10th LEIF ERIKSON AWARDS HONOR PIONEERS OF EXPLORATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Húsavík, Iceland – December 30, 2024
The Exploration Museum is delighted to announce the winners of the 2024 Leif Erikson Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in exploration and the preservation of exploration history. This year’s awards celebrate three remarkable recipients:
Leif Erikson Award: Rusty Schweickart
Astronaut Rusty Schweickart receives the 2024 Leif Erikson Award for his lifetime achievements in exploration. Schweickart served as Lunar Module Pilot on the 1969 Apollo 9 mission, where he performed the first spacewalk to test the portable life support system used by astronauts on the Moon. He later contributed to the Skylab program and co-founded the Association of Space Explorers and the B612 Foundation, advocating for planetary defense against asteroid impacts. Schweickart’s pioneering work and advocacy have inspired generations of explorers and scientists.
Young Explorer Award: Nima Rinji Sherpa
Nima Rinji Sherpa, a 17-year-old mountaineer from Nepal, is the recipient of the 2024 Young Explorer Award. Earlier this year, Nima Rinji became the youngest person to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks. His historic achievement highlights not only his extraordinary courage and skill but also the enduring spirit of exploration and adventure.
Leif Erikson Exploration History Award: Space Hipsters
The 2024 Exploration History Award is presented to Space Hipsters, a global community dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of space exploration. Founded by Emily Carney in 2011, Space Hipsters has grown to over 66,000 members, fostering connections between historians, authors, artists, and astronauts. The group amplifies the stories of female explorers and champions inclusivity through initiatives like Taking Up Space, which supports young Native American women in pursuing careers in spaceflight. Professor Lois Huneycutt, a founding member, accepted the award on behalf of the group at the annual Húsavík Explorers Festival.
For further information, please contact:
Europe Contact: Orly Orlyson, Director of the Exploration Museum
Email: orly@husavik.com
Tel: +354 848 7600
North America Contact: Jeff Blumenfeld, Editor of Expedition News
Email: jeff@blumenfeldpr.com
Gallery of images
