posted 07-28-2020 11:00 AM               

Donations needed to 'Save Space Camp' after pandemic shortfall

Space Camp may soon be forced to count down to its final launch.

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, which has been home to Space Camp since 1982, announced on Tuesday (July 28) that both the museum and the educational astronaut training experience are at risk of permanently closing due to economic shortfalls caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Huntsville, Alabama center has begun an emergency fundraising effort to avoid having to cease operations before the end of the year.

"The 'Save Space Camp' campaign must raise a minimum of $1.5 million to keep the U.S. Space & Rocket Center museum open past October and to reopen Space Camp in April 2021," center officials said in a statement.

posted 07-28-2020 10:05 PM               

Thank you for helping us raise our first $250,000 in our first 10 hours, we know that with your passion and support we will reach our goal of $1.5 million! Visit SaveSpaceCamp.com and help us on the way to mission accomplished!

posted 07-30-2020 04:19 PM               

$500,000!! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Save Space Camp. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from this great community. We are a third of the way there and need your help spreading the word to keep the mission going. SaveSpaceCamp.com

posted 07-30-2020 09:15 PM               

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center will begin lighting the vertical Saturn V replica tonight to mark the progress of the Save Space Camp fundraising campaign. The lights go on today at sunset to show the campaign has raised one third of the minimum goal of $1.5 million in just two days. As the campaign progresses, the lights will continue to rise on the Saturn V.

posted 07-31-2020 03:56 PM               

Boeing donates $500,000 to U.S. Space & Rocket Center's 'Save Space Camp' campaign

Boeing has made a $500,000 leadership gift to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Save Space Camp campaign. Launched Tuesday, July 28, the campaign is seeking to raise a minimum of $1.5 million to sustain operations of the museum and to be able to reopen Space Camp in April 2021.

"We understand the unprecedented economic hardship the COVID-19 pandemic has caused educational institutions all across the country," said John Shannon, Vice President & Program Manager for Space Launch Systems at Boeing. "The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is a cherished institution that has inspired generations of future scientists, engineers, pilots and even astronauts – many of whom now call Boeing home. With today's investment, we proudly stand alongside the Center – throughout this pandemic and beyond – as we work towards our shared goal of making Space Camp an even better, brighter, more inclusive experience for our future innovators."

"I am awed and grateful for the generous support from Boeing for this vital campaign," said USSRC CEO and Executive Director Louie Ramirez. "This has been a devastating season for the Rocket Center and Space Camp, but our family of supporters have given us hope for the future. Boeing has been a longtime and important supporter of the work we do. They understand the role the Rocket Center has in sharing the work of Huntsville's aerospace community and in Space Camp's unique role in inspiring its future work force. We thank them for this clear and profound statement of support."

On March 13, 2020, the Rocket Center closed in keeping with state health orders intended to combat the surge in coronavirus cases. The museum reopened in late May, but with far fewer than normal visitors. Space Camp did not reopen until June 28, and then with only 20 percent of its usual attendance. With limited admission from international students and school groups this fall and winter, Space Camp will again close for weeklong camp programs in September.

These ongoing challenges have meant the devastating loss of two-thirds of revenue. In May, the Rocket Center laid off one third of its full-time employees and was unable to employ an additional 700 part-time employees who typically work in all areas of Space Camp and the museum. The majority of the remaining full-time employees have been furloughed since April.

With donations from more than 6,000 people and corporations around the world, the Save Space Camp campaign had reached more than $600,000 in three days. Boeing's donation adds a transformative push to the campaign, bringing the amount to more than $1.1 million.

The Rocket Center is continuing to ask for support for the campaign. Any amount over the $1.5 million goal will be used to offset losses due to the COVID-19 crisis. For more information and to make a donation, visit savespacecamp.com.

posted 08-04-2020 05:30 PM               

#SaveSpaceCamp goal exceeded with SAIC donation

SAIC has made a $250,000 gift to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Save Space Camp campaign, pushing it over its initial goal just one week after the effort launched. The campaign began Tuesday, July 28, with the hope of raising a minimum of $1.5 million to sustain museum operations and to be able to reopen Space Camp in April 2021.

"For more than 50 years, SAIC employees have proudly called Huntsville home, and we stand strong in support of this community. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center is facing an unprecedented challenge as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact beloved institutions across America, and we are honored to have the opportunity to help," said SAIC CEO Nazzic Keene. "By ensuring that the USSRC continues to operate during these extraordinary times and encouraging others to contribute, we can secure our nation's STEM leadership far into the future."

"This monetary support from SAIC is monumental," said USSRC CEO and Executive Director Louie Ramirez. "Not only have they pushed us over the top of our initial campaign goal, but SAIC once again proves to be a major supporter of the Rocket Center. They have long provided us with vital IT infrastructure support and provided expert advice on improving the center's wireless network. With this gift, the company is helping us sustain our museum operations in the coming months and enabling us to bring back Space Camp strong in the spring. They are true community partners."

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devasting effect on the Rocket Center, which closed March 13, 2020, in keeping with state health orders intended to combat the surge in coronavirus cases. The museum reopened in late May, but with far fewer than normal visitors. Space Camp did not reopen until June 28, and then with only 20 percent of its usual attendance. With limited admission from international students and school groups this fall and winter, Space Camp will again close for weeklong camp programs in September.

The response to the Save Space Campaign has been a gratifying statement of support for the work of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Space Camp. Nearly 8,000 people and corporations from all 50 states and 36 countries have contributed to the Save Space Camp campaign in a week's time.

The Rocket Center is continuing to ask for support for the campaign. Any amount over the initial goal will be used to offset losses due to the COVID-19 crisis and for programming. For more information and to make a donation, visit savespacecamp.com.

posted 12-01-2020 03:10 PM               

Let's Dare to Explore

On July 28, we launched the mission to Save Space Camp, and your response was immediate and overwhelming. Your generous donations provided the financial lifeline to ensure Space Camp reopens in the spring. However, you provided much more than funding. You sent the world a powerful message about the value and impact of our educational programs. You told us, "We are in this together." We are deeply grateful.

We can now focus on not only sustaining the U.S. Space & Rocket Center through the pandemic, but we can dare to explore an exciting future together. While we continue to raise money to maintain operations, we are able to plan projects we had to put on hold. The pandemic wiped out our resources for these projects, but with your help we can begin to dream and do again.

Our goal is to raise $3 million in a public campaign over the next 12 months, with $1.5 million raised by March 1, 2021. This funding will not only help support our world-class STEM programs but also allow us to preserve treasured artifacts and begin work on the beloved Pathfinder space shuttle. Recently, we were surprised and thrilled to receive a federal Save America's Treasures $500,000 grant specifically to help us preserve the Pathfinder Shuttle Stack. First, we'll have to remove Pathfinder from the external tank and solid rocket boosters for a preservation assessment. We invite you to watch the progress and to join us in funding the Pathfinder work that needs to begin immediately.

Dare to Explore

You fueled the successful Save Space Camp campaign. Now, we ask you help fuel the Rocket Center's future as we dare to explore the universe of opportunities you made possible. With your support, we will continue to inspire the next generation of astronauts, engineers and scientists. Donations may be made through a new secure portal at rocketcenterfoundation.org.

In the coming weeks and months, we will share on rocketcenterfoundation.org updates on the Center's financial health as well as exciting details about our Pathfinder Shuttle Stack project, and other projects we can now pursue. For that, we say thank you.