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Stellar Achievements

Recognizing honors, awards, and achievements for NASA Science.

American Geophysical Union’s 2026 Eugene Shoemaker Lecture

Award: The American Geophysical Union’s Eugene Shoemaker Lecture is presented annually and recognizes excellence in planetary exploration.  

Awarded to: Kelsey Young, Artemis II lunar science lead, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.  

Kelsey Young smiles while standing outside in rugged terrain. Kelsey is wearing a knit cap and puffer jacket with the wind blowing her hair. She is standing on rocky soil with patches of ice. Behind her is a ridge of tan rock and a calm lake. Across the lake, rocky mountains with patches of snow and ice rise into the cloudy gray sky.
Kelsey Young, Artemis II lunar science lead at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, was selected to present the American Geophysical Union’s Eugene Shoemaker Lecture for 2026.
NASA/James Blair

Young works on the integration of science into human spaceflight — inspired in part by Eugene Shoemaker’s trailblazing work in this area. Young focuses on the science questions, tools and instruments, and operational concepts that enable astronauts to explore other planetary bodies. Young is also the Artemis science flight operations lead, developing the new science console in Mission Control and serving as the first certified science officer. As Artemis II lunar science lead, she led the mission’s lunar science team and their development of lunar science objectives for the mission.  

As a planetary geologist, Young conducts field work in impact-cratered and volcanic terrain to understand these processes throughout the solar system and to train NASA astronauts and other personnel in field geology and simulated mission operations.  

Date: Sept. 23, 2026

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