The Deep Space Exploration Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOSTER THE SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF SPACE THROUGH EDUCATION AND THE PROMOTION OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND THE APPLICATION OF STANDARDS. THIS INCLUDES: DISSEMINATING SPACE-RELATED INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC; SUPPORTING PRESENT AND FUTURE AMATEUR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND SPACE MISSIONS; ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS RELATED TO SCIENCE, TEHCNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) IN RELATED FIELDS INCLUDING ASTRONOMY, ASTROPHYSICS, ENGINEERING, COMMUNICATIONS, PHYSICS, AND SPACE-BASED TECHNOLOGY
- Income
- $61,018
- Spending
- $25,551
- Reserves
- 70.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $257,185 spent. OPERATIONS CENTER BUILDING PROJECT - CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN 2023 AND THE OPEN HOUSE TOOK PLACE OCTOVER 5, 2024. THIS BUILDING PROVIDED A NEW OPERATIONS CENTER FOR THE DSES 60-FOOT RADIO DISH ANTENNA IN HASWELL, COLORADO. THE FACILITY IMPROVED WORKING CONDITIONS, SUPPORTED EDUCATION PRORAMS, AND ENABLED TECHNICAL UPRADES. IT HAS ALREADY HOSTED MULTIPLE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTS, PUBLIC OUTREACH EVENTS, AND SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS.
- $12,055 spent. EARTH-VENUS-EARTH PROJECT - THIS PIONEERING EFFORT AIMED TO ACHIEVE INTERPLANETARY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS VIA VENUS. FUNDING WAS GRANTED OCTOBER 28, 2024, WITH A TIGHT 5-DEADLINE TO GET EVERYTHING READY TO ALIGN WITH VENUS'S OPTIMAL OBIT POSITION IN APRIL 2025. MUCH OF THE WORK TO PREPARE FOR THE APRIL 2025 TRANSMISSION ATTEMPT WAS COMPLETED NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2024.
- $4,602 spent. 30-FOOT PARABOLIC DISH ANTENNA RETRIEVAL - 8 DSES MEMBERS TRAVELED TO IGNACIO, COLORADO IN JUNE 2024 TO REMOVE A 30-FOOT PARABOLIC DISH ANTENNA WORTH APPROXIMATELY 27,500. THE DISH WAS BEING DONATED TO DSES, BUT DSES WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REMOVING IT AND RELOCATING IT. DSES MEMBERS COMPLETED THIS IN 4 DAYS.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.