Virginia Space Flight Academy

What Virginia Space Flight Academy does

Virginia Space Flight Academy (VASFA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1998 and headquartered on Wallops Island, Virginia, with a mailing address of PO Box 144, Wallops Island, VA 23337. It operates a portfolio of two core programs: Space Adventure Camp, an annual week-long residential aerospace camp for students ages 11-16 held at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility with behind-the-scenes access to NASA facilities, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Rocket Lab, and NOAA (Base Camp tuition $1,599; Advanced Camp $1,699), and STEM Academy, a year-round hybrid learning program for ages 8-14 featuring live and on-demand instruction with materials kits across modules such as AeroEngineers, RoboExplorers, Explore the Cosmos, and Game On!. The organization is led by Executive Director Kim Check and founder Frank Moore, operates with approximately 5 employees, and has served more than 6,000 students cumulatively across Space Adventure Camp, STEM Academy, and outreach programming.

VASFA monetizes through a mix of one-time camp and module tuition, multi-tier corporate sponsorships (SAIC as Founding Legacy Member since 2020, plus Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab, and others across Infinity/Thermosphere/Stratosphere/Troposphere tiers), foundation grants (Bahethi Family Foundation, Richard A. Henson Foundation), individual donations, and government grants including a five-year, $2 million DoDEA-funded partnership with Newport News Public Schools. Distribution runs through direct family registration via the Jumbula platform, institutional referral partnerships with school districts (NNPS, Accomack County, Northampton County) and community organizations (Fruitland Community Center, YEES WE CAN), on-site custom programming, and Eventbrite for free events such as Hour of Code and the Delmarva Astronomical Star Party. The model is operationally lean and partnership-intensive, leveraging a Space Act Agreement with NASA Wallops and reciprocal relationships with major aerospace and defense companies to deliver differentiated facility access at scale.

Name

Virginia Space Flight Academy

Legal name

Virginia Space Flight Academy

Website

https://vasfa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Virginia Space Flight Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating residential Space Adventure Camp and year-round STEM Academy programs for students ages 8-16 at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, funded through tuition, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

STEM Education and Aerospace Youth Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Robotics & Engineering Summer Camps / Bootcamps (EDAMADAF), Coding, Game Design & Computer Science Camps (EDAMALAD), Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

Keywords

• Aerospace education programs
• STEM youth camps
• Residential space camp
• Robotics coding classes
• NASA facility tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Wallops Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Camp Tuition: Space Adventure Camp tuition is the primary revenue stream, with Base Camp at $1,599 and Advanced Camp at $1,699 per camper. This covers instruction, materials, housing, meals, and activities.
2. STEM Academy Module Tuition: Year-round STEM Academy modules charge tuition that varies per module, including instruction, materials kits with shipping, ongoing access to resources, and alumni network access.
3. Donations and Scholarships: 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded substantially by donations from individuals, corporations (SAIC, Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab), and foundations (Bahethi Family Foundation, Richard A. Henson Foundation). Donations fund scholarships for low-income students.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors at multiple tiers (Infinity, Thermosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere levels) provide financial support. SAIC is a Founding Legacy Member. Northrop Grumman and others sponsor programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Virginia Space Flight Academy (VASFA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates Space Adventure Camp, an annual week-long residential aerospace camp at Wallops Island, Virginia for students ages 11-16, and STEM Academy, a year-round hybrid learning program for students ages 8-14 with multiple modules covering aerospace engineering, robotics, astronomy, and coding. Programs feature behind-the-scenes access to NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Rocket Lab, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, and NOAA facilities, with instruction from STEM professionals and hands-on curriculum.

Product overview

Virginia Space Flight Academy (VASFA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a platform-plus-modules educational portfolio centered on STEM learning, particularly aerospace and space exploration. The organization offers two core programs: Space Adventure Camp (annual week-long residential camp at Wallops Island, VA for ages 11-16 featuring aerospace, coding, robotics, and behind-the-scenes NASA access) and STEM Academy (year-round hybrid learning for ages 8-14 with multiple specialized modules including AeroEngineers, RoboExplorers, Explore the Cosmos, Game On!, and Launch Lab - Cubes in Space). Supporting offerings include scholarships, an alumni network, free Hour of Code events, special STEM programs like the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial STEM Program, and community events such as the Delmarva Astronomical Star Party. The programs are designed to inspire students to pursue STEM careers through hands-on experiences at NASA Wallops Flight Facility and partnerships with aerospace industry leaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Space Adventure Camp
• STEM Academy
• AeroEngineers (STEM Academy Module)
• RoboExplorers (STEM Academy Module)
• Explore the Cosmos (STEM Academy Module)
• Game On! (STEM Academy Module)
• Launch Lab - Cubes in Space
• Harriet Tubman Bicentennial STEM Program
• Space Adventure Camp Alumni Network
• Scholarships
• Hour of Code

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,000 students served since 1998, with 1,000+ people served in 2023 alone
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NASA Wallops Flight FacilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA Wallops Flight Facility provides exclusive behind-the-scenes access for VASFA campers and serves as the primary location for Space Adventure Camp programs. VASFA holds a Space Act Agreement with NASA Wallops to support STEM outreach activities. NASA SMEs tour campers through facilities and engage with students.
• Virginia Spaceport AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (operated by VSA) provides exclusive behind-the-scenes tours and engagement with commercial space industry activities at Wallops Island. VASFA campers tour launch facilities and learn about commercial spaceflight.
• Rocket LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRocket Lab awarded VASFA a $20,000 community grant (their first Wallops Island community grant) and provides career-readiness field trips and tours of Rocket Lab facilities. VASFA received support as Rocket Lab builds its Neutron rocket manufacturing facility at Wallops Island. Peter Beck, Rocket Lab CEO, cited VASFA's focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion as a key reason for partnership.
• Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAIC serves as VASFA's Founding Legacy Member since 2020, funding technology resources including LEGO SPIKE Prime kits for Space Adventure Camp. SAIC's Space Business Unit supports VASFA through funding and mentorship connections. David Ray, SAIC SVP, expressed commitment to inspiring next-generation STEM professionals.
• Northrop GrummancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthrop Grumman is recognized as an Interstellar Partner Impact Award recipient for creating inspiring experiences for VASFA alumni. The company supports Antares rocket launches that campers view and provides STEM professional engagement.
• NOAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOAA participates in VASFA programs by providing facility tours and engagement with NOAA scientists and professionals. Recognized as Interstellar Partner Impact Award recipient.
• Newport News Public Schools (NNPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive-year 'Mission STEM: Pioneering Pathways in Robotics and Space Exploration' partnership supported by a $2 million DoDEA grant. VASFA will engage over 450 students annually from 12 NNPS schools through STEM Academy modules (grades 6-8), a new aerospace day camp, and Space Adventure Camp attendance (30 students per summer). Includes teacher professional development.
• Accomack County SchoolsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered with VASFA through Rocket Lab grant funding to deliver STEM Academy modules to students in grades 4-8.
• Northampton County SchoolsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered with VASFA through Rocket Lab grant funding to deliver STEM Academy modules to students in grades 4-8.
• Chincoteague Bay Field Station (CBFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChincoteague Bay Field Station provides housing for Space Adventure Camp at their Red Knot Resident Hall on Wallops Island. Contemporary, climate-controlled, suite-style dorms accommodate campers with camp counselors.
• Accomack County Public Schools (ACPS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal school district partner for VASFA programming delivery to students.
• Nassawannonx County Public Schools (NCPS)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal school district partner for VASFA programming delivery to students.
• Fruitland Community CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered on Harriet Tubman Bicentennial STEM Program and ongoing community STEM programming. Funded Harriet Tubman Bicentennial STEM Project through a grant from Depcom Power.
• Project ROCKETminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYouth STEM program partner operating through Fruitland Community Center.
• YEES WE CANminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-partner on Harriet Tubman Bicentennial STEM Program connecting local youth to STEM and Eastern Shore history.
• Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hosting VASFA's screening of National Geographic's documentary 'The Space Race: The Untold Story of the First Black Astronauts' in February 2024.
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hosting VASFA's screening of National Geographic's documentary 'The Space Race' in February 2024 at the university.
• Hazel Outdoor Discovery CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Delmarva Astronomical Star Party events and astronomy nights connected to STEM programs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• U.S. Space Camp (Space & Rocket Center): U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama is the most direct peer — a residential aerospace camp offering multi-day programs with NASA/engineering curriculum, model rockets, and simulated astronaut training. It competes with VASFA for the same family-segment market and shares the residential STEM-camp delivery model.
• iD Tech: iD Tech is a large STEM camp and online learning provider for kids and teens, offering summer camps in coding, robotics, and game design with on-campus and online modalities. VASFA's STEM Academy modules (especially RoboExplorers, Game On!) compete for the same supplemental STEM enrichment families.
• Sally Ride Science: Sally Ride Science delivers STEM camps, after-school programs, and educator training focused on space science and engaging underrepresented students. It is a direct peer in aerospace-themed STEM education with a similar mission to expand access to STEM careers.
• Code Ninjas: Code Ninjas operates a nationwide franchise network of STEM/coding education centers for kids, with year-round after-school programs and camps. It overlaps with VASFA's STEM Academy coding modules and Hour of Code programming and competes for the same enrichment-education family segment.
• Challenger Learning Centers: Challenger Learning Centers operate a national network of STEM learning centers, including residential and mission-based programs, often affiliated with NASA. They overlap with VASFA on STEM education delivery, space-themed simulations, and K-12 engagement.

Broad incumbents

• COSI (Center of Science and Industry): COSI is a large science center and STEM education nonprofit offering camps, field trips, and outreach programs in Ohio. It is a broader incumbent in the science-education space with a museum-based model that overlaps with VASFA's experiential STEM programming.
• Smithsonian Science Education Center: The Smithsonian Science Education Center offers STEM curricula, teacher training, and student programs at a national scale. While it does not run residential camps, it is a broader incumbent in the K-12 STEM enrichment space and a potential curriculum/partner counterpart to VASFA.

Others

• National Space Club: The National Space Club is an aerospace advocacy organization that runs educational outreach, scholarships, and awards promoting space industry awareness. It is thematically adjacent to VASFA in fostering STEM-career pipelines but does not run direct camp programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vasfa
• Facebookfacebook.com/VirginiaSpaceFlightAcademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virginia-space-flight-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/vasfa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Virginia Space Flight Academy