the Roberson Museum hosted a grand 25th anniversary celebration event on 5 June 1999 at the Kopernik Space Education Center. The celebration showcased Kopernik's facilities, programs, and the partnership with the Polish community that made it all possible. The 25th anniversary guests included scientists, NASA officials, long time supporters and students from Kopernik Talent Search programs. The event highlighted the growth of the Kopernik facility from a local observatory into a science education center of national significance. Financial troubles Fortunes changed by 2005 when the Kopernik Space Education Center operated at a $45,000 loss. The Roberson Museum and Science Center, under severe financial strain, was seriously considering cutting major funding and programs at the Observatory while continuing its summer program and Friday night astronomy sessions in 2006. {{quote|It's a separate physical entity and so it incurs a large cost there and it also has a large salary line because there are a number of people who teach through that program.|Roberson Executive Director, Terry McDonald'''}} The funding changes concerned the Kopernik Society of Broome County and supporters of the Observatory. The Kopernik Society conducted months of negotiations out of which an agreement was reached that returned ownership and operation of the Kopernik Space Education Center from the Roberson Museum back to the Kopernik Society in March 2007. {{quote|It will help in a certain capacity, it's not just finance that it's about, it's really focusing on the missions of the institutions.|Roberson Executive Director, Terry McDonald}} The name of the center changed to the Kopernik Observatory and Science Education Center and it needed to generate about $54,000 each year from federal / state grants, fund-raisers, and company / public donations. Under the transfer agreement Kopernik had to balance its operating budget through 2011, otherwise Roberson could resume control of the facility. Independent operation The name was changed again to Kopernik Observatory & Science Center. Celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2014 with a grand gala at the Binghamton University campus. Windsor native and Former NASA Astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock was the keynote speaker. Observatory Directors Richard DeLuca, (1973–1975) Richard Aguglia, (1975–1981) Vacant (1981) E. Jay Sarton, (1982–1996) Carol Stowell (1996–1999) Kristen Gordon (2006–2011) Andrew "Drew" Deskur, (2011 (interim), 2012–present) Programs and services Its mission is to offer hands-on investigations and outreach programs for educating all ages about astronomy and science using advanced optical telescopes, computers and other tools. It is the first science laboratory