Space Foundation Press Releases


Space Foundation honors Tom Hanks with Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award

Written by: Space Foundation Editorial Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Mar. 3, 2006) — The Space Foundation announced today that actor, director, and producer Tom Hanks is the 2006 recipient of the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions toward increasing public awareness of and support for the exploration and development of space. Hanks will be honored Monday, April 3 in Colorado Springs during the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd National Space Symposium, the premier annual space industry conference. Hanks was chosen as the recipient in recognition of more than a decade of contributing to better understanding of America’s space programs through his leadership in the motion picture industry. Hanks’ space related work began in 1995 with his starring role in Apollo 13, continued with his significant roles as both executive producer and director of the acclaimed HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, and, most recently, culminated in his role as co-producer of the IMAX feature Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D. Through these efforts, Hanks has educated and inspired a new generation of Americans, reminding us of our heritage as explorers and better preparing us to return to the moon and journey on to Mars and beyond. The Space Foundation annually presents the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award in memory of the late Douglas S. Morrow, renowned Academy Award winning writer and producer, space advocate, and former director of the Space Foundation, to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to public awareness of space programs. Previous Morrow Award recipients include the X PRIZE Foundation, LIFE magazine, space artist Robert T. McCall, the late Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett Roddenberry, Popular Science magazine, the crew of Space Shuttle Mission STS-95, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Cable News Network (CNN). The most senior leadership from civil, commercial, and national security space organizations will participate at the 22nd National Space Symposium, which takes place April 3-6, 2006, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Featured Congressional speakers at this year’s National Space Symposium include The Honorable Ken Calvert, United States House of Representatives; The Honorable Mark Udall, United States House of Representatives; and The Honorable Thomas Feeney, United States House of Representatives. Confirmed featured speakers include The Honorable Maria Cino, deputy secretary, United States Department of Transportation; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator, The Honorable Dr. Michael Griffin; The Honorable Dr. Ronald M. Sega, under secretary of the Air Force; Mr. LUO Ge, vice administrator, China National Space Administration (CNSA); The Honorable Shana L. Dale, deputy administrator, NASA; and Lt Gen C. Robert Kehler, USAF, deputy commander, United States Strategic Command. Hanks will be honored during the opening ceremony, co-sponsored by Northrop Grumman, which kicks off a spectacular evening followed by the opening night reception, co-sponsored by ITT, and the opening night fireworks and dessert reception, co-sponsored by General Dynamics. Other highlights of the conference include the Corporate Partnership reception, co-sponsored by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce; the Corporate Partnership dinner, co-sponsored by Raytheon Company; the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award luncheon, co-sponsored by the Colorado Space Coalition; the Space Technology Hall of Fame reception, co-sponsored by United Space Alliance; the Space Technology Hall of Fame dinner, co-sponsored by The Boeing Company; and the largest ever Lockheed Martin Exhibit Center. Additional co-sponsors include Analytical Graphics, Inc., ASRC Federal, ATK, BAE Systems, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Cisco Systems, Computer Sciences Corporation, Florida Space Authority, Harris Corporation, Inmarsat, Integral Systems, MTC Technologies, Nortel Government Solutions, Space News, SpaceVest, Spherical Magic, Stellar Solutions, and Swales Aerospace. An updated program agenda, confirmed speaker list, exhibitor list, complete list of sponsors, and secure registration can be found online at www.NationalSpaceSymposium.org. About the Space Foundation Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that vigorously advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and educational excellence. The Space Foundation has offices in Washington, D.C., and Cape Canaveral, Fla. In addition to the National Space Symposium, the Space Foundation annually conducts, along with its partnering organizations, Inside Aerospace, April 24-25, 2006; Strategic Space and Defense, 10-12 Oct. 2006, in Omaha, Neb.; and Florida Space, Dec. 5-7, 2006, in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.


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