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Satnews Daily
August 2nd, 2016

Applauding Space Foundation's Educational Milestone


Well-designed and superbly implemented science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs ensure the future of space and SATCOM productivity in the years ahead through the training of today's youngsters who will become tomorrow's leaders in space—Space Foundation excels in these areas of educational endeavors.

During the past school year, the Space Foundation served more than 15,000 students and teachers with standards-based, hands-on STEM programs.  A quarter of these students were low-income and under-represented and were able to come on field trips to the Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs because of scholarship funding, generously provided by Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Raytheon.

At the end of July, the Discovery Center achieved a landmark goal of welcoming more than 100,000 visitors, including school field trip classes, home school students, families, day camps, community leaders, senior citizen tours and vacationers.

The Discovery Center, which opened in late 2012, is the region's only space, science and technology attraction. At 47,000 square feet, the Discovery Center allows the Space Foundation to fulfill its education mission to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals, and educate the general public about the importance of space. The Discovery Center houses state-of-the-art facilities for formal and informal education, including:

  • The Lockheed Martin Space Education Center, featuring the Mars Robotics Laboratory, AGI Space Missions Simulation Laboratory and an Education Activity Center
  • The Northrop Grumman Space Education Center, featuring Science On a Sphere®
  • In addition to its collection of space artifacts in the El Pomar Space Gallery, the Discover Center also hosts traveling exhibits. The featured traveling exhibit this summer is "Super Kids Save the World," presented by Children's Hospital Colorado and hosted locally through a partnership with Pikes Peak Children's Museum.

The location at 4425 Arrowswest Drive in Colorado Springs also houses Space Foundation World Headquarters offices and the Ackerman Conference Center.

Space Foundation also wishes to thank the Discovery Center donors...

  • Analytical Graphics, Inc.
  • Anna Keesling Ackerman Fund
  • Anschutz Foundation
  • Battelle
  • The Boettcher Foundation
  • Chapman Trusts
  • E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation
  • El Pomar Foundation
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Northrop Grumman Corporation
  • Raytheon
  • Russell A. Lagasse Trust
  • Scott Bryan
  • State of Colorado Economic Development Commission

In addition, the Space Foundation would like to recognize and thank the Swigert Society and the Discovery Center's Corporate Giving Club members, who provide integral funding that supports the creation of new programs for students and the general public, the addition of new and traveling exhibits and helps maintain the quality of the facility.

The Space Foundation also thanks the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance for its crucial role in keeping our World Headquarters in Colorado Springs.

For information about donating to the Space Foundation’s STEM education mission, please visit www.spacefoundation.org/donate