By Burt Dicht
NSS Managing Director of Membership

Gazing out the window at our beautiful Earth below added to the celebratory nature of Space Exploration Day—July 20, 2025. About 120 people, many of them NSS members, gathered for a special day to honor and remember the first Moon landing, which occurred 56 years ago on July 20, 1969. The venue? The Centauri Space Station—220 miles above the Earth and accessed through a space elevator known as the Stellarvator.

Well, not exactly.

The gathering and celebration were very real, but our location was earthbound as we enjoyed these “views from space” at Space 220, a space-themed restaurant at EPCOT that is modeled after a space station. Its dining area features simulated daytime and nighttime views of the Earth below. Space Exploration Day is a national educational event held annually on July 20 to commemorate the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Officially established in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, the day honors this historic achievement and seeks to inspire interest in space science and exploration—especially among young people.

This year’s celebration was hosted by the Blue Community Consortium, the Jane Goodall Institute, the National Space Society, the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and Newday Impact. Dr. David Randle, Managing Director of the Blue Community Consortium, organized the effort. His father, Ken Randle—who led NASA’s Future Projects Team for Change—played a pivotal role in founding the observance.

Along with the great views and a delicious brunch, attendees heard from a distinguished group of speakers who reflected on the meaning of the day and the promise of the future. The lineup included:

• Doug Heske, President & CEO of Newday Impact, a values-driven financial firm focused on investing in companies that create positive social and environmental change. Mr. Heske shared how Newday’s mission aligns with the broader goals of space exploration—investing in a future that is not only innovative, but sustainable and inclusive.
• David Randle, Managing Director of the Blue Community Consortium, offered a brief history of National Space Exploration Day, along with lessons from the NASA Future Projects Team for Change and how they relate to today’s efforts to inspire the next generation of space innovators.
• Anna Rathmann, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), discussed JGI’s important partnership with NASA. Using satellite data from Landsat missions, the Institute is able to track habitat change, map forest density, and identify regions critical to chimpanzee survival. It was a compelling demonstration of how space technology benefits life on Earth.
• Greg Autry, Associate Provost for Space Commercialization and Strategy at the University of Central Florida, NSS Vice President for Space Development and a recent nominee for NASA’s Chief Financial Officer, spoke about the broad benefits of space for all humankind. A globally recognized leader in space policy and commercial space, Dr. Autry delivered an optimistic message: even with potential reductions in government space funding, the growing partnerships between NASA and industry, along with new launch systems, offer extraordinary opportunities for continued space development.

• Sharon and Marc Hagle, two Blue Origin astronauts who have each flown twice on the New Shepard rocket, shared their experiences traveling above the Kármán line and viewing the thin blue line of Earth’s atmosphere against the blackness of space. Sharon noted that the simulated images at Space 220 closely resembled the views from their capsule. Both Hagles spoke passionately about how spaceflight transformed their lives and reaffirmed their commitment to making life better on Earth and inspiring future generations.

As we celebrated Apollo 11’s legacy, we also looked forward—toward a future where space development continues to open new frontiers. Many children were in attendance, and they enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to meet the Hagles and imagine themselves as part of that future.

An event like this wouldn’t be possible without many dedicated partners. NSS would like to thank:

• Maryann Barry, Chief Executive Officer, SpaceKids Global
• Richard Berman, Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Strategic Initiatives, University of South Florida, who moderated the event
• Jason Britton, Chief Investment Officer, Newday Impact, who closed out the presentation with a discussion on how this work will continue
• Ashley Zoeller, Sustainability Programs Consultant, Blue Community Consortium
• Robert Katz, President & CEO, World Innovation Network (WIN), who moderated the session with the Hagles
• Elizabeth Schneider, Lori Guisewite, and Ginger Chen, NSS members and volunteers.

As the event drew to a close, participants reflected on how far we’ve come. While we gathered to honor a milestone from 1969, the day served as a reminder that space exploration and development is not just a chapter in our past—it’s a challenge and opportunity that continues to shape our future.

For the National Space Society, events like this reaffirm our mission: to advance the day when people living and working in space is a normal part of life. By bringing together educators, entrepreneurs, astronauts, and the next generation of explorers, we help ensure that the excitement of space translates into real opportunity. Space Exploration Day may come once a year, but the work of building a spacefaring future continues every day.

Credit for above photos: Burt Dicht. Top photo, from left: Robert Katz, Maryann Barry, Burt Dicht, Doug Heske, Greg Autry, Sharon Hagle, Saba the Space Dog, Marc Hagle, Anna Rathmann, Jason Britton, David Randle, and Richard Berman.

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