On 15th July, the legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin—renowned as the second human to set foot on the moon—hosted the third annual gala for his ShareSpace Foundation at Florida’s iconic Kennedy Space Center. The event was a dazzling celebration of space exploration and a fundraiser for future-focused education, with over $200,000 raised to support the foundation’s mission. We were incredibly honoured to contribute to this extraordinary evening by donating 50 of our Mars MOVA Globes to serve as the gala’s centrepieces. Each globe was personally signed by Buzz himself and later auctioned off to further benefit space education initiatives.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Space Explorers
Since its founding in 1998, the ShareSpace Foundation has impacted over 500,000 students across the United States. The organisation aims to integrate space exploration more meaningfully into primary school curriculums—an effort that couldn’t be more timely.
Did you know that the average American student only spends 30 minutes learning about space after primary school? ShareSpace is on a mission to change that.
One of the highlights of their curriculum is a giant Mars floor map, an immersive tool that helps students connect concepts in maths, physics, and planetary science with a sense of wonder.
“The moon landing is when the world collectively stopped to witness something good,” said Christina Korp, Buzz Aldrin’s Mission Control Director. “We all remember tragedies, but this was something different.”
A Night to Remember at the Kennedy Space Center
From the moment you step into the Kennedy Space Center, it’s clear you’ve arrived somewhere extraordinary. Often described as a “Disneyland for space enthusiasts,” the centre features historic artefacts, astronaut exhibits, and immersive experiences.
The evening’s festivities were held in the awe-inspiring Saturn V building, where guests dined beneath the towering Saturn V rocket—an engineering marvel that once carried astronauts to the moon.
Honouring the Future of Space
The gala also celebrated pioneers shaping the future of space exploration. A highlight of the evening was Jeff Bezos receiving recognition for his work with Blue Origin.
Bezos spoke about the importance of reusable rockets and how they are a crucial step toward enabling future missions to Mars.
The message throughout the evening was clear: space exploration is not just a dream—it’s a necessity. Investing in education today is essential for reaching tomorrow’s milestones.
MOVA Globes and a Message for the Stars
We were truly privileged to see our Mars MOVA Globes featured at such an inspiring event. As they slowly rotated beneath Buzz Aldrin’s signature, they symbolised the connection between education, innovation, and exploration.
Celebrating the 48th anniversary of the moon landing in such a historic setting, surrounded by visionaries and pioneers, was an unforgettable experience. It served as a powerful reminder that while Earth is our home, our future may lie among the stars.
