What Space Science Institute does

The Space Science Institute (SSI) is a Colorado-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education organization headquartered at 4765 Walnut St, Suite B, Boulder, operating since 1991-1992. SSI is structured around four branches — Research, the National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL), Business Operations, and Information Systems and Technology — and combines a working research group of 40+ scientists in astrophysics, planetary science, and space physics with a nationwide STEM education delivery arm. SSI is best known for housing the Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations (CICLOPS) for NASA's Cassini mission from 2003 to 2018, and currently runs the STAR Library Network (STAR Net) serving 14,953 public libraries with STEM resources, training, and eclipse programming.

Name

Space Science Institute

Legal name

Space Science Institute

Website

https://spacescience.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Space Science Institute (SSI) is a Boulder-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit combining astrophysics and planetary science research (40+ scientists) with nationwide STEM education delivered through the STAR Library Network to 14,000+ public libraries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Science Research and STEM Education

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

Keywords

• Space science research
• STEM education
• Public library programs
• Astronomy curricula
• Eclipse outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Contracts: SSI is supported entirely by grants, contracts, and donor contributions. Major funders include NASA, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and National Science Foundation. Revenue is project-based tied to specific research and education initiatives.
2. Donor Contributions: Individual and organizational donations support researchers and education & outreach programs. SSI accepts donations through ColoradoGives and PayPal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Space Science Institute is a nonprofit research and education organization that conducts peer-reviewed research in astrophysics, planetary science, and space physics, and produces free STEM education resources, online exhibits, educational games, and standards-aligned curricula. These resources are distributed primarily through the National Center for Interactive Learning and the STAR Library Network, which reaches more than 14,000 U.S. public libraries with programs, kits, eclipse viewing glasses, and facilitator training.

Product overview

The Space Science Institute operates as a research and education organization with a portfolio of educational products including free online astronomy education games (Starchitect, SciGames.org), print-based educational guides (Family Guides to Mars and the Sun), middle school curricula (Solarscapes, Saturn Educator Guide, Kinesthetic Astronomy), and online exhibits (MarsQuest, Alien Earths, Space Weather Center, Giant Worlds, Killer Asteroids). The Institute also manages the Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations (CICLOPS) for NASA's Cassini mission and operates the National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL) which runs the STAR Library Network and Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries (SEAL) program. The offerings span digital games and interactive exhibits, print educational resources, library-based outreach programs, and space mission operations support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STAR Library Network (STAR_Net): A national program that provides STEM education resources and eclipse viewing materials to public libraries across the United States.
• SciGames
• Starchitect
• SEAL (Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries)
• CICLOPS

Products and services

• STAR Library Network (STAR Net) A nationwide network of public libraries engaged in STEM education that SSI operates, distributing eclipse glasses, training workshops, traveling exhibits, and vetted STEM activities to library staff and patrons.
• Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries (SEAL) Program providing safe solar-viewing glasses, facilitator training workshops, and science kits to U.S. public libraries for nationwide eclipse events.
• Starchitect Free astronomy education game exploring stellar and planetary evolution in scaled time, allowing users to build stars and planets and watch them evolve at one million years per minute.
• SciGames.org Portal collecting free online science games and activities about asteroids, comets, Mars, space weather, the Sun, astrobiology, and more, including mobile-compatible apps.
• Family Guide to the Sun Innovative collection of puzzles, pictures, poetry, and projects designed for co-learning experiences between kids aged 6-13 and adults, covering the Sun as a star and its connection to Earth.
• Family Guide to Mars 50-page guide with puzzles, pictures, poetry, and projects designed for co-learning experiences between kids aged 6-12 and adults, covering comparing Earth and Mars, the importance of water to life, Mars exploration technology, and seeing Mars in Earth's sky.
• Solarscapes Standards-based middle school curriculum on the physical nature of the Sun, including features of the Sun, sunspot number variations, and determining the Sun's period of rotation.
• Saturn Educator Guide Standards-based constructivist lessons for grades 5-8 connecting NASA's Cassini mission to Saturn to fundamental science concepts, including art, literature, and mythology connections.
• Kinesthetic Astronomy Experiential, kinesthetic lessons in basic astronomy for grades 6 and up, including SkyTime and Kinesthetic Mars modules.
• Two Astronomy Games (Small and Large; Near and Far) Interactive astronomy games called 'Small and Large' and 'Near and Far' introducing concepts about size scales of the Universe, usable with large groups, small groups, or individuals.
• Sun Puzzle Page Activity sheet featuring Solar Max and Solar Minnie characters, with games, puzzles, and a Sun maze, available in English and Spanish versions.
• MarsQuest Online exhibit allowing users to launch a spacecraft to Mars, explore its volcanoes and canyons, solve mysteries about the search for life, and explore the latest Mars rover images.
• Alien Earths Online exhibit chronicling the journey of exploring whether there is life elsewhere in the universe.
• Space Weather Center Online exhibit telling the story of space weather effects from the plasma state of matter and the Sun to forecasting auroras and storms in Earth's magnetic field.
• Giant Worlds Online exhibit about the four colossal gaseous planets beyond the inner terrestrial planets, explaining the scale of the outer solar system.
• Killer Asteroids Online exhibit featuring a physics-based asteroid game, information about backyard astronomer contributions to asteroid research, and an Earth impact simulation.
• STEM Clearinghouse Online resource repository where librarians and library staff can find high-quality, vetted STEM activities appropriate for library use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Enabled 6 million people to safely observe 2017 eclipse through library network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003SSI operated CICLOPS (Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations) from 2003-2018, serving as the center for uplink and downlink operations for the imaging science investigation on the Cassini mission to Saturn. All images from the Cassini spacecraft were archived, processed, and released to the public through CICLOPS.
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPL, a division of Caltech, managed the Cassini mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. CICLOPS at SSI worked directly with JPL for Cassini operations.
• European Space AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cassini mission was a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Italian Space Agency.
• Italian Space AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cassini mission was a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Italian Space Agency.
• Astronomical Society of the PacificminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSI collaborated with ASP on eclipse education through the Eclipse Ambassadors Off the Path program.
• STAR Net Library NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSTAR Net (STAR Library Network) is SSI's flagship education program, coordinating STEM education activities across 14,000+ public libraries nationwide. The network facilitates distribution of eclipse glasses, training workshops, and educational resources.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Astronomical Society of the Pacific: The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization that has worked with SSI on eclipse education through the Eclipse Ambassadors Off the Path program. It is one of the most direct peers given its astronomy-education mission and informal-science training focus.
• The Planetary Society: The Planetary Society is the world's largest nonprofit space advocacy and education organization, funding space science projects and producing educational content for general audiences. It is comparable to SSI in combining space-science research funding with nationwide STEM outreach, though it is more advocacy-oriented.
• SETI Institute: The SETI Institute is a nonprofit research organization in Mountain View, California that conducts scientific research in astronomy, astrobiology, and planetary science and runs education and outreach programs. Like SSI, it combines active space-science research with public education and is funded primarily by NASA grants and donations.
• Lawrence Hall of Science: Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley is a public science center and informal STEM education research organization that develops curricula, exhibits, and educator training. It is highly comparable to SSI's NCIL division in producing free standards-aligned STEM education resources and studying informal learning.
• Adler Planetarium: Adler Planetarium is a Chicago-based nonprofit institution dedicated to astronomy education through exhibits, programs, and research. It is comparable to SSI in astronomy public engagement and informal STEM education, though anchored to a physical museum rather than a library network.

Others

• Association of Science and Technology Centers: ASTC is a nonprofit membership organization that supports science centers and museums worldwide, including many institutions that use SSI's educational resources. It is an ecosystem enabler and indirect channel rather than a direct competitor.
• National Science Teaching Association: NSTA is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching. It is thematically related to SSI's K-12 educational product portfolio (Solarscapes, Saturn Educator Guide, family guides) but serves teachers rather than competing for the same library-network outreach.

Broad incumbents

• American Museum of Natural History: The American Museum of Natural History in New York operates exhibits and education programs spanning astrophysics, earth science, and biology with a significant research staff. It is a broad incumbent in informal STEM education with overlapping content areas in space science.
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is a federal institution that operates exhibits, education programs, and research in aviation and space science. It overlaps significantly with SSI's public-engagement mission but at much larger scale and with permanent physical facilities.

Regional players

• California Academy of Sciences: The California Academy of Sciences is a major West Coast natural history institution that conducts research and runs public education programs including astronomy content. It is comparable in combining active research with public-facing education but operates primarily as a physical institution in San Francisco.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/spacescienceinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/222385

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Space Science Institute