The Space Foundation is an international, nonprofit organization and the foremost advocate for all sectors of the space industry - civil, commercial, and national security. Founded in 1983 and based in Colorado Springs, Colo., the Space Foundation is a leader in space awareness activities; major industry events, including the National Space Symposium; space-related educational enterprises; and space-related research. The Space Foundation has an office in Washington, D.C., and field representatives in Cape Canaveral, Fla., and Houston, Texas.
The Space Foundation employs a variety of programs and initiatives that educate and raise awareness about the importance and impact of the space industry:
- Education programs help teachers and students integrate space into the classroom to improve students' interest and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
- Major events bring together multiple parties engaged in space policy and the space economy.
- White papers, forums, the Space Foundation's annual analysis of global space activity, The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity, and the daily Space Foundation Indexes provide factual and authoritative information about the space industry.
- The Space Foundation educates and raises awareness and understanding about space issues among policy and decision-makers throughout the government.
- The Space Certification program and Space Technology Hall of Fame® communicate the impact of the space industry through spin-off technologies that benefit our lives here on Earth.
Space Foundation Scope:
The Space Foundation serves every sector of the global space community:
- Civil space: the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation, other non-defense-related government space programs and initiatives, and similar civil space agencies outside the United States.
- Commercial space: non-governmental research, development and manufacturing businesses that contract with the government, commercial satellite providers, and providers of space-related services and technologies. Commercial space does not include government programs, though government entities do purchase services from commercial space providers.
- National security space: all of the space programs undertaken to ensure national security, including Air Force Space Command, United States Strategic Command, National Reconnaissance Office, and many others.
- New space entrepreneurship: companies that provide private launch and private space travel services or are engaged in any newly developed non-governmental space applications.
Space Foundation History:
The Space Foundation was founded "to foster, develop, and promote, among the citizens of the United States of America and among other people of the world ... a greater understanding and awareness ... of the practical and theoretical utilization of space ... for the benefit of civilization and the fostering of a peaceful and prosperous world." The Space Foundation has evolved with the global space community, and is one of the few space-related organizations that embraces the totality of the space industry rather than focusing on a narrow niche. In the more than 25 years since its founding, the Space Foundation has become one of the world's premier nonprofit organizations supporting space activities, space professionals, and education.
National Space Symposium:
The Space Foundation annually hosts the premier gathering of the global space community - the National Space Symposium - at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo. The National Space Symposium's top allure to attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and speakers is as a venue for networking and conducting meaningful business.
The 27th National Space Symposium, scheduled for April 11-14, 2011, offers workshops, forums, panels, and presentations covering all aspects of space. This includes the Congressional Luncheon; Corporate Partnership Dinner; the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award Luncheon; and the Space Technology Hall of Fame® Dinner. The Symposium also includes engaging programs for selected teachers and students, and an extensive Exhibit Center. More information is available at www.NationalSpaceSymposium.org.
Space Foundation Education Programs:
Education programs support teachers and PreK-12 students with standards-based curriculum that integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) into all content areas:
- NEW HORIZONS Space Education Program, a community-centered, science enrichment program that infuses STEM education into a community through student programs, teacher workshops, field trips, town-hall meetings, and astronaut and space professional visits.
- Space Foundation Discovery Institute, based at the Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy in Colorado Springs, and providing space- and aerospace-themed professional development, training, and support for teachers and students from around the world. It serves as the base location for the Space Foundation's education programs and will house classrooms, a NASA Educator Resource Center, and eventually include three major laboratories: a simulated space mission operations center to open in 2010; a simulated Martian terrain laboratory to open in early 2011; and a Science on a Sphere facility in early 2012.
- Space Across the Curriculum, week-long, intensive, graduate-level, in-residence courses that provide PreK-12 educators with space-related STEM education knowledge and content that is instantly transferable to the classroom. In 2009, 17 sessions were conducted in Omaha, Neb., Charles County, Md., and Colorado Springs, Colo. Participants can earn continuing education credits, graduate credits, or work toward a master's degree in multiple related disciplines. Master's degrees are offered to elementary, middle, and high school teachers through the Space Foundation Educator Professional Development, Regis University, and the College of Education at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
- STARS Program (Science, Technology, and Academic Readiness for Space), a hands-on science enrichment program based on each school's academic needs.
- Resources, including the National Science Standards Lesson Bank, NASA Educator Resource Center, Apophis Online Science Lab, and Orion's Path Online Science Lab
- Teacher Liaisons, advocates for space science education who receive Space Foundation training and resources to further integrate space into their classrooms and participate in workshops and education programs at the National Space Symposium.
- Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy, an aerospace-focused public middle school created in conjunction with Colorado Springs School District 11 that drives STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) proficiency through a space-related curriculum, enhanced onsite laboratories and learning opportunities, and involvement with Space Foundation programs.
Corporate Memberships:
Space Foundation Corporate Membership connects companies with a broad range of space industry leaders. Corporate members benefit from advance notice of Space Foundation event sponsorship and business opportunities, preferential exhibit positioning, reduced exhibit booth rates, complimentary event registrations, business networking and referral, and much more. Membership fees support the Space Foundation's programs for members, for general advancement of support and understanding of the importance of space exploration, and for space-related STEM education programs.
Media Contacts:
Janet Stevens, APR
Vice President - Communications and Public Outreach
Carol Hively
Public Affairs Specialist
media@spacefoundation.org
p: (719) 576-8000
f: (719) 576-8801
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