In 2004, the Virginia Air & Space Center launched the exciting new project SPACE BOUND. This endeavor is a continuation of the excellence created by the opening of the world-class Adventures in Flight gallery in 2003. In time to celebrate the Center’s 15th Anniversary and the Jamestown’s 400th anniversary, the first phase of Space Quest: Exploring the Moon, Mars & Beyond opened on April 20, 2007.

In the spirit of exploration, the new state-of-the-art, interactive gallery highlights NASA’s past, present and future of space exploration. Visitors can take a mission to Mars, be a time traveler, create a crater, land on the moon and more. Space Quest will serve as a new way to attract tourists to the Hampton Roads area, improve the quality of life for citizens of our region, and give students the opportunity to improve, and excel in science, math, engineering and technology. Our goal is to inspire explorers of all ages.

We are very grateful to each individual, corporation, and entity that has made a commitment to this exciting project. We are especially indebted to our community partners including the City of Hampton, NASA Langley Research Center, Commonwealth of Virginia Langley Federal Credit Union and Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. for their lead gifts.

The total campaign is $10 million, which will consist of public sector funding of $7.8 million, and private sector funding of $2.2 million. To-date the private sector has committed $2,072,276, leaving 127,724 to still be raised. To-date the public sector has committed $5.8, leaving $2 million to raise. Pending funding, the Phase II will open in 2008 and Phase III will open in 2009.

As NASA continues to explore all aspects of space, the Virginia Air & Space Center must also continue to provide meaningful, educational and up-to-date programs that inspire and motivate students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

New interactive space exhibits and science, math and informal technology educational offerings will take the Virginia Air & Space Center to the next level. Within SPACE BOUND initiatives are plans for educational outreach and enhanced educational facilities at the Virginia Air & Space Center. Explore SPACE BOUND and you will find a visionary plan for the Hampton Roads area that far outpaces anything being considered throughout the region.

Since its opening, the Virginia Air & Space Center has served over 5.2 million visitors. This past fiscal year ending 06/30/07, the Center served 416,623 total visitor admissions, a three percent increase compared to the previous year. The key elements to this growth have been the continued upgrading of exhibits, and the addition of interactive and state-of-the-art technologies. The Virginia Air & Space Center, the visitor center for NASA Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base, is the top attraction in Hampton, and the second most-visited science museum in Virginia. The SPACE BOUND initiative to fund major space exhibit upgrades and new educational offerings will elevate Virginia Air & Space Center’s stature as a world-class facility and prepare the Center the future..

We hope you will join us, and the other members of the Campaign Development Committee to enhance the future, not only of the Center, but that of space exploration, and all of our futures.