CONTACT:

Julie Howell / Space Foundation

719-576-8000 julie@ussf.org

For Immediate Release

News from the 16th Annual National Space Symposium

Colorado Springs, Colo. (February 9, 2000) – The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center has been selected to receive this year’s Education Achievement Award, as announced today by Space Foundation officials. The non-profit Cosmosphere was selected for its exceptional achievement in promoting excellence in K-12 education.

The award will be presented during the Workforce of the Future Luncheon on April 5, during the 16th Annual National Space Symposium. The symposium is sponsored by the Space Foundation, and takes place April 3-6, 2000, in Colorado Springs. Widely regarded as the premier annual space forum, the National Space Symposium features top national and international speakers addressing critical civil, commercial and national security space issues.

The Space Foundation annually presents the Education Achievement Award (previously named the Education Partnership Award) during the National Space Symposium to organizations that demonstrate involvement in exemplary education initiatives for the purpose of motivating young people to excel in space-based education. Previous recipients include the Challenger Center, Lowell Observatory and the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

Cosmosphere’s education programs include Investigate Space for grades 1-3, the Future Astronaut Training Program for grades 7-10 and the Elderhostel Astronaut Training Program for people age 55 and older. The Cosmosphere Academy Magnet High School, Teacher Workshops and Boy and Girl Scout Probe Into Space programs also broaden the organization’s educational reach. In addition, daily shows for the general public, such as Dr. Goddard’s Lab, bring space exploration alive for the Cosmosphere’s more than 400,000 annual visitors.

For more information on the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, visit HYPERLINK http://www.cosmo.org. Additional Symposium information and secure on-line registration is available at HYPERLINK http://www.spacesymposium.org , or by calling 1-800-691-4000.

-30-