NASA’s Cold Atom Lab Mission, Led by Moroccan Scientist, Wins Prestigious Space Science Award

In a statement to MAP, Mr. Oudghiri, project and mission leader, said that the "Cold Atom Lab" (COL) team received the 2020 AIAA Space Science Award "for having developed and delivered the highly innovative Cold Atom Laboratory to the International Space Agency as well as for its fundamental scientific achievements."

Honored by this distinction, he congratulated all those who helped to successfully design, implement and operate this first quantum physics laboratory in space. "The Cold Atom Lab project depends on the work of an entire team and the commitment to excellence of all those involved in this high-tech laboratory with the goal of promoting the great science that expands our understanding of Earth and the universe around us," he added.

Serving at NASA for about twenty years, the Moroccan scientist has taken an active part in multiple missions, including those related to Mars exploration vehicles, namely "Curiosity", "Rovers", "Spirit" and "Opportunity", as well as the international missions "Cassini" for the planet Saturn, "Grail" for the Moon and "Juno" for Jupiter.