| Space Foundation | |
| Formation: | 1983 |
| Headquarters: | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Website: | https://www.spacefoundation.org/ |
The Space Foundation is an American nonprofit organization, the mission of which is to advocate for all sectors of the global space industry through space awareness activities, educational programs, and major industry events. It was founded in 1983.[1]
Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the foundation's headquarters includes team offices, as well as conference and other facilities. Other offices are in Washington, D.C., Texas, and Florida.[2]
The Space Foundation delivers K-12 student programs in laboratory, classroom and after-school settings. Programs include STEM, social studies, history, the arts and literature and are available to individual classes, school districts, public and private school, colleges and universities offering education curriculum and homeschool organizations.[3]
The Space Foundation hosts the annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs at the Broadmoor Hotel. The Space Symposium features presentations and panels that provide insight into space developments and the latest on critical industry issues. Each year, several awards are presented at the Space Symposium recognizing achievements in various space arenas.
The symposium includes an annual fundraiser called "Yuri's Night", named in honour of Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. In 2022, the foundation renamed the fundraiser as "A Celebration of Space: Discover What’s Next" due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.[4]
The General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Space Foundation, presented annually at a special luncheon held during the Space Symposium. The award recognizes outstanding individuals who have distinguished themselves through lifetime contributions to the welfare or betterment of humankind through the exploration, development and use of space, or the use of space technology, information, themes or resources in academic, cultural, industrial or other pursuits of broad benefit to humanity. Nominations are solicited throughout the global space industry and the honoree is selected by the Space Foundation's Board of Directors. Recipients of the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award include:[5]
| Year | Recipient | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Daniel Goldin | ||
| 2022 | Joanne M. Maguire | ||
| 2021 | Patti Grace Smith | ||
| 2020 | Gene Kranz | ||
| 2019 | Thomas P. Stafford | ||
| 2018 | Christopher Columbus "Chris" Kraft Jr. | ||
| 2017 | Piers Sellers[6] | ||
| - | 2016 | VADM Richard H. Truly, USN (Ret.) | |
| - | 2015 | Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) | |
| - | 2014 | A. Thomas Young | |
| - | 2013 | NASA Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Sally Ride | |
| - | 2012 | General Thomas S. Moorman Jr., USAF (Retired) | |
| - | 2011 | Charles Elachi, Ph.D. | |
| 2010 | Captain John W. Young, USN (Retired) | ||
| 2009 | The Honorable Peter B. Teets | ||
| 2008 | Hans Mark, Ph.D. | ||
| 2007 | Simon Ramo, Ph.D. | ||
| 2006 | Buzz Aldrin, Ph.D. | ||
| 2005 | The Honorable Edward C. Aldridge Jr. | ||
| 2004 | General Bernard A. Schriever, USAF (Retired) | ||
| 2003 | Captain James A. Jim Lovell Jr., USN (Retired) | ||
| 2002 | Norman R. Augustine |
The Space Foundation, in conjunction with the Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), annually presents the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award to recognize outstanding contributions to creative and innovative use of technology in education by K-12 educators or district-level education personnel.[7] Winners of the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award include:
| Year | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Rachel Harrington | |
| 2022 | Dan Saldana | |
| 2021 | N/A | |
| 2020 | Kaci Heins | |
| 2019 | Jill Gilford | |
| 2018 | Diego Martinez | |
| 2017 | Ashlie Blackstone Smith | |
| 2016 | Margaret Rhule Baguio | |
| 2015 | June Scobee Rodgers, Ph.D. | |
| 2014 | Lynne F. Zielinski | |
| 2013 | Daniel R. Newmyer, a science and math teacher for Center High School in rural southern Colorado. | |
| 2012 | Dr. Cynthia Waters, director of aviation for The Aviation Academy at T.W. Andrews High School in High Point, N.C. | |
| 2011 | Charles County (Md.) Public Schools Superintendent James E. Richmond | |
| 2010 | Allen V. Robnett | |
| 2009 | Ricardo V. Soria | |
| 2008 | Kevin L. Simmons | |
| 2007 | Luther W. Richardson | |
| 2006 | Kathy R. Brandon | |
| 2005 | Ronald F. Dantowitz | |
| 2004 | Charles Geach | |
| 2003 | Brian Copes | |
| 2002 | Thomas F. Hunt, Frank E. Waller | |
| 2001 | Lori Byrnes |
The Space Foundation annually presents the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award in memory of Douglas S. Morrow, renowned Academy Award-winning writer and producer, space advocate and former Space Foundation Board Member, to an individual or organization who has made significant contributions to the public awareness and understanding of space programs. Winners of the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award include:[8]
| Year | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | United States Postal Service (USPS) | |
| 2022 | Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and SpaceX | |
| 2021 | Bill Ingalls | |
| 2020 | Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum (NASM) | |
| 2019 | National Space Council and its Chair, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence | |
| 2018 | Margot Lee Shetterly | |
| 2017 | DigitalGlobe and The Associated Press | |
| 2016 | Andy Weir, author | |
| 2015 | NASA/Industry Exploration Flight Test 1 team | |
| 2014 | Col. Chris Hadfield (Ret.), former Canadian astronaut | |
| 2013 | Bill Nye the Science Guy and chief executive officer of the Planetary Society | |
| 2012 | NASA Social Media Team | |
| 2011 | Space Journalists Jay Barbree (NBC News), Marcia Dunn (The Associated Press) and Bill Harwood (CBS News) | |
| 2010 | Leonard Nimoy | |
| 2009 | Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ph.D. | |
| 2008 | Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts | |
| 2007 | Colonel Eileen M. Collins, USAF (Retired) | |
| 2006 | ||
| 2005 | The Ansari X-Prize Foundation | |
| 2004 | Life magazine | |
| 2003 | Robert T. McCall | |
| 2002 | Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett Roddenberry | |
| 2001 | Popular Science Magazine | |
| 2000 | Space Awareness Alliance | |
| 1999 | The Crew of Space Shuttle Mission STS-95 | |
| 1998 | NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory | |
| 1997 | The Cable News Network (CNN) | |
| 1996 | The Apollo 13 film team | |
| 1995 | Discovery Communications, Inc. |
The Space Foundation's Space Achievement Award recognizes individuals or organizations for space achievement, a breakthrough space technology or program or other achievements representing critical milestones in the evolution of space exploration and development. Winners of the Space Achievement Award include:[9]
| Year | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) team | |
| 2022 | International Astronautical Federation | |
| 2021 | United States Space Force (USSF) | |
| 2020 | International Space Station partners | |
| 2019 | Peter Wilhelm, former director, Naval Center for Space TechnologyVirgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company | |
| 2018 | Space Security and Defense Program | |
| 2017 | The Space Mission of Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko | |
| 2016 | SpaceX | |
| 2015 | Boeing X-37 Team[10] | |
| 2014 | U.S. Air Force GPS team | |
| 2013 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | |
| 2012 | ||
| 2011 | SpaceX and Télécoms Sans Frontières | |
| 2010 | Hubble Space Telescope Repair Mission team | |
| 2009 | China's Shenzhou 7 Mission | |
| 2008 | United States Air Force | |
| 2007 | ||
| 2006 | ||
| 2005 | SpaceShipOne team | |
| 2004 | Ariane 4 launch team | |
| 2003 | U.S. Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Team; Lockheed Martin Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Team; The Boeing Company Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Team | |
| 2002 | NASA/Industry Galileo space probe team and the men and women of United States Space Command and its component organizations | |
| 2001 | Hubble Space Telescope team | |
| 2000 | Sea Launch | |
| 1999 | NASA-Boeing International Space Station team | |
| 1998 | General Thomas S. Moorman Jr., USAF (Retired) | |
| 1997 | Captain James Jim Lovell, USN (Retired) | |
| 1996 | American Astronautical Society | |
| 1995 | Air University (United States Air Force) |
The John L. "Jack" Swigert Jr., Award for Space Exploration recognizes extraordinary accomplishments by a company, space agency or consortium of organizations in the realm of space exploration and discovery. The award is in memory of astronaut John L. 'Jack' Swigert Jr., one of the inspirations for creating the Space Foundation. Winners of the John L. Jack Swigert Jr., Award for Space Exploration include:[11]
| Year | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | James Webb Space Telescope team | |
| 2022 | NASA and the University of Arizona OSIRIS-REx team | |
| 2021 | NASA JPL Mars Ingenuity helicopter team | |
| 2020 | NASA JPL InSight-Mars Cube One | |
| 2019 | NASA Dawn mission | |
| 2018 | Cassini mission team | |
| 2017 | No award | |
| 2016 | Pluto New Horizons exploration team | |
| 2015 | Rosetta comet exploration team | |
| 2014 | No award | |
| 2013 | NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission team | |
| 2012 | NASA Kepler Mission | |
| 2011 | No award | |
| 2010 | The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission team | |
| 2009 | NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander team | |
| 2008 | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency | |
| 2007 | The California Institute of Technology | |
| 2006 | Buzz Aldrin, Ph.D. | |
| 2005 | NASA's Mars Exploration Team from Jet Propulsion Laboratory | |
| 2004 | President George W. Bush |
The Space Technology Hall of Fame was created in 1988 by the Space Foundation with cooperation from NASA and is administered by the Space Foundation.[12] [13] The foundation annually honors groups and individuals that, according to the organization, "transform technology originally developed for space exploration into products that help improve the quality of life here on Earth".[14] [15] [16]
Since 1988, it has been inducting dozens of technologies and honoring hundreds of organizations and individuals that transform technology originally developed for space exploration into products that help improve the quality of life on Earth.
| Year | Inductee | |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Evinrude/BRP MSFC-398 and Miniaturized Laser Communication Terminals by Mynaric and DLR | |
| 2017 | ActivePure RCI and Florikan E.S.A. SNR Fertilizer | |
| 2016 | Medtronic LaRC S-I and WATEX | |
| 2015 | Chronos Vision Technology and Seismic Damper Technology | |
| 2014 | International Cospas-Sarsat Programme and NeuroArm-Symbis Space Robotics | |
| 2013 | GATR Inflatable Satellite Communication System[17] a portable, rapidly deployed, inflatable antenna that targets a geostationary satellite to establish critical communications links and Mediphan DistanceDoc and MedRecorder, compact low-power ultrasound devices that can be used as a diagnostic tool where large scanning equipment is impractical. | |
| 2012 | Flexible Aerogel (Aspen Aerogels, Aspen Systems and NASA Kennedy Space Center) and high-resolution optical sensing fire detection (FireWatch system from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and IQ Wireless) | |
| 2011 | Commercial Earth-Imaging Satellites (GeoEye and DigitalGlobe) and Intrifuge CellXpansion (NASA Johnson Space Center, Regenetech and Synthecon) | |
| 2010 | Eagle Eyes and Digital Fly-By-Wire | |
| 2009 | Aerodynamic Vehicle Design and Micro Algae Nutritional Supplements[18] | |
| 2008 | ArterioVision, Petroleum Remediation Product and ResQPOD | |
| 2007 | Umpqua Research Company, Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron and Microbial Check Valve | |
| 2006 | iRobot PackBot Tactical Mobile Robot and Novariant AutoFarm RTK AutoSteer | |
| 2005 | Hyperspectral Imaging Systems, NanoCeram Superfilters, InnerVue Diagnostic Scope System, InnerVue Diagnostic Scope System and Outlast Technologies, Inc. Smart Fabric Technology | |
| 2004 | Multi-Junction (MJ) Space Solar Cells, LADARVision 4000, Precision Global Positioning System (GPS) Software and MedStar Monitoring System | |
| 2003 | Cochlear Implant, Virtual Window, VisiScreen (Ocular Screening System, Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit Technology, Humanitarian Demining Device and Digital Latching Valve | |
| 2002 | Satellite Radio Technology | |
| 2001 | Data Matrix Symbology, Video Image Stabilization and Registration (VISAR) and Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors (QWIP) | |
| 2000 | X-1R Advanced Lubricants, DirecTV and Light-Emitting Diodes for medical applications | |
| 1999 | Heart Defibrillator Energy Source, Miniature Accelerometer, Active Pixel Sensor and DeBakey Blood Pump | |
| 1998 | ||
| 1997 | ACTS Gigabit Satellite Network and Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Technology | |
| 1996 | Radiant Barrier, Anti-Shock Trousers and Fire-Resistant Aircraft Seats | |
| 1995 | Parawings or Hang Gliders and Anti-Corrosion Coatings | |
| 1994 | Excimer Laser Angioplasty System and Digital Image Processing - Medical Applications | |
| 1993 | Physiological Monitoring Instrumentation and Liquid-Cooled Garments | |
| 1992 | Earth Resources Laboratory Applications Software and Direct Readout Satellite System | |
| 1991 | Automatic Implantable Cardiovertor Defibrillator and PMR-15 Polymide Resin | |
| 1990 | Heat Pipe Systems & Safety Grooving | |
| 1989 | Cordless Tools, Scratch Resistant Lenses and Fabric Roof Structures | |
| 1988 | Improved Firefighter's Breathing System, NASA Structural Analysis Computer Software, Sewage Treatment With Water Hyacinths, Programmable Implantable Medication System and Power Factor Controller. |