COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Space Foundation is seeking nominations for induction into the prestigious Space Technology Hall of Fame® in 2020. 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 global space programs; 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 received by Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. 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 Awareness (15 points) – The technology’s public appeal: Can the spin-off application be easily grasped and understood by the general public? Does it have a promotional value in highlighting the benefits of space exploration?
Societal Benefit (15 points) – The technology’s positive impact on health, safety, efficiency, conservation, or other societal advantages: Does the technology have important benefits for a significant segment of humanity or society as a whole?
Economic Benefit (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 and/or generated a new growing company?
Public/Private Investment (5 points) – The significance of the development efforts: Was the initial development effort an example of a significant partnership between the government and the private sector, and/or did the transformation of the space technology to the commercial market version require significant commitment and investment by the private sector?
Longevity (5 points) – The technology’s commercial life: How long has the technology and/or its application been successfully in use?
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 2019:
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 36th Space Symposium, to be held in Colorado Springs, Colo., March 30 – April 2, 2020.
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 and field representatives in Houston and 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 of our websites – www.SpaceFoundation.org and DiscoverSpace.org – and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
