The 2022 von Kármán Lectureship in Astronautics has been awarded to Kathleen C. Howell, the Hsu Lo Distinguished Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. The award was announced on October 4 and officially awarded during the 2022 ASCEND conference held by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). The von Kármán Lectureship honors an individual who has performed notably and distinguished themselves technically in the field of astronautics.

Howell’s technical research focus is astrodynamics in complex gravitational environments. She has successfully applied these methodologies to various flight missions and mission proposals. Her contributions include mission planning and trajectory optimization, station-keeping and maneuver design, low-thrust applications including small satellites and the development of interactive visual capabilities for complex mission scenarios.

As a principal investigator, Howell has obtained numerous grants and received various awards related to her research program as well as in recognition as an engineering educator. She served for many years as the editor-in-chief for the American Astronautical Society (AAS) Journal of the Astronautical Sciences; she is also a member of other editorial boards.

Professor Howell is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the International Academy of Astronautics. She is an AIAA Fellow, as well as an AAS Fellow. She earned her B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University, and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Sciences from Stanford University.