At each Congress, the Association of Space Explorers presents its Planetary Award, the Crystal Helmet, to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement and understanding of the theme subject of that year's Congress. In 1990, Dutch astronaut and ASE member Wubbo Ockels asked the Royal Leerdam company, makers, designers, sculptors and etchers of Dutch crystal, to create the Planetary Award for ASE based on the original ASE logo design by founding ASE member and artist Alexei Leonov.

The award consists of a solid crystal sphere set in a thin rectangular standing crystal block.  The front of the sphere is etched to depict a space helmet with a translucent visor.  The back of the sphere is etched with blue ocean and seas adjacent to a translucent European continent. As viewed from the front, the visor appears to reflect the lands and seas on the back, which appear in reverse orientation as they would in an astronaut's faceplate.  The sphere also symbolically represents the eyeball of an astronaut looking back at the Earth, which is projected in reverse on the retina.  The reflection of the Earth underscores the role of astronauts serving as a mirrors for humanity.

The Leonov Medallion is a solid bronze casting designed, carved and poured by cosmonaut Alexei Arkhipovich Leonov, Major General, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, and first human to walk in space. The metal used in the medallion was originally reclaimed from a large memorial plaque to Leonid Brezhnev that at one time decorated the Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City, Russia.

The Leonov Medallion is awarded on behalf of the Association of Space Explorers to honor notables who have contributed greatly to the Association and its aims; it was first awarded at the VI Congress in 1990. The Medallions are also awarded to Congress hosts and ASE members who have provided exemplary service to the Association.

The ASE Distinguished Member (DM) recognizes individuals who through their longstanding personal and professional efforts have significantly contributed to the mission, goals and objectives of the Association of Space Explorers. Nominees are accepted on an ongoing basis and are selected by the international executive committee. Two is the maximum number of awards presented each year. The first DM was awarded at the XXII Planetary Congress in 2009. Distinguished Members are presented with a sterling silver and 14 ct gold ASE lapel pin, custom designed and produced only for the conferees.

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John Fabian

This award recognizes the individual who makes the best technical presentation at the Congress, as voted upon by the ASE members in attendance. The award itself is a ceramic extra vehicular activity glove, conceived, designed and produced for each Congress by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachev.

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Year

Catherine Coleman (USA)