ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

141 W BAY AREA BLVD, WEBSTER, TX 77598-4111

In care of

% ANDREW TURNAGE

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

Andrew Turnage, 141 Bay Area Blvd, Webster, TX 77598

Signed the 990

Andrew Turnage, Executive Director

Phone

(281) 280-8172

Website

www.space-explorers.org

Return prepared by

Sophie S Zheng PC

Mission

The Association of Space Explorers (ASE) is the international professional and educational association of men and women who have flown in Earth orbit. ASE's mission is to apply the unique perspective of its members to: promote the global benefits of space science, exploration and international cooperation; to educate and inspire future generations, and; to foster better stewardship of our home planet.

Program accomplishments

• Professional Forum:Annual Planetary Congress: The annual planetary Congress allows the members to work towards the organization's mission and vision by providing broad and deep professional technical interchanges among the members and attendees. Valuable exchanges of information and expertise are created by astronaut reunions. Presentations are delivered to the general public at the annual Congress. The organization provides online accessible information with weekly interchange through the ASE downlinks. Member/Astronaut appearances at schools and other public forums provide a platform for promoting the benefits of space science and exploration.Astronaut Reunions: ASE organizes and hosts annual European astronaut reunions and biennial astronaut reunions for NASA astronauts in Houston, Texas. The reunions provide networking and professional development opportunities for active government astronauts, former government astronauts and commercial space travelers. Universal Astronaut Insignia: ASE representing the desire of the international community of space travelers to establish a single, commonly recognized insignia for all who fly into space, conceived, designed and approved a universal astronaut insignia. All space travelers who are certified by a recognized space launch provider as having traveled to space are eligible to wear the universal astronaut insignia. The insignia consists of ascending and descending chevrons crowned with a 5-point star, representing the journey to space and the return to Earth. A circlet encompassing the chevrons is added to astronaut insignia awarded for flight into Earth orbit and beyond. Registry of Space Travelers: ASE, exercising its historical role representing the international astronaut community, curates an official, universal Registry of Space Travelers, the recognized official index of individuals who have flown to space and the sequential order in which they flew.
  Expenses $78,639
• Education: Celebrating Diversity from Space: Operating under a federal grant from the ISS National Laboratory/Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), ASE recently completed "Celebrating Diversity from Space", an educational program for under-represented youth in Boys & Girls Clubs. Students explored diversity at three levels: 1) EARTH's global diversity for its physical features and human geography; 2) ASTRONAUTS whose diverse backgrounds, experience and expertise are essential for success of ISS; and 3) local COMMUNITY of each Boys & Girls Club, where students celebrated rich diversity among themselves, their neighborhoods and families. All three realms have the common theme - diversity is an essential element of success. The program emphasized hands-on and inquiry-based learning. Each club created a 30-minute video, conveying these core concepts, working directly with astronauts. The ISS National Lab provided two essential assets: 1) wealth of photographs taken by the ISS astronauts as they orbit Earth, showcasing rich complexity; 2) the experiences of astronauts themselves, as diverse crews, working as a team, managing complex tasks, and solving problems with creativity and collaboration. This project built on extensive prior work of "Windows On Earth" to establish the archive of photos and video creation tools. The 10 participating astronauts are members of Association of Space Explorers and have all flown in space.Community Days: At each Planetary Congress, ASE members dedicate a full day for outreach with the local and national communities in the country where the Congress is being hosted. The astronauts and cosmonauts reach thousands of students, teachers, parents, and members of the general public to inspire and promote education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. ASE member astronauts also engage with students and teachers throughout the year in the USA with school and university visits and lectures, as well as via partnerships with other educational organizations.
  Expenses $34,006
• Planetary Stewardship:Windows on Earth: Windows on Earth features the vast collection of photos and movies taken by astronauts on the ISS. ASE, with support from NASA and the Crew Earth Observation facility, established and maintain ASE's own image library, provide a friendly public front-end (WindowsOnEarth.org), and use these photos in creative ways. Since 2005, this work has been funded by a series of NSF and NASA grants, creating museum exhibits, curriculum guides, teacher training and innovative technical development. Now ASE will take some bold steps to greatly expand public access and educational use of these resources, through an ambitious partnership with the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and its Supercomputer Center (SDSC). It builds on prior collaborations with UCSD, and their enthusiasm and expertise to take Windows on Earth to new levels of access and the potential for much larger reach. This partnership will also provide some powerful new tools for ASE members, as the original astronauts, artists and scientists who took these photos of Earth.Earth Music Theater: ASE manages an archive of images and photos of Earth taken by astronauts (from NASA, all images are in the public domain). ASE works with over 40 musicians, who provide their music for these movies. ASE works with the musicians to select Earth views that align with the music. ASE posts all movies at no cost on the Earthmusicheater.org website and ASE social media channels. ASE also partners with UCTV (University of California TV) to broadcast new movies each Friday. Similarly, the musicians can freely post their movie(s) for public enjoyment. ASE also works with musicians to do live performances of Earth music, at venues around the world, including Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Boston Music of Science, BachFest Leipzig Germany, Imax in Leonberg Germany, and multiple other venues.Space Traffic Management / Orbital Debris: ASE's Committee on Space Traffic Management / Orbital Debris works with the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and other stakeholders to develop best practices for the management and mitigation of space debris objects. In addition to UN COPUOS, the Committee engages with international space agencies, the Hague Institute for Global Justice, The Paris Peace Forum, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and other nonprofit organizations to promote the continued reduction of space debris, to Improve access to timely and accurate data on space objects down to the lethal debris limit and to improve information sharing on a routine basis to strengthen global space traffic coordination mechanisms.
  Expenses $9,354

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

94-2992746

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1986

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Science and technology (U033)

Assets (IRS master file)

$550,855

Income (IRS master file)

$288,467

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 94-2992746).

Questions about ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA

What is the EIN of ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA?

The employer identification number (EIN) of ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA is 94-2992746.

Is ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1986.

Are donations to ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.

Who is the principal officer of ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Andrew Turnage.

Who are the officers and directors of ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 11 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $109,308 (Andy Turnage, Executive Director/Secreta).

How much revenue does ASSOCIATION OF SPACE EXPLORERS USA have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $288,370, expenses of $212,975 and total assets of $550,855 at year end.

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