Singapore Airshow and Kallman Worldwide Launch Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Space Camp Challenge in Singapore Schools

WALDWICK, NJ and SINGAPORE, 25 September 2019 – Singapore Airshow is pleased to announce its partnership with Kallman Worldwide, Inc., to launch the “Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Space Camp Challenge 2020,” an initiative that aims to foster greater international understanding and cooperation, and inspire the next generation of innovators, explorers, and leaders in the global aerospace community.

This initiative is named in honour of Alfred Merrill “Al” Worden (Colonel, USAF, Ret.), Command Module Pilot for the Apollo 15 lunar mission in 1971, and a global advocate for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. One of 24 people to have flown to the Moon, his record-setting mission included 74 solo lunar orbits in the Command Module “Endeavour.”

The ‘Challenge’ is open to all secondary schools in Singapore and for students between 15 to 18 years old. The winning team of four Singapore students and one teacher chaperone will be fully sponsored to attend the world’s premier space camp training experience, Space Camp , in Huntsville, Alabama USA from 16 to 21 August 2020. Since 1982, Space Camp has inspired the next generation of astronauts, engineers and scientists through an immersive programme that includes astronaut training and simulated space missions with the ultimate aim of helping to achieve success in space for years to come.

“One of Singapore Airshow’s missions is to ensure a sustainable talent pipeline that will facilitate the transformation of Asia’s aviation and defence industries. We are thrilled to partner with Kallman Worldwide, long-standing organiser of the show’s USA Partnership Pavilion. This programme is a perfect fit with our current education and outreach programmes which are aimed at sowing the seeds of Singapore’s future in aviation, and paving the way for the next generation to take to the skies,” said Mr Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director of Experia Events Pte Ltd.

“Supported by the U.S. aerospace industry represented at the Singapore Airshow, we are launching this initiative with the aim of promoting global goodwill and partnership between students and nations, and to recognise and reward the achievements of tomorrow’s leaders and today’s teachers.” said Tom Kallman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kallman Worldwide, Inc. “Singapore’s education system is respected worldwide for championing STEM, and the Singapore Airshow, as a highly influential event on the global aviation calendar, is an ideal platform for an initiative of this magnitude and prestige. Our plan is to have Colonel Worden on hand to present the scholarship to the ‘Challenge’ winners. We are certain this experience will serve to motivate our selected students and teacher to pursue their passion for learning in all disciplines impacted by science, technology, engineering, and math.”

The Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Space Camp Challenge 2020 opens today, and closes on 15 December 2019. Interested students are required to submit their responses to a space exploration challenge in the form of a five-minute video. The submitted video entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges comprising of representatives from Experia Events and the Singapore Space and Technology Association. The winning team of four students and one teacher chaperone will be selected in January and the announcement and award presentation will be held during the Singapore Airshow 2020.

The Singaporean students will join 16 other Endeavour Scholarship recipients from the UAE, Chile, Poland and the United Kingdom all of whom have earned their slots at Space Camp’s “International Week 2020” through locally-managed national competitions. Similar award ceremonies will take place at the Dubai Air Show (UAE), Bahrain International Airshow, the FIDAE Air Show (Chile), Farnborough International Airshow (UK) and the MSPO (Poland).

“As a lifelong advocate for education and exploration, I am deeply honoured and excited to lend my name and experience to this international award,” said Colonel Al Worden. “Getting to Mars in the future is just one of the countless engineering and physical challenges we face on our own planet today, and can only become a reality through international collaboration. With my international scholars and many others working as one team, we hope to underpin our future success in space. My partners at Kallman Worldwide and I both agree, the pipeline for STEM talent can handle a lot more volume, and Space Camp is a proven conduit.”

For further information, please contact:

Experia Events Pte Ltd Christie Chong christiechong@experiaevents.com +65 6595 6131

Kallman Worldwide, Inc. Philippa Ewart philippae@kallman.com +44 (0) 7730 817 825

Hill + Knowlton Strategies Serene Goh serene.goh@hkstrategies.com +65 6390 3320