For the Space Foundation, 2010 was a defining year. The nation’s foremost space advocacy organization expanded its global reach, increased its already significant impact on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and teacher professional development, provided valuable research and education for policy makers and industry leaders, rolled out programs for young space professionals and held the largest, most comprehensive National Space Symposium in 26 years.

Long a proponent of international space cooperation and collaboration, the Space Foundation continued to expand its international reach in 2010. A visible participant in conferences and events in Beijing, Berlin, London, Paris, Prague, Shanghai and Vienna, the Space Foundation also provided support and counsel on global issues to the White House and to international space organizations:

• The Space Foundation continued to serve in an advisory role with the United Nations’ Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
• Its Washington Office worked closely with embassies, the U.S. arms of international space agencies and visiting delegations
• More than 150 people from 20 countries participated in the 26th National Space Symposium
• The Space Foundation served as local host for an International Space University’s Executive Master of Business Administration class in Colorado Springs last spring
• Many 2010 successes focused on the Space Foundation’s nationally recognized standards-based education programs for teachers, students, parents and communities

Developments at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute, which opened last year in Colorado Springs, included:

• The opening of the AGI Space Missions Simulator at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute, made possible through a $3 million donation of software and equipment from Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI)
• Grants from Honeywell, Boeing, Colorado Technical University and Kroger to serve teachers and students
• Numerous community-related programs, including a Festival of Science featuring local organizations and talks by a former NASA astronaut

The Space Foundation’s education programs continued to expand in both scope and geography in 2010. Highlights included:

• Successful education partnerships with the Charles County (Md.) Public Schools; Colorado Springs School District 11; the Lyons Township Consortium of seven suburban Chicago school districts; Upward Bound; and Colorado State University – Pueblo
• Rollout of a Space Across the Curriculum educator professional development course for teachers of Pre K-2nd grade students
• Addition of 31 teachers to the Space Foundation’s Teacher Liaison program, growing the group for space education advocates to 321 members; Lockheed Martin sponsored the program in 2010
• Participation in major STEM education events including the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., STEMapalooza in Denver, the Charles County Educational Exchange in Maryland and the Cool Science Festival in Colorado Springs
• Special targeted education programs in conjunction with the Maui Economic Development Board in Hawaii, the Space Exploration Educators Conference in Houston and at the Space Foundation’s annual National Space Symposium
• Expansion of the number of universities that provide continuing education and/or graduate credits to teachers for Space Across the Curriculum courses; the list now includes Aurora (Ill.) University, CSU - Pueblo, Regis University and the College of Education at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Throughout 2010, the Space Foundation continued to serve as an expert on the industry for legislators, educators, industry and the media.

The flagship information source, The Space Report 2010: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity, was published in March and has since been quoted extensively in the media, on the Hill, in classrooms and in presentations at major conferences. Print, CD and PDF format copies may be purchased at www.TheSpaceReport.org.

During the year, the Space Foundation published and presented White Papers on how space assets enable disease and pandemic early warning and space’s role in faster, safer and greener commercial aviation. It also hosted a number of media and industry briefings with space thought-leaders and participated in the successful bid to change onerous space export regulations.

As the Administration and Congress worked through contentious and complex proposals on U.S. national space policy, the Space Foundation clarified the options through presentations, briefings and online publications, including a comparison of the new 2010 policy and the 2006 policy and a comparison of space-related legislation. Then, as the mid-term elections approached, the Space Foundation issued a guide to keep track of potential changes in space-related committee and subcommittee assignments.

The Space Foundation continues to expand its New Generation Initiatives, which provide professional development and education forums, programs, resources and opportunities for space professionals age 35 and under.

The New Generation Space Leaders Program at the 26th National Space Symposium involved more than 100 young-adult space professionals, who networked with the “who’s who” in the space world and attended Symposium presentations and programs about trends, technologies and career development.

In 2010, New Generation Initiatives were expanded to include events at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) conference, the International Astronautical Conference (IAC) in Prague and events in Washington, D.C.

The 26th National Space Symposium, held in April in Colorado Springs, broke all attendance records - and, according to feedback from attendees, was a success on all levels:

• More than 9,000 people – the largest number ever – participated in the exhibition
• The agenda included representation for all space sectors and included industry, civil and military leaders, New Generation participants and the largest-ever contingent of international speakers
• The new Cyber 1.0 event, which explored the impact cyberspace on military operations, civilian life, national security, commerce and communications, featured presentations by senior Air Force Space Command and industry leaders, interactive displays, a policy-focused luncheon and networking opportunities
• The SES WORLD SKIES, USG Exhibit Center filled two massive halls
• Cyber 1.1, the New Generation Space Leaders program events and the SES WORLD SKIES, USG Exhibit Center all sold out before the Symposium began

Registration is already open for the 27th National Space Symposium, April 11-14, 2011, at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

Steady, continuous growth helped the Space Foundation reach a milestone in 2010, when the number of corporate members surpassed 100 for the first time ever. The number of Certified Space Technologies continued to grow and the Space Foundation appeared on the agenda at a number of major space conferences, including the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight, the George Washington University Space Policy Conference, the AIAA SPACE 2010 Conference & Exposition and the AMOS conference, as well as numerous local and regional meetings.

As the foremost advocate for space, the Space Foundation performs many functions and serves many customers, all in the pursuit of its mission to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable and propel humanity. Great progress was made toward that goal in 2010 and the Space Foundation expects even greater accomplishment in 2011.