Report from Headquarters

Space Foundation Teacher Liaisons serve as active links between the Space Foundation, NASA, and their schools and school districts. They are a select group of educators who want to inspire the next generation of students to pursue and excel in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Applications are now being accepted for…

The question of the day on Aug. 3 for Dr. Amitabha Ghosh, a planetary geologist assigned to work on NASA’s Mars Missions, was, “When will human exploration on Mars become possible?” Ghosh was the guest speaker at the Charles County Public Schools (Md.) Educational Exchange held at North Point High School (Waldorf, Md.) in partnership…

Colorado Technical University (CTU) has donated tables, chairs and furnishings valued at more than $20,000 to help continue development of the Space Foundation Discovery Institute. Opened in 2009 at 105 Coleridge Ave. in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation Discovery Institute provides space- and aerospace-themed professional development, training, and support for teachers and students from around the world. It…

Here are some interesting space-related tidbits from the Internet: James Cameron, director of “Avatar,” the most successful film ever released, talks to MTV about his plan to film on Mars; click here. Cameron has also produced a series of public service announcements spotlighting NASA’s Earth science program’s contributions to environmental awareness and exploration of our home planet; click here.…

Bernadette Sormani, who was recently promoted to Space Foundation Senior Customer Service Associate, has completed “Through the Customer’s Eyes” training and is now Customer Service Certified. Certification is based on professional experience combined with six interactive training modules that address key competency areas and core skills necessary for delivery of world-class customer service, including: Why…

Space Foundation Research Analyst Mariel John will present four papers at the 61st International Astronautical Congress (IAC) this month in Prague, Czech Republic. Sponsored by the International Astronautics Federation (IAF), the IAC is a well-established conference that attracts an average of 3,000 high-level space decision-makers every year. John’s will be among the almost 1,600 papers…

Thanks to a multi-million dollar donation from Analytical Graphics, Inc., (AGI), teachers in this summer’s Space Foundation Space Across the Curriculum classes were among the first to use the new AGI Space Missions Simulator at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo. AGI, headquartered in Exton, Pa., donated software, licensing, and new computer equipment…

A year-round feature of the Space Foundation Discovery Institute is the Educator Resource Center (ERC), which houses a library, STEM education store, and a supply of free classroom materials for PreK-12 teachers. The ERC provides a variety of free classroom materials for PreK-12 educators, including educational guides, lithographs, classroom posters, bookmarks, and many other educational supplies. Educators may…

In keeping with its mission to “advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable, and propel humanity,” the Space Foundation believes that future success in space depends on an educated workforce, and now is the time to build that workforce through STEM education. “We focus on teachers because by training teachers we reach a much larger audience…

William H. Hudson, who served on the Space Foundation Board of Directors from 1994-2001, died July 27 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Hudson was born July 9, 1930, in Perry, Mo., and grew up in Mexico, Mo. An Eagle Scout, he served two summers on the staff of Philmont, the national Boy Scout ranch in Cimarron, N.M. After graduating from Mexico…