"DART Team and Astronaut Peggy Whitson Recognized for Advancements in Space Science"

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) team have been awarded the Michael Collins Trophy for their achievements in space. Whitson, the first woman commander of the International Space Station, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her record-breaking spaceflights and distinguished career. The DART mission, which successfully impacted the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos, earned the Current Achievement Award for its contribution to planetary defense. The trophy, given by the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, recognizes outstanding accomplishments in aerospace science and technology.