By Joseph | Khemetic Nation News Network | November 12, 2026
The Smithsonian has selected Charles Duke and the Artemis II Mission Team for its 2027 Michael Collins Trophy; ceremony set for March 25.
Two generations of lunar exploration
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum announced November 10 that Charles M. Duke Jr. will receive the 2027 Michael Collins Trophy for Lifetime Achievement. The Artemis II Mission Team will be recognized for Current Achievement. The presentation ceremony is scheduled for March 25, 2027, at the museum in Washington, D.C.
Duke’s place in exploration history
Duke served as lunar module pilot during Apollo 16 in April 1972. He became the tenth and youngest person to walk on the Moon, exploring the Descartes Highlands with commander John Young. Their geological surveys and lunar samples helped scientists better understand the Moon. Duke also supported Apollo 11 as a spacecraft communicator.
Recognizing teamwork
The Artemis II award follows the program’s crewed lunar mission in April 2026. The Smithsonian’s recognition extends beyond the astronauts to the teams responsible for mission operations, engineering and science. The two honorees together reflect the continuity of knowledge from Apollo-era exploration into the Artemis program.
About the trophy
Named for Apollo 11 astronaut and former museum director Michael Collins, the annual honor recognizes accomplishment in aerospace history, science and technology. Honorees receive a miniature version of John Safer’s sculpture The Web of Space. The NASA image shows Duke actually collecting lunar samples in 1972; it is not a photograph of the future awards ceremony.
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