OWEGO, NY, 04-MAY-06 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], BAE Systems, and the Coalition for Better Schools today co-hosted the 10th annual Space Day at Oakdale Mall in Johnson City, NY. Students were encouraged to explore their interest in space technology and travel during the daylong event designed to promote science education. The national Space Day educational initiative is founded and supported by the Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD.

Approximately 1,000 kindergarten through 12th-grade students, area teachers and parents were on hand at the mall for activities, which included more than 600 exhibits featuring award-winning science and technical projects completed by area students, hands-on activities for students and interactive displays by local science and technology-based organizations.

“Our nation’s future depends on increasing the number of engineers graduating from our universities,” said Frank Meyer, president of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego. “Space Day’s events demonstrate that math and science-based careers are compelling, rewarding, and fun.”

“Children have a natural fascination with space, and through Space Day we provide a forum for expressing and cultivating that interest,” said Sean Bond, vice president and general manager of Aerospace Controls at BAE Systems in Johnson City. “The students who have participated in projects in past years have shown a very impressive level of knowledge and interest, and every year the event gets bigger and better.”

Today’s activities included a contest for participating schools. The school with the highest percentage of participation received a Space Day gift pack including a state-of-the art telescope, lesson plans from Kopernik Space Center, and a variety of space-related gifts and activities.

Lockheed Martin’s Girls in Engineering program showcased projects that were developed with students in fourth and seventh grades. Girls in Engineering was launched in 2005 to attract, develop and retain female students’ interest in science, mathematics and engineering.

BAE Systems also featured demonstrations of the Segway® Human Transporter. The company manufactures the gyroscopes that stabilize the device.

In advance of today’s activities, Lockheed Martin conducted a nationwide T-shirt design contest where students were encouraged to create commemorative 2006 Space Day shirts. Katy Standinger, from Candor Elementary in Candor, NY, was a national finalist in the competition. Her design is being displayed at the national celebration in Washington, DC.