Space Foundation Recognizes Delaware North with Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 5, 2008) — The Space Foundation has selected Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts as the recipient of the 2008 Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award.  This award recognizes outstanding contributions toward increasing public awareness of and support for the exploration and development of space. Delaware North will receive the award during the opening ceremony of the 24th National Space Symposium, on April 7.  The premier annual gathering of the global space community, the symposium will take place April 7-10 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

The 2008 Morrow Award is presented to Delaware North for its operation and continuous reinvention of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.  Since assuming operations of the KSC Visitor Complex in May of 1995, Delaware North has enabled more than 24 million visitors to experience America’s space program first-hand.  During this time, they have invested more than $250 million in the complex, providing improved visitor experiences, new exhibits, shows, facilities, and attractions such as the new Shuttle Launch Experience. 

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.

For nearly 13 years, Delaware North has continuously and successfully invested in the vigorous pursuit of its mission:  “To tell the NASA story and inspire people to support the exploration of space.”  Their work at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex has and continues to have a significant impact on interest in and awareness of U.S. space programs.

Previous Morrow Award recipients include astronaut Eileen Collins, actor and director Tom Hanks, 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 symposium brings together all sectors of space — civil, commercial, and national security – to highlight the accomplishments and address the opportunities and issues facing the space industry today. More than 7,500 registrants, guests, speakers, exhibitors, and media from across the United States and many foreign countries are expected to attend the 24th National Space Symposium. 

Confirmed featured speakers include The Honorable Wayne Allard, United States Senate; Ms. Anousheh Ansari, co-founder and chairman, Prodea Systems; Gen. C. Robert Kehler, USAF, commander, Air Force Space Command;  Mr. Jean-Yves LeGall, chairman & chief executive officer, Arianespace; Gen. Victor E. Renuart, USAF, commander, NORAD/USNORTHCOM;  and The Honorable Michael W. Wynne, secretary of the Air Force.

Highlights of the 24th National Space Symposium include an extensive exhibit center representing more than 140 organizations and companies co-sponsored by Lockheed Martin; a spectacular Opening Ceremony, co-sponsored by United Space Alliance; Opening Night Fireworks and Dessert Reception, co-sponsored by Raytheon; the Corporate Partnership Dinner, co-sponsored by Northrop Grumman; the presentation of the Space Foundation’s highest honor, the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, at a luncheon co-sponsored by Boeing; and the Space Technology Hall of Fame Dinner, co-sponsored by Space Florida.

Additional co-sponsors of the symposium are Analytical Graphics, Inc., ATK, Ball Aerospace &Technologies Corp., Cisco Systems, CSP Associates, Harris Corporation, Honeywell, Infinite Links, Intelsat General, ITT, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, and Stellar Solutions. Media partners for the 24th National Space Symposium are Aviation Week and Space News. Frontier Airlines is the official airline of the conference.

Online registration and more information, including an updated program agenda, confirmed speaker list, and exhibitor list are available at  www.NationalSpaceSymposium.org.

About the Space Foundation
Founded in 1983 and celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Space Foundation is an international nonprofit organization advancing space-related endeavors to inspire, enable, and propel humanity.  A leader in space awareness activities, major industry events, and educational enterprises that bring space into the classroom, the Space Foundation is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo.  It conducts research and analysis and government affairs activities from its Washington, D.C., office, and has field representatives in Houston and Cape Canaveral, Fla.  Along with partnering organizations, the Space Foundation also conducts Strategic Space and Defense 2008, scheduled 6-8 October in Omaha, Neb.  For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.

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