Space Foundation
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.
Locations
Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the foundation's headquarters includes team offices, as well as conference and other facilities. The Space Foundation has an office in Washington, D.C. and field representatives in Houston, Los Angeles, and the Florida Space Coast.Education
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.Space Symposium
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.
Awards
General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award
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:Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award
The Space Foundation, in conjunction with the Astronauts Memorial Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 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. 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 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 |
Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award
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:| Year | Winner |
| 2025 | Emily Calandrelli |
| 2024 | Barbara Morgan |
| 2023 | United States Postal Service |
| 2022 | Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and SpaceX |
| 2021 | Bill Ingalls |
| 2020 | Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum |
| 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, 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, Marcia Dunn and Bill Harwood |
| 2010 | Leonard Nimoy |
| 2009 | Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ph.D. |
| 2008 | Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts |
| 2007 | Colonel Eileen M. Collins, USAF |
| 2006 | Tom Hanks |
| 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 |
| 1996 | The Apollo 13 film team |
| 1995 | Discovery Communications, Inc. |
Space Achievement Award
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:| Year | Winner |
| 2025 | SpaceX Starship Mission Team |
| 2024 | European Space Agency |
| 2023 | NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test team |
| 2022 | International Astronautical Federation |
| 2021 | United States Space Force |
| 2020 | International Space Station partners |
| 2019 | Peter Wilhelm, former director, Naval Center for Space Technology Virgin 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 |
| 2014 | U.S. Air Force GPS team |
| 2013 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
| 2012 | Dr. Junichiro Kawaguchi, JAXA |
| 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 | Bigelow Aerospace |
| 2006 | The U.S. Titan Launch Vehicle Team: Lockheed Martin, United States Air Force, The Aerospace Corporation, NASA |
| 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 |
| 1997 | Captain James Jim Lovell, USN |
| 1996 | American Astronautical Society |
| 1995 | Air University |
John L. Jack, Swigert Jr., Award for Space Exploration
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:| Year | Winner |
| 2025 | Polaris Dawn Mission |
| 2024 | Chandrayaan-3 |
| 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 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 |