Inside this issue:
- Space Community Discusses Issues for the 107th Congress
- NSS Opens 2001 With Roadmap To Space Settlement
- NSS Public Affairs Announces 2001 Volunteers Program
- ISDC 2001 News: John Young will be a Featured Speaker
- German Space Society Fully Recognized
- NSS Board of Directors Meeting Held December 2-3, 2000
- UN Quadrennial Report Submitted
- Chapter Reports Due Next Month
+++++++++++++++
SPACE COMMUNITY DISCUSSES ISSUES FOR THE 107TH CONGRESS
Government officials, trade association leaders, and space advocacy
organization heads came together at a Space Roundtable meeting coordinated by
ProSpace in Washington on December 7. Their mission: to discuss some of the
issues the 107th Congress will have to address early this year.
Strengthening military capabilities in space will be one of this
yearís major issues, according to Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado and David
Whelan of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Allard said
that the militaryís greatest needs next year are to establish an efficient
organization to exploit space, to aggressively modernize its space assets and
launch bases, and to engage in more research and development activities.
DARPA will be investigating ways to re-supply satellites on orbit as well as
next-generation hybrid launch vehicles, Whelan said.
Key space transportation issues for the new Congress include
continuing the effort to reduce the cost of access to space and building
business for launch vehicle manufacturers and service providers. NASA
expects that its five-year, $4.5-billion Space Launch Initiative will help
address this challenge. Some observers disagree. Marc Schlather of
ProSpace, a space advocacy organization, commended Congress for its decision
to increase space transportation spending, but believes the money would be
better spent on converting some human space flight functions to commercial
use and initiating a federal payload development program to make use of new
launch vehicles. Schlather also urged Congress to pass an act to provide tax
credits to launch vehicle builders.
NSS Executive Director, Pat Dasch identified determination of the
future of the X-33 program and efforts to move NASA out of the operations
business so that it can focus on research and development for the future
development of space as key issues for the 107th congress.
The 107th Congress will also need to address the issue of human
exploration beyond Earth orbit. The question, according to NASA Associate
Administrator for Policy and Plans (and former NSS Executive Director) Lori
Garver, is not whether we should explore deeper into space, but how to do
so. Garver said that preparation for such missions would involve focusing on
the development of new, affordable technologies, conducting extensive life
sciences research, and developing a strong rationale for these undertakings.
Related policy issues to be addressed include modifying the current U.S.
export control regime, revisiting existing space treaties, establishing clear
planetary protection policies, and setting guidelines regarding citizen
visits to space.
NSS OPENS 2001 WITH ROADMAP TO SPACE SETTLEMENT
The January/February issue of Ad Astra, the official publication of
the National Space Society, is focused on the NSS Roadmap to Human Settlement
of Space. The Roadmap, a product of many months work by a full cross section
of NSS members and other constituents is a set of documents that charts the
course for NSS action.
The Statement of Philosophy defines what the NSS is, what it believes
in, and the manner in which it will conduct its mission.
The Envisioned Milestones outline the accomplishments that, based on
what we know today, will be achieved en route to realizing our vision of
humans living and working beyond the Earth.
The Barriers To Human Settlement are the obstacles that stand between
those Milestones and us. The Barriers are the things that must be changed in
order to achieve our Vision. Promoting change, the removal of those
Barriers, is the Mission of the NSS.
This Ad Astra features a series of articles by NSS leaders defining
the Barriers and suggesting action that we can take individually and as a
Society. The writers include NSS pioneers Gordon Woodcock, Charles Walker,
Mark Hopkins, and Glenn Reynolds, as well as new (NSS Board of) Director Dana
Johnson and space medicine advocates Linda Plush and Eleanor OíRangers. NSS
Education Chair, Carol Redfield, writes about the Adopt-a-School program, an
activity that every NSS Member and Chapter can easily accomplish to make a
difference close to home.
NSS PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANNOUNCES 2001 VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM
At the recent meeting of the NSS Board of Directors in Washington,
DC, plans for the 2001 Public Affairs program were approved. The program is
focused on increasing volunteer involvement in support of the NSS Mission.
NSS Vice President of Public Affairs Chris Pancratz reported that the program
is based on the premise that every activist, every enthusiast, every NSS
Member can forward the movement every day with a few basic activities:
1. Learn about the Barriers and issues from the NSS Roadmap to Human Space
Settlement,
2. Vote and contact legislators,
3. Invest in space-related businesses, and
4. Share the Vision with others and ask them to become part of the Society.
It is the role of the NSS Public Affairs team to provide and promote
opportunities for volunteers. The Team, the NSS Public Affairs Committee,
includes: Sharon Elbert, Dana Johnson, Ron Lajoie, Michael Gilbrook, Francis
Govers, Cliff McMurray, Chris Pancratz, Robert Pearlman, Karen Savage and
Charlie Walker. Some of the activities planned for 2001 include:
Get Involved with the NSS Roadmap
Beginning in the first quarter of 2001, NSS will establish Work
Groups focused on the Roadmap Barriers. Participation is open to all NSS
Members and will provide participants with opportunities for input by
conducting ongoing, online discussions. The Groups will develop checklists of
tactical Barriers, identify potential projects and recommend NSS actions. The
Groups will meet annually at the International Space Development Conference.
For more information watch the NSS website (www.nss.org) or email
NSSPublicAffairs@aol.com.
Project Brainstorming
To assist NSS Members and chapters in identifying, planning and
implementing new projects in support of the Societyís Mission, this special,
FREE session will be held at the ISDC in Albuquerque, May 25-26, 2001 under
the leadership of NSS Director Francis Govers. Participants will have the
opportunity to share and develop ideas for new projects relating to the
mission of NSS and the removal of specific Barriers from the Roadmap.
The “Project Brainstorming” event will also help Members and Chapters select
and plan a project to be conducted during World Space Week in October. For
more information, or to register, email NSSPublicAffairs@aol.com.
World Space Week 2001
World Space Week commemorates humanityís first incursion into space
and is conducted on October 4 – 10 each year under the auspices of the United
Nations. To draw attention to the need to create a space-faring
civilization, NSS has committed to a higher level of involvement including
the sponsorship of local and regional activities during World Space Week.
EVERY NSS Member and chapter is urged to plan and conduct an activity in his
or her community during that week. NSS Director Cliff McMurray is leading
the team that will promote this opportunity and assist Members and Chapters
in publicizing their activity. Members and Chapters are asked to commit to
participation by email to NSSPublicAffairs@aol.com. Even if you do not have a
definite idea for a project/activity, make your commitment early and
project/activity ideas will be shared.
Adopt-A-School
One project that can be conducted easily by any Member in any
community is “Adopt-a-school.” Simply select a school in your community and
determine the scope of your project. Adopt a single classroom, a specific
teacher, a grade level, or an entire school. An ambitious chapter or group
of members might even adopt an entire school district. The objective is to
provide the school with resources and motivation to enhance teaching about
space and eventual human settlement. A packet of basic information
called “The Space Educator” is available for download on the NSS web site,
www.nss.org. Carol Redfield and the NSS Education Committee are developing
additional materials for this program. For more information, email
NSSPublicAffairs@aol.com.
Healthcare Special Interest Group
This Special Interest Group is being established to develop a role
for NSS in facilitating focused attention on healthcare issues that may be
barriers to human settlement of space. These include passenger restrictions
proposed by the FAA, the perceived risk of space activities, and the lack of
an operational closed-loop life support system. Currently this group of NSS
member healthcare professionals is working to establish relationships with
other space-interested healthcare organizations and to expand the
participation in the group. Interested healthcare professionals are
encouraged to seek more information by email to NSSPublicAffairs@aol.com.
ISDC 2001 NEWS: JOHN YOUNG AND KEIR DULLEA WILL BE FEATURED SPEAKERS
The ISDC 2001 program continues to grow, with more than 135 speakers
scheduled. One of these is John Young, commander of the first Space Shuttle
flight (STS-1), who will be the featured speaker at the “20th Anniversary of
STS-1” luncheon on Friday, May 25. Comdr. Young will be joined by members of
the STS-1 mission control team.
Actor Keir Dullea (astronaut Dave Bowman in “2001: A Space Odyssey”)
has agreed to speak at the ISDC’s tribute to this classic film. The Saturday
dinner banquet will also feature Frederick Ordway III (the film’s technical
advisor) and renowned space artist Robert McCall.
Other ISDC events include the Friday dinner, “Progression of Manned
Spaceflight”, with speakers Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17), Sid Gutierrez
(Shuttle), and Ed Lu (Mir and ISS); the Saturday luncheon, “Space Tourism”,
with Dr. Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11).
Register now to guarantee access to the ISDC 2001 tours and
banquets! Seating is very limited and reservations will be accepted from
conference registrants on a “first come, first served” basis. The order form
for banquets and tours will be mailed to conference registrants in late
January. PLEASE NOTE: The tour of the Starfire Optical Range (SOR) is
being changed to Thursday night, May 24 since the facility will be closed on
Memorial Day weekend. Non-U.S. citizens who wish to take this tour need to
send a visit request to the SOR through their embassy in Washington, D.C.
See the web page for details.
The Albuquerque Hilton’s ISDC rate is $85 plus tax per night, single-
quadruple occupancy. Call Hilton Reservations Worldwide, toll free: 1-800-
445-8667. Southwest Airlines offers a 10% discount (with some exceptions) to
ISDC attendees. To request the discount, call 1-800-433-5368 and mention
code R2355. For more information, visit the ISDC web page at ww.isdc2001.org.
GERMAN SPACE SOCIETY FULLY RECOGNIZED
We would like to congratulate Michael Stennecken of the German Space
Society for completing the paper work to get NSS in Germany officially
recognized with “full capacity to acquire and hold rights and duties”. GSS
has a new web-site at www.drg-gss.org. The links are still being completed,
but be sure to keep checking on their progress!
NSS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING HELD DECEMBER 2-3, 2000
The NSS Board of Directors met in Arlington, VA, over the weekend of
December 2-3. The meeting was very well attended and a number of issues were
addressed. The weekend included an Executive Committee Meeting, Policy
Committee working session to update position papers and develop new positions
relevant to the NSS Roadmap to Space Settlement, a Strategic Planning
Session, and meetings of committees of the Board.
A major reason for a Board meeting at this point in the year is
approval of the Society’s budget for the coming year. The 2001 budget was
developed during the three months preceding the Board meeting by the Budget
Committee which coordinated the various budget elements presented by the Vice
Presidents and the Headquarters staff. Along with a full agenda of Vice
Presidential and Committee Reports the Board considered, but rejected,
proposals for election campaign and Board reform.
Bob Freeman and his team in Albuquerque were applauded for the
excellent job they are doing in developing a first rate conference for ISDC
2001 in May.
UN QUADRENNIAL REPORT SUBMITTED
NSS Headquarters submitted the quadrennial report (1996-1999) to the
United Nations this month. The report summarized NSSís participation in UN
activities during that time period and included reports on such events as NSS
representativesí attendance at meetings to discuss the peaceful uses of outer
space in Vienna and New York.
During the quadrennial period NSS focused its activities on promoting
public awareness of UNISPACE III by speaking at a conference at Princeton
University and a DPI/NGO meeting. NSS also hosted a reception in New York in
October on the opening day of the first World Space Week. Our thanks to NSS
Governor, Ambassador Edward R. Finch for coordinating and underwriting this
landmark event for NSS.
MARCH STORM
The date is set for the March storm 2001 for the 10-15th March. This event,
organized by ProSpace, coordinates space advocate visits to elected officials
in Washington DC. ProSpace briefs all participants on the issues, and trains
you to deliver the message.
Next year, NSS will organize a conference to occur just before March Storm
and we hope NSS members will attend the meeting and also participate in March
Storm 2002.
More information about March Storm can be found at the ProSpace website
www.prospace.org.
CHAPTER REPORTS DUE NEXT MONTH
In order to meet our IRS reporting schedule on activities in 2000,
completed chapter reports are needed at NSS Headquarters by February 15,
2001. Need help? Call one of the Chapters coordinators listed in Ad Astra or
contact Sherry Wilson at NSS Headquarters at nssmembers@aol.com or 202-543-
1900.
+++++++++++++++
NSS Online Report
Issue #10 / January 2001
Editor: Joshua Powers (powers1.geo@yahoo.com)
National Space Society
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. — Suite 201 — Washington, DC 20003
(202) 543-1900 — www.nss.org — nsshq@nss.org
