The Astronauts Memorial Foundation

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The Astronauts Memorial Foundation AMF honors the legacy of our fallen astronauts and inspires the next generation of space explorers. AMF honors U.S. astronauts and astronauts who flew with U.S.

In the wake of the Challenger accident in 1986, The Astronauts Memorial Foundation was founded. crews on American Space Ships, as well as commercial crewmembers during FAA-approved exploratory or experimental spaceflight, who have lost their lives while on a U.S. government mission or in training. Twenty-five astronauts are now honored by AMF. AMF is a private, not-for-profit organization approved by NASA to build and maintain two major facilities at the John F. Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Complex:

The Space Mirror Memorial, designated as a national memorial by Congress and President George Bush (H.J. Res. 214), was dedicated in 1991. The Center for Space Education, the "living memorial", was opened in 1994. Its mission is to foster an understanding of space exploration and to improve education through technology. Both of these facilities are truly gifts to the nation from the people of Florida. Most of the funds for constructing and maintaining these facilities have been accomplished with proceeds from the sales of Florida's Challenger/Columbia license plate. Thousands of corporations, foundations and individuals have also made contributions to AMF to support the facilities and the programs of the Foundation.

Today, October 5, we remember NASA astronaut and U.S. Marine Corps Major Clifton C. “C.C.” Williams Jr., who lost his li...
10/05/2026

Today, October 5, we remember NASA astronaut and U.S. Marine Corps Major Clifton C. “C.C.” Williams Jr., who lost his life on this day in 1967 when his T-38 aircraft crashed near Tallahassee, Florida.

Selected as a NASA astronaut in 1963, Williams served as backup pilot for Gemini 10 and was preparing for future Apollo missions. Following his death, his fellow astronauts made sure his memory traveled with them. The Apollo 12 mission patch included a fourth star in his honor, and Alan Bean carried Williams’ astronaut pin and naval aviator wings to the lunar surface in November 1969.

Today, 59 years after his passing, we remember his service, sacrifice, and the journey he helped make possible.

As part of The Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s commitment to ensuring they are never forgotten, a floral arrangement is placed at the National Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Today, these flowers are placed in memory of Major Clifton C. Williams Jr.

AMF is proud to share that AMF Educator Steve Portz was profiled in the latest issue of Brigham Young University's "Y" M...
09/25/2026

AMF is proud to share that AMF Educator Steve Portz was profiled in the latest issue of Brigham Young University's "Y" Magazine (see: https://magazine.byu.edu/article/stem-nasa-educator-steve-portz/ ) . Steve is a "thought leader" in Space Education and its great to see his work recognized in publications like this!

We are proud to celebrate AMF Lead Educator Steve Portz, whose extraordinary career is featured in the Fall 2026 issue o...
09/25/2026

We are proud to celebrate AMF Lead Educator Steve Portz, whose extraordinary career is featured in the Fall 2026 issue of BYU Magazine.

Steve’s journey has taken him from working as a thermal protection mechanic on Space Shuttle Columbia to spending 38 years helping students discover the excitement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Along the way, he introduced students to emerging technologies, guided nationally recognized robotics teams, and helped young people turn ideas into real-world solutions.

Today, Steve brings that same passion to the Center for Space Education at Kennedy Space Center, where he helps students learn by designing, building, testing, and exploring.

Steve’s story reflects what AMF’s mission is all about: honoring those who made exploration possible, inspiring the next generation, and educating the innovators who will carry that legacy forward.

Congratulations, Steve, on this well-deserved recognition!

Read the full feature:

A Florida STEM NASA educator harnesses fun to launch students into out-of-this-world science while challenging traditional learning.

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation would like to extend a big THANK YOU to to Florida State Senator Tom Wright who spons...
09/09/2026

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation would like to extend a big THANK YOU to to Florida State Senator Tom Wright who sponsored an appropriation to fund STEM Education at AMF that is helping us serve more than 10,000 students annually in our Center for Space Education.

Photo one: a group picture with students attending a Lego Lunar Rover session today.

Photo two: Senator Tom Wright (right) presents a ceremonial check of $500,000 to AMF President and CEO Thad Altman.

Photo Three: Board Members Pam Steel, Sheryl Chaffee, Kevin Kevin McKeown, and Denise Coleman join Senator Wright and CEO Altman for a separate photo.

Thank you Senator Wright!!

Amazing launch of the Roman Telescope this morning!
08/30/2026

Amazing launch of the Roman Telescope this morning!

07/07/2026

Thank you to the Artemis II Crew for visiting AMF today! It was very inspiring to hear some very profound discussion about the many aspects of Space Exploration. Attendees got insights, advice, and answers to thought provoking questions that were posed. It was an amazing day.

Happy 250th Anniversary to our great nation from the Astronauts Memorial Foundation!
07/04/2026

Happy 250th Anniversary to our great nation from the Astronauts Memorial Foundation!

Today, June 30th, is our fiscal year-end and our educators did an AMAZING job this year. They served 11,285 students in ...
06/30/2026

Today, June 30th, is our fiscal year-end and our educators did an AMAZING job this year. They served 11,285 students in person, 20,926 virtually and reached a grand total of 32,211. Way to go team!!!

Tomorrow we flip everything to zero and start over. Wouldn't have it any other way though 😁👊😁

It was a pleasure to have one our great partners - The Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee bring their students o...
06/29/2026

It was a pleasure to have one our great partners - The Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee bring their students on a field trip to the Astronauts Memorial Foundation on Friday.

We are appreciate them getting up early and making the long drive to reach our classroom and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

UPDATE AS of 7:45 PM. A generous donor purchased 10 microscopes! 🥳 This pushes us to 18. We have 20 ipads we can connect...
06/27/2026

UPDATE AS of 7:45 PM. A generous donor purchased 10 microscopes! 🥳 This pushes us to 18. We have 20 ipads we can connect them to, so we'd love to get just 2 more! https://a.co/097jEGbV

This will allow us to serve large classes of 40 students and students can work in pairs.

🙏 HELP US GET 2 MORE 🙏 and we will complete this project by almost doubling our original goal! https://a.co/097jEGbV

Address

SR 405, Building M6/306
Merritt Island, FL
32899

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13213789810

Website

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