Space Foundation News

Space Foundation is Now Accepting Nominations for Space Technology Hall of Fame®

Written by: Space Foundation Editorial Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 20, 2020) – The Space Foundation is seeking nominations for induction into the prestigious Space Technology Hall of Fame® in 2021. This international program honors innovations by organizations and individuals who transform space technology into commercial products that improve life on Earth.

The Space Technology Hall of Fame recognizes the life-changing and life-enhancing technologies emerging from the global space economy; honors the scientists, engineers and innovators responsible; and communicates to the public the importance of these technologies as a return on investment in space exploration.

Nominations must be completed online by Friday, August 14, 2020. Anyone may submit nominations of technologies developed anywhere in the world for use in space and then modified or adopted for use on Earth.

Selection Criteria

Selection criteria can be found at www.SpaceTechHallofFame.org and includes:

Public Response (Maximum 15 points) – The public response elicited by the technology: Can the spin-off application be easily grasped and understood by the general public? Does it have a promotional value for humanity in highlighting the benefits of space exploration? Does it stimulate interest and pursuit of careers and/or grow the workforce pipeline in the space economy?

Societal Benefit (Maximum 15 points) – The technology’s positive impact on health, safety, efficiency, conservation, education, or other societal advantages: Does the technology have important benefits for a significant segment of humanity or society as a whole? Does the technology make for better lives and a better world?

Economic Benefit (Maximum 10 points) – The economic activity resulting from the technology: Has the technology been the basis of or a significant contributor to a successfully selling product(s) and/or generated a new growing company(s)? Has it helped cultivate a vibrant and economically strong space industry?

Leadership Investment (Maximum 5 points) – The significance of the development efforts: Was the initial development effort an example of an inclusive, innovative and sustainable workforce, and/or did the development effort provide space technology entrepreneurial opportunities?

Longevity (Maximum 5 points) – The technology’s commercial life: How long has the technology and/or its application been successfully in use? Has it successfully evolved over time and become more refined and distributed in its use and applications?

Judging

Each nomination is reviewed for completeness, assessed by technical experts and then ranked by a prestigious panel of judges who rate according to selection criteria.

Inducted Technologies

These technologies were inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame in 2020:

  • Audio Conference Bridge Technology
  • Apollo 70 Cardiac Care Monitoring System
  • Traveling-Wave Tube Amplifier

Other inductees have included energy-saving technologies, health improvement technologies, satellite and telecommunication technologies, and practical commercial devices. Some examples are the automatic external defibrillator; non-invasive breast biopsy technology; anti-shock garments; LASIK eye surgery; implantable pacemakers and hearing aids; and technologies that power cellular phones, terrestrial networks and satellite broadcast television and radio communications; low-density, light-weight flexible aerogel insulating material; and a high-resolution optical sensing system that detects forest fires before they can cause serious environmental damage.

For more information or questions regarding the nomination process, contact [email protected]. Induction will take place during the Space Foundation’s 37th Space Symposium, to be held in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 12 – April 15, 2021.

Additional information about the Space Technology Hall of Fame, including a complete list of inducted technologies, is available at www.SpaceTechHallofFame.org.

About the Space Foundation

Founded in 1983, the Space Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the world’s premier organization to inspire, educate, connect, and advocate on behalf of the global space community. It is a leader in space awareness activities, educational programs, and major industry events, including the annual Space Symposium. Space Foundation headquarters is in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA, and has a public Discovery Center, including El Pomar Space Gallery, Northrop Grumman Science Center featuring Science On a Sphere®, and the Lockheed Martin Space Education Center. The Space Foundation has a Washington, D.C., office, as well as field representatives in Houston and on the Florida Space Coast. It publishes The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity, and through its Space Certification and Space Technology Hall of Fame® programs, recognizes space-based innovations that have been adapted to improve life on Earth. Visit both websites — www.SpaceFoundation.org and DiscoverSpace.org — and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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Space Foundation contact:
Carol Hively, Director – Public Relations & Team Communications
[email protected]


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