The Space Foundation is an American nonprofit organization, that advocates for the global space industry through space awareness activities, educational programs, and major industry events. Founded in 1983, it is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with additional offices in Washington, D.C..
Activities The Space Foundation delivers K-12 student programs in laboratory, classroom and after-school settings. It hosts the annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, featuring presentations and panels that provide insight into space developments and the latest on critical industry issues.
The symposium includes an annual fundraiser called "Yuri's Night", named in honour of Soviet 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. 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. Recipients of the award include:
Year Recipient2025Kathryn Sullivan2024Martin Faga 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 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
Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award 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. 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
Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award The Space Foundation annually presents the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award in memory of Douglas S. Morrow, 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 Winner2025Emily Calandrelli2024Barbara Morgan 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 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 (CNN) 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 Winner2025SpaceX Starship Mission Team2024European Space Agency 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 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 (Retired) 1997 Captain James Jim Lovell, USN (Retired) 1996 American Astronautical Society 1995 Air University (United States Air Force)
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 Winner2025Polaris Dawn Mission2024Chandrayaan-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 (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
Space Technology Hall of Fame 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.Space Technology Hall of Fame Inducts NASA Spinoff Technology, NASA, Office of the Chief Technologist, 25-05-2013 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".Space Foundation Seeking Space Technology Hall of Fame(R) Nominations; Aug. 31 is Deadline, Space Ref, 25-05-2013Henry Ford physician inducted into Space Foundation's Space Technology Hall of Fame, The Medical News, 25-05-2013