The Space Foundation

The Space Foundation’s mission: To advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable, and propel humanity.

In 1983, a small group of leaders in Colorado Springs saw a need to establish an organization that could, in a non-partisan, objective and fair manner, bring together the various sectors of America's developing space community and serve as a credible source of information for a broad audience - from space professionals to the general public. The Space Foundation was founded March 21, 1983, as an IRS 501 (c)(3) organization "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 peaceful and prosperous world."

As the global space community has evolved, so has the Space Foundation - embracing all facets of space - commercial (including telecommunications and other satellite-based services), civil, and national security. In fact, the Foundation is one of few space-related organizations that embraces the totality of this community rather than focusing on a narrowly defined niche.

In the 24 years since its founding, the Foundation's education programs have touched teachers in all 50 U.S. states and Germany. It conducts two conferences for space professionals:the National Space Symposium and Strategic Space and Defense.

On February 12, 2008 the Space Foundation conducted a day-long workshop for more than 120 educators in Charles County, Md. The participants were K-12 educators from across the Charles County school district, which serves nearly 27,000 students. Lead by Space Foundation Senior Aerospace Education Specialist Bryan DeBates (featured in photo), the workshop featured hands-on sessions in astronomy, rocketry, earth systems science, biological and physical research, and space technologies. Workshop activities included building and launching paper and straw rockets and experiencing the effects of microgravity in a “Barany Chair.” These lessons provide the teachers with the tools to better incorporate the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines into their classrooms at all grade levels.

In 2007 the Space Foundation conducted two weeks of Space Discovery Institute (SDI) courses for educators in Charles County, in addition to the five weeks of SDI courses in Colorado Springs. This summer, Charles County educators will again have the opportunity to take SDI courses in astronomy, rocketry, earth systems science, and biological and physical research.

The Colorado Springs-based foundation also is expanding its Summer Institute, conducting two graduate level courses for educators in Maryland. Working with the Charles County Board of Education, the Space Foundation is teaching courses on earth systems science and kinesthetic astronomy from July 30 - August 10. More than 50 kindergarten through 12th grade teachers from throughout the Charles County and St. Mary’s County school systems are expected to participate.

The courses are a special offering of the Space Foundation's Summer Institute graduate program specifically designed for educators. These are interactive, hands-on courses designed to provide educators with experience, knowledge, and content that is instantly transferable into the classroom. They provide educators with the skills and techniques they need to capture the imagination and interest of their students using space to inspire, enable, and propel them to study the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

Participating educators will have the opportunity to conduct experiments they can use in the classroom, and explore the principles they are studying through field work. Activities during the earth systems course include exploration of the Calvert Cliff State Park at Chesapeake Bay. Kinesthetic astronomy participants will learn about astronomical research tools and engage in planetary exploration through stargazing and visits to Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Center and NASA Goddard Space Center.

In addition to gaining valuable experience and increasing their knowledge base, participating teachers can earn continuing education credits, graduate credits, or work toward a master's degree with a space studies science emphasis. The Space Foundation offers two distinct master's degrees in space studies. Summer Institute participants can earn a master of education degree, emphasis in space studies leadership, through Regis University, School for Professional Studies, or earn a master of education degree with an emphasis in science education/space studies from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, College of Education Curriculum and Instruction.

The Space Foundation annually conducts a Summer Institute, which consists of weeklong graduate level courses. The 2007 Summer Institute courses in Colorado Springs, Colo., covered subjects including human physiology and nanotechnology; astronomy principles; robotics and satellites; planetary geology and ecology; and rocketry and the biology of living in space. More than 145 educators from across the country participated in these courses. This is the first year the Space Foundation has offered Summer Institute courses in multiple locations.

The Space Foundation describes itself as a leader in space awareness activities, trade association services, research and analysis for the global space industry and educational enterprises that bring space into the classroom. The Space Foundation has an office in Washington, D.C., and field representatives in Houston, Texas, and Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Space Foundation also conducts an annual gathering of the global space community, the National Space Symposium, in Colorado Springs.

For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.