The Space Industry's Role in Philanthropy
From launching Sputnik and landing on the moon to creating the International Space Station, the desire to understand outer space and our place in it has brought countless changes to science, design, and philosophy. Sending astronauts and satellites far above the Earth has given the world better food technology, medical equipment, and clothing. It’s why we have solar cells, camera phones, and advanced water filtration systems.
In the current space age, led by private companies, the extraordinary innovation of the first space race has been infused with new life, pushing the bounds of possibility with each launch. Beyond direct contributions to furthering exploration of the cosmos, aerospace organizations increasingly commit resources to guide the next generation of astronauts, fund STEM programs, and reimagine the future of humankind. Below are a few examples of this industry’s ever-expanding impact.
Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, created Club for the Future in 2019, an organization that aims to support and inspire future space travelers. The nonprofit offers free space-centered educational materials for students, teachers, and families. The curriculum ranges from drafting an original constitution for space to engineering new technology. Additionally, the club awarded $19 million in grants to other space-focused organizations, including the Planetary Society, Teachers in Space, and Higher Orbits.
You can even send a postcard to space through Club for the Future, chronicling your unique vision for the future. The postcards will accompany one of Blue Origin’s rockets on its journey and later be returned to you, stamped with the words Flown to Space.
Space for Humanity, a not-for-profit founded in 2017, wants to democratize space and diversify the commercial astronaut pool. The organization considers itself “vehicle agnostic,” meaning it does not champion a specific aerospace company, and instead supports all those with the goal to create sustained commercial spaceflight.
The core concept of Space for Humanity stems from the “Overview Effect”. Coined by philosopher Frank White in 1987, the term refers to the profound shift in perspective experienced by many astronauts when they see Earth from far away. Space for Humanity’s Citizen Astronaut Program offers leaders from various walks of life the opportunity to experience the Overview Effect for themselves and return with a new understanding of life. Its creators hope the program will cause a ripple effect and transform humanity’s worldview.
One of the oldest foundations dedicated to uniting aerospace professionals and raising awareness of achievements in the field, the Space Foundation is committed to sharing information and resources that further space-related innovation. The foundation does this through three divisions — Symposium 365, the Center for Innovation and Education, and the Global Alliance. The first offers important news and media about the global space ecosystem, the second provides engaging space curricula for students of all ages, and the third facilitates collaboration between commercial, education, and government stakeholders.
The Space Foundation also runs the Space Technology Hall of Fame, which awards leading innovators in technology and design who improve life on Earth by adapting things originally made for space. You can view their 2021 inductees here.
More Groups Expanding Access to Space Exploration
In the early days of space travel, many nations made narrow rules about who could be an astronaut. Restrictions concerning age, eyesight, height, physical health, mental capacity, and more meant only a select few could venture into the unknown in the 1960s. But now, as living on Mars or orbiting the moon becomes more feasible to the general public, advocacy groups are rethinking those limitations. For instance, AstroAccess builds custom environments, suits, and tools for people with disabilities who want to experience spaceflight.
In a field that has long been majority white and male, others are focused on increasing racial and gender equality in the space industry. The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship empowers Black students and professionals by providing mentors, creating peer cohorts, and helping them land their first job. Similarly, the Girls in Aerospace Foundation uplifts young women interested in STEM and aerospace through events, workshops, webinars, and a magazine called Girls in Aero.
A New Age of Aerospace Innovation
A majority of adults in the U.S. still say space exploration is essential, and 58 percent believe human astronauts, not only robots, should embark on future missions, according to the Pew Research Center. As new generations participate in the space industry, even more education and tech breakthroughs are coming. Endeavors by aerospace companies in lower-Earth orbit have already cleared the way for NASA to focus on deep space exploration, helping to spur the development of a slew of futuristic tech. At the same time, philanthropic efforts by these companies and individual commercial astronauts have the power to transform lives on our home planet. More and more, investment in space is an investment in humanity.