Dr. G. Scott Hubbard

Bio

Dr. Hubbard's research interests include the study of both human and robotic exploration of space with a particular focus on technology and missions for planetary exploration, especially Mars. Prof. Hubbard is also an expert on the emerging entrepreneurial space industry and is the Director Emeritus of the Stanford Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation (COE CST). As part of his ongoing engagement with robotic Mars missions, Hubbard serves as a member of National Academy of Science review groups and as a frequent consultant to NASA projects. Current topics include the Mars Sample Return architecture and studying the infusion of science objectives into human exploration missions. Dr. Hubbard's commercial space interests examine policies to enable, facilitate and promote such ventures. As the former Director of NASA's Ames Research Center, he maintains an active connection to the space exploration community. Hubbard is also the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed journal New Space.

Brief Biography: Dr. Scott Hubbard has been a leader in space exploration for almost 50 years. His career includes a National Lab, a start-up venture, NASA, and Stanford. At NASA, Dr. Hubbard is best known as Director of NASA’s Ames Research Center, the first Mars Program Director (aka the "Mars Czar"), and the founder of NASA's Astrobiology Institute. As the sole NASA member of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), Hubbard’s work demonstrated the definitive technical cause of the accident. At Stanford, Hubbard has been very active in the emerging entrepreneurial space enterprise, establishing a peer-reviewed journal New Space, and creating the Stanford Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation., From 2012 to 2023 Hubbard chaired the SpaceX Commercial Crew Safety Advisory Panel. Although now retired from teaching and advising he continues to serve on various committees for the National Academy, NASA and other groups. He is the author of the award winning "Exploring Mars: Chronicles from a Decade of Discovery" and his many honors include eight NASA medals including NASA’s highest recognition, the Distinguished Service Medal. Dr. Hubbard is also an Honorary Fellow of the AIAA. A brief video of Hubbard's career may be viewed at https://vimeo.com/172038243. More background is available at https://gscotthubbard.com/ including Hubbard's lifelong passion for playing music.
Selected Honors
2022 Elected Cosmos Club, Distinguished in Space Science
2019 Honorary Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
2018 Vanderbilt Student Media Hall of Fame
2016 Henry Clay Distinguished Kentuckian Award
2016 NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal for NASA Advisory Council
2013 Kentucky Aviation Museum Hall of Fame
2013 Bronze Medal in Science; “Exploring Mars”, Independent Publishers Book Awards
2007 Challenger Learning Center Distinguished Achievement Award.
2006 Carl Sagan Memorial Award by the American Astronautical and Planetary Societies
2006 Presidential Meritorious Rank Senior Executive
2006 Doctor Honoris Causa Polytechnic University of Madrid
2005 NASA Exceptional Service Medal for Columbia Accident Board report
2004 Distinguished Service Medal (NASA’s Highest Award) for demonstrating the physical cause of the Columbia accident
2004 Engineering Science Award, International Academy of Astronautics
2004 Von Kármán medal in the field of Astronautics
2003 Elected Fellow, AIAA
2002 NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal for Mars Odyssey
2001 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal for Mars Program Restructuring
1999 NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal for Lunar Prospector Mission
1998 “Laurels” from Aviation Week for Lunar Prospector
1998 NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal for Mars Pathfinder Project
1997 “Laurels” from Aviation Week for Mars Pathfinder
1994 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal for creation of Mars Pathfinder mission.