Planetary Scientist Dr. Alan Stern Named 2026 American Astronomical Society Fellow
SAN ANTONIO — Planetary scientist Dr. Alan Stern, Associate Vice President in the Space Sector at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), has been named a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society (AAS).
The AAS Fellowship is awarded to fewer than 0.5 percent of the society's global membership each year, honoring individuals for extraordinary achievements in original scientific research, technical innovation in astronomical instrumentation, and outstanding public outreach.
Career Milestones in Solar System Exploration
Stern was recognized by the AAS governing board for his foundational contributions to planetary science and space instrumentation, most notably as the principal investigator of NASA's historic New Horizons mission.
Under Stern's direction, New Horizons launched in January 2006 and conducted the first-ever close-range flyby and scientific reconnaissance of Pluto and its moon system in July 2015. The spacecraft subsequently continued into the Kuiper Belt, delivering the first close-up images and atmospheric measurements of the primitive Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth in 2019.
"I am deeply honored and humbled to be named an AAS Fellow," Stern stated in response to the designation. "I owe the lion's share of my professional success to Southwest Research Institute."
Decades of Public Service and Leadership
Over the course of his four-decade career, Stern has served on executive and scientific mission teams for 30 individual NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) space projects. Key administrative and research highlights include:
- NASA Directorate Leadership: Serving as Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate from 2007 to 2008, overseeing 93 flight missions and thousands of research grants.
- National Science Board: Serving as an appointed member of the U.S. National Science Board since 2018.
- Commercial Spaceflight: Flying as a commercial suborbital researcher aboard Virgin Galactic's Unity spacecraft in November 2023.
Founded in 1899, the American Astronomical Society represents more than 8,000 professional and amateur astronomers across the globe. Stern joins the 2026 class of AAS Fellows alongside 22 other international researchers honored for sustained excellence in space exploration and astronomical science.