The Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship is sending families affected by pediatric cancer on an incredible trip to Family Space Camp in Huntsville, AL!

Each weekend includes visits by US Space Camp Hall of Fame members and alumni in addition to traditional Camp missions and activities. Scholarship families have time to bond with other families in similar pediatric cancer situations and hear from Space Camp alumni who are also cancer survivors. Travel, hotel, food, and Space Camp experiences are all provided at no cost to the families.

Donations and proceeds from fundraisers like this one make this scholarship possible!

Three kids and three parents variously sitting and standing in a space station simulator with binders during a mock mission.

To date we have sent 17 families to US Space Camp!

In 2021, we hosted seven families across two weekends for custom Family Space Camp weekends at US Space Camp–a total of 24 people! These weekends were created especially for Cosmic Odyssey during reduced Camp operations due to the pandemic.

In 2022, we hosted ten families across two new weekends: a Family Space Camp weekend and a Family Aviation Challenge weekend. 40 additional people experienced the awe of a Space Camp Weekend! [Read the update!]

>> In 2023, we plan to host an additional four families (17 people) in July!

Thanks to everyone that donated, participated in our fundraising auctions, and helped spread the word about the scholarship to eligible families. YOU make this all possible

Kids in white space suits high-five while dangling mid-air outside a space station mockup

The Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship is a creation of Niko Blanks with support from

The SpaceKind Foundation, Yuri’s Night and the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.

The Scholarship is run by a volunteer team that includes:

Niko Blanks, scholarship founder, pediatric cancer survivor, and aerospace test engineer
1st Lt. Tara Sweeney (USAF, Retired), Space Camp Hall of Fame Inductee and former VP of Space Camp
Loretta Whitesides, Founder of Yuri’s Night, Chair of the Board for The SpaceKind Foundation
Amy Jo Osborn, President + CEO at Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer
Tim Bailey, Executive Director of The SpaceKind Foundation and Inflight Manager for Zero-G
Christy Fair, Operations Director for Yuri’s Night

Special thanks to Dr. Michelle Christensen, Penny Pettigrew, Josh Whitfield, Chris Sembroski, Abigail Peterson, DeLaina Yancey, and everyone that has supported our Cosmic Odyssey families on-site in Huntsville!

2023 Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship

Raising funds to send pediatric cancer families to U.S. Space Camp!