The Astronauts Memorial Foundation

What The Astronauts Memorial Foundation does

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) is a private nonprofit foundation established in 1986 in the aftermath of the Space Shuttle Challenger accident to honor astronauts who lost their lives in pursuit of spaceflight. Its central asset is the Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy Space Center, Florida — a 42.5-foot tall, 50-foot wide memorial of steel and mirror-finished granite with astronaut names cut through its surface and illuminated by weatherproof LEDs. The memorial was designated as a national memorial by Congress and President George H.W. Bush via H.J. Res. 214 (Public Law 102-41), dedicated on May 9, 1991 by Vice President Dan Quayle, at a construction cost of $7.8 million. Twenty-five astronauts are currently honored; AMF's mission extends to inspiring future generations of space explorers. Leadership comprises President & CEO Thad Altman and Vice President of Programs and Partnerships Paul Secor, the latter appointed July 29, 2025 in a newly created role.

AMF's primary technology and physical asset is the Center for Space Education (CSE), a 47,000-square-foot facility on six acres inside the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex established in 1994 as a 'living memorial.' Through an operating partnership with NASA established in 1994, AMF delivers free STEM programming via the NASA KSC Exploration Station and tuition-based Summer Academy offerings (3-Day Rocketry and 3-Day Robotics at $269-$299 per student; 5-Day Near Space Balloon Launch at $899-$949 per student). Additional programs include the Lunabotics robotics competition (hosted with NASA and Caterpillar Inc., 30-50 prelim teams, entering its 17th year in 2027), the SPACE Conference for educators, the virtual Global Educators Summit, and the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award presented jointly with NASA and the Space Foundation.

Revenue is diversified across donations, the Space Walk commemorative brick program ($150 standard, $500 premium Orbiter tier), $50 annual memberships, ticketed events (Space Launcheon Series, Apollo 1 documentary screenings with VIP packages to $2,000), venue rentals at the CSE for corporate events and galas, corporate sponsorship of Lunabotics (tiers from $1,500 to $50,000), and Florida Challenger-Columbia memorial license plate proceeds. Customer segments span K-12 educators and students, homeschool families, individual commemorative donors, corporate sponsors (Caterpillar Inc. is featured), and corporate event clients. IRS Form 990 filings for 2022 and 2023 are available on AMF's website; specific revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation

Legal name

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation

Website

https://amfcse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation is a 1986-established nonprofit that maintains the Congressionally-designated Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy Space Center and operates the Center for Space Education, delivering NASA-partnered STEM programs, educator conferences, and student competitions to K-12 students, educators, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Memorial and STEM Education Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Virtual/Hybrid International Short-Term Academic Programs (EDAIAIAL)

Keywords

• Nonprofit memorial foundation
• STEM education programs
• Space exploration education
• Astronaut memorial preservation
• Corporate event venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: General fund donations and Scobee-Fulgham Condolences Fund contributions from individuals supporting AMF's educational programming and memorial maintenance.
2. Space Walk Brick Sales: Commemorative brick program ($150 for standard brick, $500 for Orbiter promotion brick placed next to astronaut Bob Cabana's brick) with three lines of engraved text supporting AMF and Center for Space Education.
3. Membership Program: Annual membership at $50 including quarterly newsletter, official AMF Dedication Patch, AMF Membership sticker, and access to exclusive Members-only events.
4. Event Hosting: Revenue from hosting corporate events, galas, conferences, and meetings at the Center for Space Education venue, including Space Launcheon Series events ($25-$35 per ticket, corporate table sponsorships at $250-$350).
5. Lunabotics Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship tiers for Lunabotics competition including Lunar Horizon Dinner ($50,000), Lunar Bites ($20,000), Mission Control ($5,000), and various broadcast/team experience sponsorships ranging from $1,500-$10,000.
6. Summer Academy Tuition: Tuition-based programs: 3-Day Rocketry Academy and 3-Day Robotics Academy at $299 for first student, $269 for additional siblings; 5-Day Near Space Balloon Launch at $949 first student, $899 additional sibling.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation operates the Space Mirror Memorial, the only national memorial honoring astronauts who sacrificed their lives for space exploration, and the Center for Space Education, a 47,000-square-foot facility at Kennedy Space Center delivering free and tuition-based STEM educational programs for K-12 students, educators, and the public. Its portfolio includes free NASA KSC Exploration Station sessions, paid Summer Academy programs (Rocketry, Robotics, Near Space Balloon Launch), the SPACE Conference, the Global Educators Summit, the Lunabotics student robotics competition, the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award, and venue/event hosting services.

Product overview

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) operates primarily as a nonprofit memorial and educational organization rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists of: (1) The Space Mirror Memorial - a national memorial honoring 25 fallen astronauts at Kennedy Space Center, (2) The Center for Space Education (CSE) - a 47,000 sq. ft. living memorial facility hosting STEM programs, (3) Multiple educational programs including Summer Academy (Rocketry, Robotics, Near Space Balloon), NASA KSC Exploration Station, Lunabotics competition, SPACE Conference, and Global Educators' Summit, (4) The Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award, (5) Space Launcheon Series events, (6) Space Walk Brick commemorative products, (7) AMF Membership, and (8) Event hosting services. These offerings are largely nonprofit/programs rather than technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Space Mirror Memorial: National memorial at Kennedy Space Center honoring astronauts who sacrificed their lives for space exploration
• Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award
• Lunabotics
• SPACE Conference

Products and services

• Space Mirror Memorial A 42.5-foot tall by 50-foot wide national memorial at Kennedy Space Center featuring mirror-finished granite with illuminated astronaut names, designated by Congress and President George Bush in 1991, honoring 25 astronauts who lost their lives for the advancement of human spaceflight.
• Center for Space Education (CSE) A 47,000 square-foot facility at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex serving as the 'living memorial' for fallen astronauts, offering educational programs for students and educators worldwide in partnership with NASA.
• NASA KSC Exploration Station Free STEM classroom sessions for all grade levels (K-12 through graduate), offering topics including Artemis Program, Earth Science, Engineering Design, Solar System Exploration, Working and Living in Space, Robotics, and STEM Careers, hosted at the Center for Space Education for formal school groups, informal groups, clubs, and universities.
• Summer Academy Multi-day tuition-based programs at Kennedy Space Center including 3-Day Rocketry Academy (Grades 6-9, $299 first student/$269 additional sibling), 3-Day Robotics Academy (Grades 6-9, $299/$269), and 5-Day Near Space Balloon Launch (Grades 11-12, $949/$899), designed in partnership with SpaceTrek.
• Lunabotics Competition Student robotics competition hosted by AMF in partnership with NASA and Caterpillar Inc., where mission-minded students build technologies to enable sustained human presence on the Moon. Hosts 30-50 teams in prelims with top 10 in finals, 8 broadcast competition days reaching 24,000-56,000 viewers, in its 17th year in 2027.
• SPACE Conference (Space Port Area Conference for Educators) Three-day professional development conference for educators providing STEM instructional resources, immersive Kennedy Space Center experiences, and networking opportunities with astronauts and space professionals. Florida educator scholarships available.
• Global Educators Summit (GES) Two-day virtual conference bringing together educators and leading voices in space and STEM education from around the world, offering 15 workshop sessions with real lesson plans and classroom-ready presentations, plus recording downloads post-conference.
• Space Launcheon Series (SLS) Monthly networking and luncheon event hosted with the National Space Society at Kennedy Space Center featuring keynote speakers including astronauts and space industry leaders. Tickets $25 AMF/NSS Members, $30 non-members; corporate table sponsorships from $250.
• Event Hosting Services Venue rental services at the Center for Space Education at Kennedy Space Center, offering adaptable spaces for corporate events, conferences, galas, leadership retreats, and team events with AV and technical support, located 45 minutes from Orlando, Melbourne, and Daytona.
• Space Walk Brick Program Commemorative brick sales offering personalized tribute bricks with three lines of text (14 characters each including spaces and punctuation) placed at the foot of the Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy Space Center. Standard brick $150; Orbiter promotion brick $500 placed next to astronaut Bob Cabana's brick (4 of 8 remaining).
• AMF Annual Membership Annual membership program at $50/year including quarterly newsletter, official AMF Dedication Patch, membership sticker, and access to exclusive member events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free STEM education for all children and chaperones participating in NASA KSC Exploration Station programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994NASA partnership established in 1994 to create the Center for Space Education as a 'living memorial.' AMF operates the Center for Space Education and NASA KSC Exploration Station for NASA at Kennedy Space Center. NASA provides free access to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for program participants. AMF runs free STEM sessions for students and educators as part of this partnership.
• Caterpillar Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaterpillar Inc. serves as a key industry partner for the Lunabotics competition, supporting student teams in building technologies to enable sustained human presence on the Moon. Caterpillar branding appears alongside NASA in Lunabotics promotional materials.
• Space FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace Foundation collaborates with AMF and NASA on the annual Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award. The award recognizes educators demonstrating excellence in technology education and inspiring students through innovative STEM approaches. Space Foundation also hosts National Space Day events where the award is presented.
• Space TreksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace Trek serves as the design partner for Summer Academy programs at Kennedy Space Center, providing curriculum development and program delivery for rocketry, robotics, and near space balloon launch experiences for students grades 6-12.
• National Space SocietysecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint presenter of the Space Launcheon Series (SLS), a monthly networking and luncheon event featuring keynote speakers including astronauts and space industry leaders. Partnership facilitates exchange of space news and fosters connections within the space industry.
• Delaware NorthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelaware North collaborates with AMF and NASA to host the annual NASA Day of Remembrance Ceremony at the Space Mirror Memorial. The ceremony is observed across the country with events at major space centers.
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor ComplexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKennedy Space Center Visitor Complex provides the physical location for the Space Mirror Memorial, Center for Space Education, and access to attractions including Space Shuttle Atlantis, Rocket Garden, and launch viewing areas. Nearly 3 million visitors annually pass through the complex.
• Blue OriginminorOthers2026 Alan Shepard Award recipient Aymette Medina Jorge participated as crew member on Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-32 mission on May 31, 2025, becoming the first Puerto Rican woman and one of the first Hispanic educators to travel to space.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Space Center Houston: Official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center operating a science-and-space museum plus extensive STEM education programs for K-12 students and educators—directly mirrors AMF's combination of space memorial/museum, NASA-partnered educational programming, and event hosting at a NASA visitor complex.
• Cosmosphere: Space science museum and educational facility in Hutchinson, Kansas, running STEM camps (including a robotics/spaceflight curriculum) and hosting community events—closely comparable to AMF as a smaller space-museum-plus-education nonprofit.
• U.S. Space & Rocket Center: NASA-affiliated space museum and home of Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama—operates immersive K-12 STEM programs, astronaut-themed educational experiences, and event hosting in direct overlap with AMF's Summer Academy and event venue model.
• National Space Society: Nonprofit space advocacy organization hosting lunar/space educational programming, networking luncheons, and Space Settlement competitions—an existing AMF partner (joint Space Launcheon Series) and a peer in space-themed educational event production.
• Challenger Center for Space Science Education: Nonprofit founded by the families of the Challenger crew delivering space-focused STEM learning experiences, teacher professional development, and student simulations—a near-direct parallel to AMF's mission to honor the Challenger crew while inspiring future STEM talent.
• Intrepid Museum: NYC-based national museum complex including the Space Shuttle Pavilion, with substantial K-12 STEM and educator programming and large-scale corporate event hosting—comparable to AMF as a memorial-style museum that monetizes a unique venue and runs space-education initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• Space Foundation: National nonprofit advancing space-related education, policy, and industry events including Space Symposium and teacher programs—already an AMF partner (Alan Shepard Award) and a structural peer in space-education programming and aerospace workforce advocacy.
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: Operates the broader KSC visitor destination in which AMF's CSE and Space Mirror Memorial are physically embedded, sets overall tourism flow that drives AMF's foot traffic, and is a partial partner/competitor for space-themed K-12 programming and event venue bookings.
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Major Smithsonian institution operating the national air and space collection, drawing several million visitors annually with deep K-12 educational programming and national memorial/museum functions, making it the closest large-scale analog to AMF's commemorative and educational mandate.

Regional players

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Florida-based higher-education institution specializing in aerospace, aviation, and STEM workforce preparation—operates K-12 outreach (Space Trek partner with AMF) and is a regional competitor for STEM student pipeline and aerospace workforce talent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/amfcse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Astronauts Memorial Foundation