New York (April 27, 2000) – SPACE.com President Dr. Sally Ride will be honored by the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, a not-for-profit educational organization, this evening. Dr. Joseph P. Allen, former astronaut and Chairman of the Board for Challenger Center, will present the 2000 Founders' Award to Dr. Ride at a dinner in Washington, D.C.

The Challenger Center Board of Directors selected Dr. Ride for her obviously intimate knowledge of the space program. However, she was also recognized for her strong interest in education, as illustrated by her ongoing tenure as a professor of Physics at the University of California at San Diego; and her participation as President of SPACE.com, the definitive space website dedicated to the popularization of space and supporting education.

Challenger Center President, Vance Ablott, remarked upon the strength of this year's selection when he said, "Sally Ride will most certainly be remembered for being the first American woman in space. However, she has built upon her place in history by ensuring that our nation's youth have the potential to make history as well. As a strong and vocal advocate for improved science education, she shares Challenger Center's belief in the necessity of encouraging young students to pursue math and science studies."

"Sally’s knowledge, passion, energy and enthusiasm are an enormous asset to SPACE.com. We are proud that the Challenger Center has recognized her for her contributions to the space program, her dedication to space science education and her commitment to SPACE.com," said Lou Dobbs, SPACE.com Chairman and CEO.

Challenger Center is an international, not-for-profit education organization created in 1986 by the families of the astronauts tragically lost during the Challenger space shuttle mission. Dedicated to the educational spirit of that historic mission, Challenger Center is recognized as a leader in instructional simulation with a co-curricular emphasis. Using space exploration as a theme, the Center's highly acclaimed programs inspire students to pursue math, science, and technology studies, while concurrently helping them develop teamwork, communication, and other critical life skills.

The organization launched the Challenger Learning Center Network in 1987. Learning Centers use technology-rich educational environments to create hands-on and minds-on learning experiences. They offer a variety of programs, from mission simulations for students, to professional development workshops for instructors. Each year, more than 300,000 students visit 39 Challenger Learning Center sites across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Information about Challenger Center is available a www.challenger.org.

SPACE.com is the definitive space site on the Web, offering the richest and most compelling content, featuring news, information, education, entertainment, science fiction and games. SPACE.com is headquartered in New York City with offices and news bureaus in Cape Canaveral, Houston, Pasadena and Washington, D.C.

Lou Dobbs is SPACE.com’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mitchell Cannold is the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Alan Ladwig serves as Director of Washington Operations.

SPACE.com Board of Directors include Lou Dobbs; Sally Ride; Neil Armstrong, former astronaut and Chairman of AIL Technologies, Inc.; William Helman, General Partner, Greylock; John Higginbotham, Chairman of SpaceVest; Donald Marron, PaineWebber Chairman & CEO; Ray Rothrock, General Partner of Venrock Associates; and Jack Wyant, General Partner, Blue Chip Venture Company.

Members of SPACE.com’s Board of Advisors are Norman Augustine, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Lockheed Martin; John Patrick, IBM’s VP of Internet Technology; Gerald Wheeler, Executive Director of the National Science Teachers Association; astronauts Captain Eugene Cernan and General Thomas Stafford; cosmonaut Alexey Leonov; Peter Sealey, Ph.D., Co-Director of the Center for Marketing and Technology at the University of California-Berkeley; and Donna Shirley, President of Managing Creativity and Assistant Dean of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma.