Outstanding technologies sought for national recognition

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May. 25, 2006) — The Space Foundation is currently accepting nominations for its prestigious Space Technology Hall of Fame program. The Space Foundation, in partnership with NASA, created the Space Technology Hall of Fame in 1988 to honor the innovators who transform space-based technology into commercial products and services that improve life on Earth. Forms can be downloaded online at www.SpaceTechHallofFame.org, and the nomination deadline is July 1, 2006. The result of successful NASA and private industry research and development efforts, two new technologies were inducted in 2006: the iRobot PackBot Tactical Mobile Robot and Novariant AutoFarm RTK AutoSteer. A total of 10 individuals and five organizations were honored for their essential contributions to the technology innovations at a private induction ceremony and a special awards dinner April 6 at the 22nd National Space Symposium. Three additional organizations and 18 additional individuals who contributed to the technology transfer also were recognized with commendations. Recognizing the importance of the program, NASA Administrator The Honorable Michael D. Griffin said, “I want to congratulate the 2006 inductees into the Space Technology Hall of Fame. They are superb examples of the ingenuity and innovation vital to space exploration. These pioneers are helping pave the way for NASA’s return to the moon, journey on to Mars, and beyond. The critical technologies they have developed not only help us in space but also here on Earth.” Any individual or organization may nominate a technology that originated with the space program and is now used to improve life on Earth. Nominations often come from NASA field centers’ technology transfer offices, the National Technology Transfer Center, the Regional Technology Transfer Centers, the Research Triangle Institute, and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Supporting information for each nomination submitted will be reviewed for completeness, assessed by technical experts and ranked by a prestigious panel of judges according to the following criteria: Economic Benefit (10 points), Public Awareness Factor (15 points), Societal Benefit Factor (15 points), Longevity (5 points), and Public/ Private/ Partnership Investment (5 points). For a nomination form and more information about the Space Technology Hall of Fame, including a complete list of inducted technologies, visit www.SpaceTechHallofFame.org or call the Space Foundation at (800) 691-4000. Technologies and innovators selected for induction in 2007 will be recognized during special awards ceremonies during the 23rd National Space Symposium, scheduled April 9-12, 2007. Conducted by the Space Foundation, the symposium is the premier annual space industry conference anywhere in the world. 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. The Space Foundation’s signature event, the National Space Symposium, is scheduled for April 9-12, 2007, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. Along with partnering organizations, the Space Foundation also conducts 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.