Charting the Skies: the VASSC’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan
The Virginia Air & Space Science Center’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan lays out a bold vision to ignite curiosity and drive innovation in STEM for explorers of all ages. Rooted in our mission to ignite curiosity and innovation and guided by our vision of exploration, this plan charts a clear roadmap for the next five years.
Key Priorities
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Enhance Guest Experience & Engagement: Roll out immersive, accessible exhibits (AR/VR, tactile elements, multilingual content), strengthen real-time feedback loops, and grow virtual offerings like online tours and webinars.
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Expand Educational & Research Opportunities: Launch professional development for educators, deepen outreach in our communities, open facilities for student-led research, and host symposia to foster collaboration.
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Ensure Financial Sustainability: Diversify revenue (memberships, programs, café, rentals, grants), implement cost-saving measures (energy efficiency, automation), and build reserves for long-term stability.
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Engage Community & Build Partnerships: Deepen ties with NASA and regional centers, collaborate with industry experts, schools, universities, and cultural organizations, and expand volunteer and advisory programs.
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Embrace the Past & Inspire the Future: Preserve and showcase historic artifacts, engage historians, celebrate key anniversaries, and launch hackathons, camps, and immersive experiences to inspire new STEM explorers.
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Strengthen Board Governance: Provide targeted training and mentorship for board members, enhance governance policies, and recruit a diverse, engaged leadership team.
