Space Foundation Press Releases


Grant will Establish Lockheed Martin Education Center at Space Foundation World Headquarters

Written by: developer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Oct. 8, 2014) – A grant from Lockheed Martin Corporation for an education center at the Space Foundation World Headquarters and Discovery Center in Colorado Springs will directly benefit schoolchildren and educators, especially those at schools serving large concentrations of low-income and at-risk children.

Lockheed Martin, a long-time champion of future innovators in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), has pledged a grant of $400,000 to establish the Lockheed Martin Space Education Center (LMSEC) at the Space Foundation World Headquarters and Discovery Center.

“At Lockheed Martin, we’re dedicated to advancing STEM education and supporting programs that promote student achievement,” said Rick Ambrose, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. “We are proud to partner with the Space Foundation to inspire the brightest minds of the future by bringing math and science to life through interactive, real-world space exploration examples.”

“The Space Foundation Discovery Center was designed from the ground up to be a STEM-purposed center of formal and informal education in Colorado, and, through distance delivery technologies, the nation and world,” said Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham. “We are very grateful to Lockheed Martin for this grant, and pleased to announce it during World Space Week.”

Lockheed Martin funding will provide necessary STEM equipment and hardware for program delivery, scholarships for field trips to the Discovery Center and will support Space Foundation teacher professional development programs. The Lockheed Martin Space Education Center will be dedicated in 2015.

An important piece of the Lockheed Martin funding will be used to offer not only on-site, but also ‘virtual’ field trips to classrooms in rural areas of Colorado and to schools across the country and around the world that would not otherwise have the resources to give their students an enriching STEM experience at this unique learning center.

Impact
The Lockheed Martin Space Education Center will directly impact more than 8,000 students and teachers annually. The long-term impact will grow exponentially from the ripple effect of hundreds of teachers becoming better trained and uniquely motivated to inspire current and future students. Hundreds of thousands of students will be reached and inspired to join the next generation of STEM leaders.

About World Space Week
World Space Week was launched by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 with the purpose of celebrating “the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.” It is always celebrated Oct. 4-10, and this year’s theme is “Space: Guiding Your Way,” highlighting the benefits of satellite navigation to society.

The Space Foundation annually leads the celebration of World Space Week in the United States with activities at its Discovery Center and with educational programs for schoolchildren locally and around the world via GlobalCasts. Learn more about Space Foundation education outreach at www.spacefoundation.org/education.

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.

About the Space Foundation
Founded in 1983, the Space Foundation is the foremost advocate for all sectors of space, and is a global, nonprofit leader in space awareness activities, educational programs and major industry events, including the annual Space Symposium, in support of its mission “to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable and propel humanity.” Space Foundation World Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA, has a public Discovery Center including the El Pomar Space Gallery and the Northrop Grumman Science Center featuring Science On a Sphere®, and is a member of the American Alliance of Museums. The Space Foundation has a field office in Houston, and conducts government affairs from its Washington, D.C., office. It annually publishes The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity and through its Space Certification™ and Space Technology Hall of Fame® programs, the Space Foundation recognizes space-based innovations that have been adapted to improve life on Earth. Visit www.SpaceFoundation.org, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and read our e-newsletter Space Watch. 

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Lockheed Martin Media Contact:
Anna Viterisi, 303-977-3486, [email protected]

Space Foundation Media Contact:
Carol Hively, 719-576-8000, [email protected]


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