 31 for consideration in that calendar year. Nominees do not need to reside in the U.S. nor be a U.S. citizen; nor do they need to be a member of SSERVI Teams. Nominees who are not initially selected will automatically become candidates for the following two years if they still meet the award criteria.

Previous Awardees of the Michael J. Wargo Exploration Science Award

Past Winners

Michael J. Wargo, received by Ms. Adele Morrissette	2014
Clive R. Neal	2015
Dana Hurley	2016
Lawrence Taylor	2017
David Kring	2018
Wendell Mendell	2019
Mark Robinson	2020
Darlene Lim	2021
Ben Bussey	2022
Ian Crawford	2023