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National Space Society Chapters Network

Welcome to the National Space Society Chapters Network. The purpose of this web site is to provide NSS chapters, members, and space activists with a variety of useful materials.

This web site is divided into the following categories:

Une pleine lune en 2024

If you want to locate a NSS chapter near you, visit the Chapters section.

For information about past and upcoming International Space Development Conferences, the premier space activist conference, visit the ISDC web site.

Quick links to Policy Committee and Online Chat.

Letters and other commentary from NSS members are available from this site as well

Be sure to visit the National Space Society web site for additional information about our organization, purpose, and space exploration.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY

The National Space Society (NSS) is an independent, international, educational, grassroots nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization. The NSS has more than 22,000 members, and 75 chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The NSS, founded in 1974 by Wernher von Braun, is widely acknowledged as the preeminent citizen’s voice on space.

NSS STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

NSS Vision -- What is the Ultimate Goal of NSS?
"People living and working in thriving communities beyond the Earth."

NSS Mission -- What is the Purpose of NSS?
"To promote social, economic, technological, and political change, to advance the day when humans will live and work in space."

NSS Rationale - Why Our Mission Is Important
Survival -- Of Human Species and Earth’s Biosphere
It is the nature of every form of life, whether animal or plant, to strive to survive.

Survival of the Human Species
To ensure the survival of the human species, which is encountering increased natural, man-made, and extraterrestrial threats, including disease, resource depletion, pollution, urban violence, terrorism, nuclear war, asteroids, and comets.

Survival of Earth’s Biosphere
To ensure the survival of other animal and plant life on Earth, much of which is suffering increased loss of population and quality habitat due to the growing presence of humans on planet Earth, via expansion, pollution, deforestation, fishing, farming, mining, and promotion of certain species of animals and plants.

Space technology provides both means to monitor threats to life on Earth and ways to help curtail them. Space industrialization and settlement provides safety valves to relieve the pressures that cause Earth-bound threats and provides escape routes in case of catastrophic man-made or extraterrestrial threats. Humanity has inherited the stewardship of the planet Earth, and will need the vast resources of outer space to reverse the damage it has caused to the Earth’s biosphere, and to ultimately enhance all life on Earth.

Growth -- Unlimited Room for Expansion
It is the nature of every form of life, whether animal or plant, to grow and multiply.

New Habitats for Life
To provide the human species, as well as all other animal and plant life on Earth, with room to grow and multiply. Earth has a finite supply of land, air, and water, for which humans, animals, and plants must compete. On Earth, only humanity has or can acquire and utilize the knowledge to create new habitats on other worlds or in space from raw materials from moons and asteroids.

New Frontiers for Humanity
To provide the human species with a new "frontier" for exploration and adventure, and to thought and expression, culture and art, and modes of government. The opening of "the New World" to western civilization brought about an unprecedented 500-year period of growth and experimentation in science, technology, literature, music, art, recreation, and government (including the development and gradual acceptance of democracy). The presence of a frontier led to the development of the "open society" founded on the principles of individual rights and freedoms. Many of these rights and freedoms are being placed under increasingly stringent limitations as human population grows and humanity moves towards a "closed society", where eventually everyone eats the same, speaks the same, and dresses the same. "Cultures that do not explore, die!"

Prosperity -- Unlimited Resources
It is the nature of the human species to strive to improve the quality of its many lives and to provide a better future for its children.

Improved Standards of Living
To provide humanity with the resources it needs to improve the quality of life for all humans on the planet Earth. The majority of humanity lives at an economic level that is far below that of the Western democracies. Outer space holds virtually limitless amounts of energy and raw materials, which can be harvested for use both on Earth and in space. Quality of life can be improved directly by utilization of these resources and also indirectly by moving hazardous and polluting industries and/or their waste products off planet Earth.

Economic Opportunity
To provide every human individual with the opportunity to improve the well being of himself or herself, and his or her family. Vast new resources must be developed if all persons are to be given economic opportunities for themselves and their children even marginally equal to what many would consider a minimally tolerable standard of living.

Technological Development
To provide remote locations for the development, testing, and "perfection" of promising, but potentially hazardous technologies, such as biological experimentation; nuclear, fusion, chemical and antimatter power generation; and space propulsion. Such developmental facilities could be placed either in space or on other worlds far from both space settlements and unrelated facilities.

Curiosity -- The Quest for Knowledge
It is the nature of the human species to learn more about its origins, its past, its fellow life forms, its environment, its limitations, and its possibilities for the future. Earth is but a tiny container of knowledge compared to the entire incredibly vast universe. "We are part of the universe, through our eyes, ears and minds, the universe may know itself."

NSS Principles -- What Does NSS Stand For?
These are the guiding principles of the National Space Society by which we will conduct our Mission in pursuit of our Vision. (In priority order).

Human Rights
NSS shall promote the principle of fundamental rights of every human being.

Ethics
NSS shall observe, practice, and promote ethical conduct.

Settlement
NSS shall actively pursue and promote human settlement beyond Earth. Scientific inquiry and exploration are important precursors to settlement.

Pragmatism
Within the bounds of these Principles, NSS shall promote and support any and all methods and practices that support achievement of our Vision.

"In support of its Vision, NSS stands for the active pursuit and promotion of human settlement beyond the Earth, with scientific inquiry and exploration as important precursors. NSS advocates any and all methodologies that support achievement of our Vision in an ethical manner consistent with the preservation of fundamental human rights."

NSS Beliefs -- What Does NSS Support?
While we cannot say that the following are absolutely essential for space settlement we believe and support the following:

Individual Rights
NSS believes that space development and settlement will occur most efficiently, and humanity’s prosperity will be best ensured, if every human being is given the freedom of thought and action.

Unrestricted Access to Space
NSS believes that space development and settlement will occur most efficiently, and humanity’s survival and growth will be best ensured, if every human being is allowed the opportunity to travel, live, and/or work in outer space.

Personal Property Rights
NSS believes that space development and settlement will occur most efficiently, and humanity’s survival and growth will be best ensured, if every human being is allowed the opportunity to own property in space and/or on other world.

Free Market Economics
NSS believes that space development and settlement will occur most efficiently, and humanity’s prosperity will be best ensured, if the "free market" drivers of competition and profit used.

Government Funding of High Risk R&D
NSS believes that space development and settlement will occur most efficiently, and humanity’s prosperity will be best ensured, if national governments fund the research and development of space technologies deemed too "high risk" by their industries.

International Cooperation
NSS believes that space development and settlement will occur most efficiently, and humanity’s survival and prosperity will be best ensured, if nations cooperate on space research and development, and leave competition to individual companies.

Democratic Values
NSS believes that humanity’s growth and prosperity will be best ensured if the fundamentals of democracy are applied to and incorporated by space settlements.

Enhancement of Earth’s Ecology
NSS believes that one of the goals and benefits of space development and settlement is to restore and enhance the biosphere of the planet Earth.

Protection of New Environments
NSS believes that space development and settlement should be pursued in a manner that safeguards alien life forms, natural wonders, and historical monuments.

Barriers to Space Settlement
These are the major targets for change (obstacles to be overcome) that the National Space Society believes must be accomplished to realize our Vision, and, therefore, constitute our Mission.

SOCIAL BARRIERS

Lack of Public Interest
The general public is rapidly losing interest in space development: (1) because the pace of space development is frustratingly slow, especially when compared to incredibly fast pace of the home computer revolution; (2) because NASA is forced by taxpayer watchdogs to portray human space activities in the most boring manner; (3) because the real and exaggerated perceived risks of outer space frightens them; and (4) because little activity, planning, and public discussion occurs regarding private trips into space.

Proposed Passenger Restrictions
Government agencies currently considering establishing limits on who can and cannot go to into outer space, could adversely affect future space tourism markets, if such limits are much more detailed than the general guidelines provided to the airline industry.

Perceived Risk of Space Activities
In addition to the real measurable risks associated with launch vehicle reliability, both the private and public sector have been led to believe that outer space itself is inherently dangerous, because of (1) the "effects of weightlessness," an artificial risk created by government space agencies’ preoccupation with micro-gravity, an environment not conducive to human life; and (2) space radiation, a true hazard whose risk has been temporarily heightened by the short-term need to make spacecraft walls thin to reduce launch weight.

ECONOMIC BARRIERS

No Long Term Government Funding Mechanism
Especially in the United States, industry is prevented from obtaining investors for future private space transportation systems because the near-term customer, U.S. government agencies, are not allowed to make orders for space launches as airlines can for commercial aircraft. While some progress has been made with DoD’s handling of the EELV program, NASA thus far has not been allowed (or encouraged) to follow such a practice for future reusable launch vehicles.

Lack of Incentives for Private Capital Investment
In addition to the long-term government-funding obstacle, there are few financial incentives for private investors to provide the huge sums of money required to fund the capital costs of space transportation systems and facilities. If the world governments want private industry to take over funding of space development, some form of short-term transition incentive program must be created to attract private investors.

Liability Insurance Costs and Conditions
Liability insurance premiums are one of the largest cost components of an individual launch vehicle mission, averaging about ten percent of the total cost. Since the reason for this is primarily due to poor launch vehicle reliability, improving reliability should decrease insurance premiums; however, the need for such large liability coverage needs to be questioned. Most, if not all, launch accidents happen in restricted zones and yield little if any collateral damage; yet government requirements for liability insurance are based are worst-case scenarios that have not happened in the entire history of rocketry. The liability conditions specified in the Outer Space Treaty also cause problems for private launch companies launching rockets made by companies from other nations.

TECHNOLOGICAL BARRIERS

Lack of Affordable Space Transportation to Space
Despite the dreams, plans, and claims of the past 30 years, launch vehicle developers have not found a way out of the launch vehicle "Catch 22" trap: (1) individual launch costs can only be greatly reduced by spreading the huge cost of launch vehicle development over a large number of flights; (2) the market to demand a large number of flights can only exist once individual launch costs are greatly reduced.

No Closed-loop Life Support System
Having to launch everything necessary for life support for any extended period of time, long duration space travel (such as missions to Mars), and space settlements will be cost prohibitive. Budget cuts to the International Space Station program have severely delayed if not canceled research and experimentation of components of closed-loop life support systems that are necessary to reduce the dependency of space settlements on support launched from Earth. Being able to reuse human wastes will also avoid space and planetary environmental pollution issues.

Launch Vehicle Reliability
Expendable launch vehicle reliability is averaging about 0.90 (one catastrophic failure every 10 flights); reusable launch vehicle reliability will need to average about 0.99 (one catastrophic failure every 100 flights). Space tourism, the greatest potential market for large numbers of launch vehicle flights, cannot exist until reliability is increased by at least a factor of 100 over today’s average.

POLITICAL BARRIERS

U.S. National Space Policy Limitations
The U.S. National Space Policy set in 1996 effectively forbids the U.S. government not only from funding any human mission beyond Earth orbit, but also from funding any research and development that might lead to future human missions beyond Earth orbit.

Government Obstacles to Commercialization
Commercial space activities offer the best near-term solution to provide a market for affordable launch vehicles, yet there exists both real and perceived obstacles from many governments. In the United States NASA is repeatedly accused of not understanding the needs of private industry and therefore not correctly implementing space commercialization laws passed by Congress. The FAA and Department of Commerce have only recently begun revising and creating regulations to encourage and not hinder commercial space activities.

Lack of Sovereignty
Both the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and the Moon Treaty of 1979 forbid nations from claiming any part of the Moon or other celestial body. Article 11; Paragraph 2 states "The moon is not subject to national appropriation by any claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means." This has left a void of any legal system that would enable private entrepreneurs and companies to plan and execute commercial space activities on the Moon and other celestial bodies.

Moon Treaty and "Common Heritage" Principles
The Moon Treaty, passed by the United Nations in 1979, yet ratified by only four nations (none of which were space faring at the time) strictly forbids the private ownership of any part of the Moon or other celestial body. Article 11; Paragraph 1 states "The moon and its natural resources are the common heritage of mankind." Article 11, Paragraph 3 states "Neither the surface nor the subsurface of the moon, nor any part thereof or natural resources in place, shall become property of any State, international intergovernmental or non-governmental organization, national organization or non-governmental entity or of any natural person." Despite the lack of ratification, no space-faring nation has ever publicly challenged this treaty.

MEET OUR LEADERS
Officers and Board of Directors
Board of Governors
Board of Advisors
Headquarters Staff
MEET OUR MAJOR DONORS

National Space Society Visionary Donors

BUZZ ALDRIN COUNCIL ($5000 and above)
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry - Paul Canolesio - Lars S. Easterson - Robert Edwards - Gregg Foote - David Peter Kapelanski - J. Michael Lekson - Charles T. Lenzmeier - Dean E. London - Mary Morss - John H. McQuilkin - Stanley J. Novak - Allan M. Schiffman - Phylis Ooi - Eric Tilenius

INDIVIDUALS ($1000 and above)
Edward Apke - Jack Bader - Richard F. Beers - Michael Cronin - Stephen R. Donaldson - Michael Downey - Hugh Downs - Vernon Edgar - Steven Goddard - David R. Hamlin - David Hampton - Mark Herrup - Hugh Hotson, Jr. - Robert Hunter - Dave Jacques - William Jaeger - Randy D. Kelley - Don Kimball - Jeffrey Kodosky - Georgette Koopman - Ronnie Lajoie - Evan Malone - Eugene Montgomery - James O'Neil - Frederick I. Ordway III - Christopher Pancratz - Ed Post - Guilermo P. Rodriquez - Greg Rucker - Neil Ruzic - Randall Skinner - Charles E. Stauble - Mike Symond - John A. Swanson - Adrian Tymes - Jeffrey C. Walker - Glen P. Wilson - Jay Wittner

CORPORATIONS
Boeing - Fisher Space Pen - Lockheed Martin - Raytheon - SGI - Spacehab - United Space Alliance

RULES AND BYLAWS OF THE SOCIETY

The NSS Bylaws, Rules, and Nomination Petition are available in Adobe Acrobat’s PDF Format.

NSS PROGRAMS AND PRODUCTS

AD ASTRA (Latin for "to the stars") magazine is the primary membership benefit and the official publication of the NSS. This non-technical, bimonthly magazine reports to members and the general public on a broad range of space-related topics, including domestic and international space policy and programs, transportation, commercialization, planetary science, extraterrestrial resources, colonization, education, and space advocacy.

NSS CHAPTERS are sponsors of local and regional meetings and education symposia. These grassroots organizations are located in about 75 cities in the United States and around the world. They serve as local organizers in space education and political activism, and provide speakers and demonstrations for schools, civic groups, and the media and other forums on the merits of space exploration and development. Each year a local chapter serves as host to the International Space Development Conference (ISDC). The ISDC is the Society’s annual meeting where activists convene to attend lectures, deliver papers and plan strategies for developing space.

EDUCATION ACTIVITIES include partnerships with organization such as the International Astronautical Federation, International Academy of Astronautics, the International Institute of Space Law, the Planetary Society, the National Space Society of Australia, the Sociedad Espacial Mexicana, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the NSS Education Chapter, and many others. Ongoing projects with these organizations include model rocket launches, teacher training workshops, student seminars, simulated space missions, public technology demonstrations, and scouting merit badge sponsorship. The NSS also publishes The Space Educator.

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR SPACE is a major goal of the Society. NSS leaders and members are frequently cited in newspaper articles and editorials, and often appear on radio and television news and talk shows. The goal is to raise the awareness of the public to the space-related activities of government, industry, and academia.

PUBLIC POLICY EDUCATION is provided to our members via a network of telephone and electronic online services, newsletters, and direct mail. The NSS reports to its membership on congressional activities regarding space, and works to educate congressional representatives and staff through briefings, letters, fact sheets, and backgrounders. The latest NSS media releases, statements, position papers, and legislative action alerts can be seen here.

ONLINE AREAS are maintained by the NSS on the World Wide Web and America Online. The NSS website, http://www.nss.org/, is one of the most comprehensive in the industry, and has featured such award-winning sections as "Mars Madness" for the Mars Pathfinder mission, and an interactive Viewer’s Guide for HBO’s "From the Earth to the Moon." The NSS also hosts the Space Exploration Online forum on America Online(keywords: NSS, SEO).

E-MAIL messages or questions for the NSS can be addressed to nsshq@nss.org. As a special member benefit, each month NSS e-mails members the NSS Online Report. The report includes briefs about space discoveries and technological developments, updates on how NSS is working to accelerate space settlement, information about additional member benefits, and links to further information.

NSS LEADERSHIP is provided by an all-volunteer Board of Directors that governs the Society. Our Board of Governors and Board of Advisors provide additional expertise and visibility. International, education, publication, technical, and policy committees offer guidance.

The Chairman of the Board of Governors is Mr. Hugh Downs, former host of ABC’s 20/20. Members of the Board of Governors include Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut. The NSS President and Chairman of the NSS Board of Directors is Mr. Kirby Ikin. The Chairman of the International Committee is Ms. Karen Mermel. The International Chapters Coordinator is Mr. Michael James (Australia).

Master Index of National Space Society Chapters

The purpose of this page is to make it possible for you to quickly locate and contact representatives of the many chapters of the National Space Society. The table below provides a list, sorted alphabetically by Country, State or Province, and City, of all the active chapters of the National Space Society. Clicking on the chapter's name will take you to a table of contact information for that chapter.

Chapter Leaders: Please contact Ronnie Lajoie or Arthur Smith if the contact information for your chapter is no longer valid

Special Interest Chapters
Topic Chapter Name
(Click on the link to see the detailed contact information for that chapter)
Nursing Space Nursing Society
Space Elevators NSS Space Elevator Cyber Chapter
Regional Chapters
Country State or
Province City Chapter Name
(Click on the link to see the detailed contact information for that chapter)
Australia NSW Newcastle Newcastle Space Frontier Society
Australia NSW Sydney National Space Society of Australia
Australia NSW Sydney Sydney Space Frontier Society
Australia NSW Univ. of New South Wales University New South Wales Space Frontier Society
Australia NSW Toukley Central Coast Space Frontier Society
Australia QLD Nundah Queensland Space Frontier Society
Canada AB Calgary Calgary Space Frontier Society
Canada ON Thorold Niagara Peninsula Space Frontier Society
France Athis-Mons National Space Society France
Germany Muenster Deutsche Raumfahrtgesellschaft e.V. German Space Society
Ireland Dublin NSS Ireland
Mexico Jalisc Guadalajara Sociedad Espacial Mexicana, A.C.
United States AL Huntsville Huntsville Alabama L5 Society
United States AL Huntsville The Odyssey Foundation
United States AZ Tucson Tucson L5 Space Society
United States CA Berkeley Golden Gate Space Frontier Society
United States CA Irvine Orange County Space Society
United States CA Lake Isabella NSS Western Spaceport Chapter
United States CA Los Angeles area OASIS
United States CA Sacramento Sacramento L5 Society
United States CO Boulder Front Range L5 Chapter of the NSS
United States CO Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Space Society
United States CO Englewood Mile High L5 Society
United States CO USAF Academy US Air Force Academy Chapter of NSS
United States FL Wellington NSS of the Palm Beaches
United States GA Marietta NSS Atlanta
United States HI Honolulu Hawaii Space Society
United States IL Batavia Chicago Space Frontier L5 Society
United States IL North Riverside Chicago Society for Space Studies
United States IL Urbana Illini Space Development Society
United States IL Winnetka Illinois North Shore NSS
United States IN Indianapolis Central Indiana NSS
United States KS Wichita Wichita Chapter of NSS
United States KY Benton Kentucky Chapter of NSS
United States MA Acton National Space Society, Boston Chapter
United States MD Baltimore Baltimore Metro NSS
United States MI Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Space Society
United States MI Galesburg NSS Southwest Michigan Chapter
United States MO Kansas City Heart of America Chapter NSS
United States NC Cary Triangle Space Society
United States NM Albuquerque New Mexico Space Society
United States NY Selden Long Island Space Society
United States NY New York City NYC Chapter of NSS
United States NY Pittsford New Frontier Society of Greater Rochester
United States NY West Babylon Suffolk Challengers for Space
United States OH Parma Cuyahoga Valley Space Society
United States OK Oklahoma City area Oklahoma Space Alliance
United States OR Oregon City Oregon L5 Society, Inc.
United States PA Erie NSS North Coast Chapter
United States PA Philadelphia Philadelphia Area Space Alliance
United States PR Mayaguez NSS Mayaguez Chapter
United States TN Nashville Middle Tennessee Space Society
United States TN Memphis Memphis Space Society
United States TX Arlington NSS of North Texas
United States TX Austin Austin Space Frontier Society
United States TX Houston Clear Lake Area National Space Society
United States TX San Antonio San Antonio Space Society
United States UT Salt Lake City Utah Space Association
United States VA Arlington DC-L5
United States WA Seattle NSS Seattle
United States WI Kiel Sheboygan Space Society
United States WI Milwaukee Lunar Reclamation Society, Inc.

Index of National Space Society Chapter Contact Information

Special Interest

Space Elevator

NSS Space Elevator Cyber Chapter

Contact Bert Murray
Address 8950D Town and Country Blvd.
Ellicott City, MD 21043
Phone 410-371-7261 (cell), 410-750-7497 (home)
Email hcm1955@yahoo.com
Web Site http://www.nsschapters.org/nsecc/

Australia

NSW

Newcastle

Newcastle Space Frontier Society

Contact Jack Dwyer
Address P.O. Box 1150
Newcastle, NSW 2300
Phone 61-2-4963-5037
Email dis00005@idl.net.au
Web Site http://www.nssa.com.au/nsfs/

Australia

NSW

Sydney

National Space Society of Australia

Contact Philip Young
Address GPO Box 7048
Sydney, NSW 2001
Phone 61-2-9614-1900
Email nssa@nssa.com.au
Web Site http://www.nssa.com.au/

Australia

NSW

Sydney

Sydney Space Frontier Society

Contact Wayne Short
Address GPO Box 7048
Sydney, NSW 2001
Phone 61-2-9502-3063
Email wayne_short@optusnet.com.au
Web Site

Australia

NSW

Univ. of New South Wales

University New South Wales Space Frontier Society

Contact Jeffery Candiloro
Address c/o Student Guild
1st Floor East, Quadrangle Bldg
Univ. of New South Wales, NSW 2052
Phone
61-2-9746-5518
Email unswsfs@nssa.com.au
Web Site

Australia

NSW

Toukley

Central Coast Space Frontier Society

Contact Tony James
Address P.O. Box 422
Toukley, NSW 2263
Phone 61-2-4329-4748
61-2-4329-4749
Email ccsfs@nssa.com.au
Web Site http://www.nssa.com.au/ccsfs/

Australia

QLD

Nundah

Queensland Space Frontier Society

Contact Noel Jackson
Address P.O. Box 419
Nundah, QLD 4012
Phone 61-7-3266-6324
61-7-3266-6324
Email jacksonn@uqconnect.net
Web Site

Canada

AB

Calgary

Calgary Space Frontier Society

Contact Paul Swift
Address 218-200 Lincoln Way
Calgary, AB T3E 6K6
Phone 403-686-7430
403-287-3107
Email pswift@mtroyal.ab.ca
Web Site http://www.members.shaw.ca/pswift/

Canada

ON

Thorold

Niagara Peninsula Space Frontier Society

Contact Raymond Merrick
Address P.O. Box 172 STN MAIN
Thorold, ON L2V 3Y9
Phone 905-680-9784
Email bessea@vaxxine.com
Web Site

France

Athis-Mons

National Space Society France

Contact Nicolas Turcat
Address 6 Clos Perault
Athis-Mons 91200
Phone 336-88-56-2747

Email nssfrance@hotmail.com
Web Site http://www.nssfrance.fr.st/

Germany

Muenster

Deutsche Raumfahrtgesellschaft e.V. German Space Society

Contact Michael Stennecken
Address Greta-Buenichmann-Str. 3
Muenster, 48155
Phone 49-251-3944863
49-251-3944864
Email info@drg-gss.org
Web Site http://www.drg-gss.org/

Ireland

Dublin

NSS Ireland

Contact Alan Kelly
Address P.O. Box 6896
Dublin, 2
Phone 353-1-8722-20425
Email Amon@vnl.com
Web Site

Mexico

Jalisc

Guadalajara

Sociedad Espacial Mexicana, A.C.

Contact Jesus Raygoza B.
Address Apartado Postal 5-75
Guadalajara, Jalisc 45042
Phone 52-3-647-5710
Email semspaceorg@starmedia.com
Web Site

United States

AL

Huntsville

Huntsville Alabama L5 Society

Contact Gregory H. Allison
Address PMB 168
1019 Old Monrovia Road
Huntsville, AL 35806
Phone 256-859-5538
256-461-3045
Email hal5@hiwaay.net
Web Site http://hiwaay.net/~hal5/

United States

AL

Huntsville

The Odyssey Foundation

Contact Harry K. Coffman
Address P.O. Box 18987
Huntsville, AL 35804
Phone 404-786-5958
Email hkc1@tof-one.org
Web Site http://www.theodysseyfoundation.org/

United States

AZ

Tucson

Tucson L5 Space Society

Contact Dick H. Fredericksen
Address 7351 E. Speedway #11-G
Tucson, AZ 85710
Phone 520-722-2230
Email dhfred@mindspring.com
Web Site http://www.azstarnet.com/
public/nonprofit/tucl5/

United States

CA

Berkeley

Golden Gate Space Frontier Society

Contact Ned Dodds
Address PO Box 11341
Berkeley, CA 94712-2341
Phone 510/393-0518
925/520-6070 FAX
Email ned_dodds@yahoo.com
Web Site

United States

CA

Irvine

Orange County Space Society

Contact Larry Evans
Address P.O. Box 53241
Irvine, CA 92619-3241
Phone 949-770-0702
949-770-0702
Email OCSpaceSociety@hotmail.com
Web Site http://www.ocspace.org/

United States

CA

Lake Isabella

NSS Western Spaceport Chapter

Contact James Spellman, Jr.
Address 4617 Oak Lane, Mtn. Mesa
Lake Isabella, CA 93240-9713
Phone 760-379-2503
760-379-2503
Email wspaceport@aol.com
Web Site http://www.hometown.aol.com/
wspaceport/welcome.html

United States

CA

Palmdale

Space Nursing Society

Contact Linda Plush, RN
Address 3053 Rancho Vista Blvd, H377
Palmdale, CA 93551
Phone 661-949-6780
Email lplushsn@ix.netcom.com
Web Site http://www.spacenursingsociety.com

United States

CA

Redondo Beach

OASIS

Contact Steve Bartlett
Address P.O. Box 1231
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Phone 310-364-2290
Email oasis@oasis-nss.org
Web Site http://www.oasis-nss.org/

United States

CA

Sacramento

Sacramento L5 Society

Contact Robert Compton
Address 3945 Grey Livery Way
Antelope, CA 95843
Phone 916/344-3290
Email energycube1@cs.com
Web Site http://www.ad6uy.com/sac-l5/index.html

United States

CO

Boulder

Front Range L5 Chapter of the NSS

Contact Bill Nelson
Address 2295 Goss Circle East #2
Boulder, CO 80302
Phone 303-247-9797
Email billfrl5@hotmail.com
Web Site http://www.angelfire.com/space/frl5/

United States

CO

Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs Space Society

Contact T.K. Roberts
Address 1403 Sausalito Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Phone 719-380-9238
Email robertstkr@aol.com
Web Site http://www.cspringspace.bigstep.com/

United States

CO

Englewood

Mile High L5 Society

Contact Mark E. Schloesslin
Address 6937 E. Briarwood Circle
Englewood, CO 80112
Phone 303-779-5692
Email mschloess@msn.com
Web Site

United States

CO

USAF Academy

U.S. Air Force Academy Chapter of NSS

Contact Kyle Vacca
Address P.O. Box 2649
USAF Academy, CO 80841
Phone 719-200-6506
Email C04Kyle.Vacca@usafa.edu
Web Site

United States

FL

Wellington

NSS of the Palm Beaches

Contact Michael Patrick (Dusty) McGee
Address 14369 Stirrup Lane
Wellington, FL 33414-8220
Phone 561/795-1943
561/795-1273 F
Email dusty@adelphia.net
Web Site http://community.gopbi.com/nsspb

United States

GA

Atlanta

NSS Atlanta

Contact Bill Gardiner
Address c/o Analytech
1197 Spur 138
Jonesboro, GA 30236
Phone 770-473-7617
Email analytech_1981@yahoo.com
Web Site http://www.nssatlanta.org/

United States

HI

Honolulu

Hawaii Space Society

Contact Gregory A. Smith
Address P.O. Box 61206
Honolulu, HI 96839-1206
Phone
Email gsmith@pgd.hawaii.edu
Web Site http://apollo-society.org/hss.html

United States

IL

Batavia

Chicago Space Frontier L5 Society

Contact Bill Higgins
Address MS 355, Fermilab Box 500
Batavia, IL 60510
Phone 630-393-6817
Email higgins@fnal.gov
Web Site http://www.astrodigital.org/csfs/

United States

IL

North Riverside

Chicago Society for Space Studies

Contact Larry Boyle
Address P.O. Box 1454
North Riverside, IL 60546
Phone 708-788-1336
708-455-6299
Email LarryBerwy@aol.com
Web Site http://www.astrodigital.org/csss/

United States

IL

Urbana

Illini Space Development Society

Contact Joannah Metz
Address 314 Talbot Laboratory
104 S. Wright Street
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone 217-244-4263
Email isds@hotmail.com
Web Site http://www.uiuc.edu/ro/isds/

United States

IL

Winnetka

Illinois North Shore NSS

Contact Jeffrey Liss
Address 1364 Edgewood Lane
Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone 847-446-8343
312-782-7789
Email jgljgl@aol.com
Web Site

United States

IN

Indianapolis

Central Indiana NSS

Contact Debbie Clark
Address 7354 Oakland Hills Ct.
Indianapolis, IN 46236
Phone 317/823-4805
Email clarkspace@AOL.com
Web Site

United States

KS

Wichita

Wichita Chapter of NSS

Contact Dr. Randall Chambers
Address 2704 Winstead Circle
Wichita, KS 67226
Phone 316-684-2614
316-684-6748
Email RChamb8342@aol.com
Web Site

United States

KY

Benton

Kentucky Chapter of NSS

Contact Harry Reed
Address 163 Harrison Road
Benton, KY 42025
Phone 270-354-9321
Email hreed@vci.net
Web Site

United States

MA

Acton

National Space Society, Boston Chapter

Contact Christopher Carberry
Address 5 Driftwood Road
Acton, MA 01720
Phone 617-646-0523
Email ccarberry@masshist.org
Web Site http://chapters.nss.org/ma/

United States

MD

Baltimore

Baltimore Metro NSS Chapter

Contact Dale Arnold
Address

Phone 410-879-3602
Email dsarnold@algx.net
Web Site

United States

MI

Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor Space Society

Contact John S. Wolter
Address 1531 Jones Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105-1871
Phone 734/665-1263
Email johnswolter@wolterworks.com
Web Site

United States

MI

Galesburg

NSS Southwest Michigan Chapter

Contact Lon Grover
Address 13613 East L Ave.
Galesburg, MI 49053
Phone 616/746-5268
Email louann.grover@wmich.edu
Web Site

United States

MO

Kansas City

Heart of America Chapter NSS

Contact George Howard
Address P.O. Box 22537
Kansas City, MO 64113-0537
Phone 816-523-7593
Email KCNSSH18@AOL.COM
Web Site http://members.aol.com/
kcnssh18/index.htm

United States

NC

Cary

Triangle Space Society

Contact Steve Nixon
Address 203 Copper Green Street
Cary, NC 27513
Phone 919-426-3976
419-793-6632 F
Email asteroids@inorbit.com
Web Site

United States

NM

Albuquerque

New Mexico Space Society

Contact Fred A. Aiken
Address P.O. Box 94133
Albuquerque, NM 87199-4133
Phone 505-856-2145
Email faaiken@aol.com
Web Site

United States

NY

Selden

Long Island Space Society

Contact Arthur Smith
Address 8 Sherry Lane
Selden NY 11784-3901
Phone 631-732-1367
Email apsmith@lispace.org
Web Site http://www.lispace.org/

United States

NY

New York City

NYC Chapter of NSS

Contact Candace Pankanin
Address 300 Gorge Road
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
Phone 201-945-0769
Email CPankanin@aol.com
Web Site http://www.nsschapters.org/ny/NYC

United States

NY

Pittsford

New Frontier Society of Greater Rochester

Contact Carl Ellsbree
Address 117 Kirklees Road
Pittsford, NY 14534
Phone 716-381-4218
716-657-7244
Email celsb@frontiernet.net
Web Site http://space.rochester.ny.us/

United States

NY

West Babylon

Suffolk Challengers for Space

Contact Reagan Lorraine Lavorata
Address 182 Millard Avenue
West Babylon, NY 11704
Phone 631-321-0964
Email lavoral@sunysuffolk.edu
Web Site http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/
Hall/5950/challengers.html

United States

OH

Parma

Cuyahoga Valley Space Society

Contact George F. Cooper, III
Address 3433 North Avenue
Parma, OH 44134-1252
Phone 216-749-0017
Email geocooper3@aol.com
Web Site

United States

OK

Norman

Oklahoma Space Alliance

Contact Claire Stephens McMurray
Address 1206 Classen Boulevard
Norman, OK 73071
Phone 405-329-4326
Email clairest@Quixnet.net
Web Site

United States

OR

Oregon City

Oregon L5 Society, Inc.

Contact Bryce Walden
Address P.O. Box 86
Oregon City, OR 97045-0007
Phone 503-655-6189
503-655-6189
Email moonbase@comcast.net
Web Site http://www.OregonL5.org/

United States

PA

Erie

NSS North Coast Chapter

Contact Edward C. Longnecker
Address 88 Pine Leaf Drive
Erie, PA 16510
Phone 814-899-8069
Email nasaspaced@cs.com
Web Site

United States

PA

Philadelphia

Philadelphia Area Space Alliance

Contact Earl J. Bennett
Address P.O. Box 1715
Philadelphia, PA 19105
Phone 215-633-0878
Email EarlBennett@erols.com
Web Site http://pasa01.tripod.com/

United States

PR

Mayaguez

NSS Mayaguez Chapter

Contact Fernmarie Rodriguez
Address University of Puerto Rico, R D Center
PO Box 9001
Mayaguez, PR 00681-9001
Phone 787-832-4040 x24
Email nssmayaguez@netscape.net
Web Site

United States

TN

Nashville

Middle Tennessee Space Society

Contact Chuck Schlemm
Address 508 Beechgrove Way
Burns, TN 37029
Phone 615-441-1024
Email cschlemm@comcast.net
Web Site

United States

TN

Memphis

Memphis Space Society

Contact Robert Hudson
Address 3861 Trufant
Memphis, TN 38128
Phone (901)388-1480
(901) 566-9107
Email midso_space@juno.com
Web Site http://chapters.nss.org/tn/memphis/

United States

TX

Arlington

NSS of North Texas

Contact Louis Mazza
Address P.O. Box 1671
Arlington, TX 76004-1671
Phone 972-681-3600
972-681-3600
Email loumazza@swbell.net
Web Site http://www.nssnt.org/

United States

TX

Austin

Austin Space Frontier Society

Contact John Strickland, Jr.
Address 12717 Bullick Hollow Road
Austin, TX 78726
Phone 512-258-8998
Email jkstrick@io.com
Web Site

United States

TX

Houston

Clear Lake Area National Space Society

Contact Murray G. Clark
Address P.O. Box 890588
Houston, TX 77289-0588
Phone 281-367-2227
713-488-7903
Email MClark637@aol.com
Web Site http://www.geocities.com/clearlakechap

United States

TX

San Antonio

San Antonio Space Society

Contact Carol Redfield
Address 609 Ridge View
San Antonio, TX 78253
Phone 210-679-7625
210-522-3729
Email credfield@stmarytx.edu
Web Site

United States

UT

Salt Lake City

Utah Space Association

Contact J. David Baxter
Address 378 I Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Phone 801-359-0251
Email contact@utahspace.org
Web Site http://www.utahspace.org/

United States

VA

Arlington

DC-L5

Contact Donnie Lowther
Address P.O. Box 16630
Arlington, VA 22215
Phone 703-567-8930
Email okl1@erols.com
Web Site

United States

WA

Seattle

NSS Seattle

Contact David Stuart
Address 14618 21st Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98166
Phone 206-324-9096
425-671-0271
Email clvancil@aol.com
Web Site http://chapters.nss.org/wa/seattle/

United States

WI

Kiel

Sheboygan Space Society

Contact Wilbert G. Foerster
Address 728 Center Street
Kiel, WI 53042
Phone 920-894-2376
Email willf@tcei.com
Web Site

United States

WI

Milwaukee

Lunar Reclamation Society, Inc.

Contact Peter Kokh
Address P.O. Box 2102
Milwaukee, WI 53201-2102
Phone 414-342-0705
Email KokhMMM@aol.com
Web Site http://www.lunar-reclamation.org/

Resources

A Free Web Site for your Chapter

As a service to the chapters of the National Space Society, CyberTeams has made available to us server resources and software tools to make it easy for our chapters to create their own web sites. A web site can be an important tool for publicizing your chapter and its activities. For details and to establish your chapter's web site, please send an email to Bruce Mackenzie and Arthur Smith.
For more detailed information, see Documentation on Web Site Creation.
For examples of web sites that some other chapters have created here, please visit one or more of the following chapter web sites:

Alabama
Colorado
Oklahoma
OR Oregon
PA Pennsylvania
TX Texas

Online Meeting Facilities

The NSS Chapters Server has online meeting facilities, commonly known as chat facilities, available for your chapter's use. This particular chat environment is referred to as MOO.
Click here to proceed to the Online Meeting Facilities section.

Online Calendar

The NSS Chapters Common Calendar of Events is a separately maintained FREE Web site where every NSS chapter can add, edit, and delete their event information.

For additional information, please contact Ronnie Lajoie.

The Foundry for Chapter Projects

A number of chapters have undertaken special projects. A number of these projects fall under the umbrella known as The Foundry.
Click here to proceed to The Foundry.

The Hub for Chapter Materials

The Hub is a separate web site on the nsschapters server that is maintained by Peter Kokh and is home to a large variety of resources for chapters.
Click here to jump to the Hub.

NSS Chapters News

Report from X2

NSS Executive Director George Whitesides writes:

Greetings all,

Another short note to celebrate the second successful X Prize flight of SpaceShipOne and to recognize those who participated.

This time, it went flawlessly. An old man who had lived in Mojave for years said to me later in the day that the weather was the best they had seen in years. Years! It was true – warm even in the early morning, before the sun came up, and absolutely no wind. We all hoped it was a good sign, as it turned out to be.

Roll out of the vehicle was ten minutes early, which sent the news cameramen running back to their stations, spilling coffee as they went. Burt and his crew probably didn’t want to take the gift of no wind for granted. The take off was as spectacular as ever – the sight of a real personal space ship taking off is still surreal to me. We watched White Knight ascend pterodactyl-like into the distance, then the crowd wandered off to get food and wait the 45 minutes required for the ship to drag its cargo up to altitude.

The drop was fraught with tension. The countdown was given over the PA’s, five minutes … two minutes … thirty seconds … there it goes! Everyone was thinking about what had happened last flight. And what the implications would be for space if something went wrong. But the drop was clean, and Brian Binnie lit the rocket almost immediately. A single contrails split in two. We watched the ascent, turning from the Jumbotron screen to the sky above, and both just kept looking good. Minor perturbations as the vehicle ascended but no rolls. The rocket’s contrail seemed brighter and thicker this time, and possibly closer to the airport. Woosh! Straight up, and up, and up, higher than seemed possible. Like a white rope unrolling into the sky. [continued...]

Upon successful feather of the vehicle, the space people in the audience let out a sigh and some whoops. Eric Anderson, who was doing an interview with me, gave a thumbs up sign. And we all smiled, almost in disbelief, that this moment that had been so long in coming could, in the end, have gone so perfectly.

The post-flight ceremony had Peter and Brian and Burt and Paul and Sir Richard – some of you may have seen the picture of the last three sitting on a pickup truck bed, hanging out as they watched Brian wave an American flag on top of the vehicle. You got the sense that the reality of the world was changing before your eyes, that all these things that we had dreamed about for so long – were actually happening, right now. And that sense was strange, and happy, and maybe even bittersweet – in the sense that the world of space was changing before our eyes – that it would no longer be just a family in which everyone knew everyone else, that now big money and bodyguards and ‘buy this can win a trip to space’ would soon be coming. All of it what we’ve always said we wanted, perhaps now about to happen.

We’ll see. It was a terrific opening act for space. The proof will come later, in the success of Virgin Galactic and Bigelow Aerospace and a series of increasingly-large Falcon rockets. A lot of promises are now being made, and it is up to us to help them get kept. But it was a great start.

Thanks to Mark Hopkins, Jim Spellman, Elaine Walker, Larry Evans, and some young volunteers whose names I didn’t get, we continued our grassroots promotion of NSS, distributing many hundreds of Ad Astra copies and raising the visibility of the society in the crowd. Rich Godwin and his brother Rob organized a terrific public event the night before, to which I hear some Burning Man faithful contributed. Bart Leahy and Cliff McMurray wrote a great paper on space tourism which was distributed to the media, and which is now available on the website. Interviews with Fox News, the New York Times, and other outlets brought the society some good publicity. All in all, it was a good day for NSS as well – this has raised all boats.

SpaceShipOne wins the X Prize!

In answer to Elaine's song...

This from Bruce Mackenzie:
The Ansari X-Prize has been won by Burt Rutan's SpaceShip One.

The story is on on Fox TV and various web sites, including Space.com
(a bit off topic of NSS chapters, but...)

-Bruce Mackenzie

Space.com Top 100 space leaders

Space.com's Top 100 space leaders list is available on the web now. Our very own George Whitesides is on the list of "people to watch":

George Whitesides -- Whitesides emerged on the scene at the founding convention of the Mars Society in 1998 delivering a stirring address calling on Generation X to unite behind human exploration of the red planet. Since then, the 30-year-old Whitesides has earned a remote sensing degree from Cambridge University, started a charity that gives telescopes to children around the world, organized an annual worldwide celebration of Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight, and worked as vice president of marketing for the parabolic flight start-up Zero Gravity Corp. Whitesides took the reins of the National Space Society in 2004.

Gerard O'Neill didn't make their top ten, but they have a very nice summary on the space visionaries page:

Gerard K. O’Neill -- Dozens of readers nominated O’Neill for this list, a real testament to the impact he had on so many people. No other person who lived and worked in the last 15 years was mentioned nearly as often. Although he died in the early Spring of 1992, O’Neill’s book, “The High Frontier,” continues to inspire new generations of space enthusiasts. His testimony to the U.S. Congress about such issues as solar power from space and living in artificial space habitats fueled the grass roots activists and inspired a new generation of innovators who are working to make space a reality beyond government programs. O’Neill’s descendents are determined to prove that his vision of private groups getting things done in space in a way that is truly faster, better and cheaper than the things the big bureaucracies do. Even within NASA’s large structure, O’Neill’s followers are self-organizing into work groups for specific missions that were unthinkable 15 years ago. Unthinkable, that is, for those who hadn’t spent a few minutes with O’Neill.

Committees

In carrying out its numerous activities, the National Space Society has established a number of committees to facilitate effective progress. The NSS committee responsible for chapter issues is the Chapters Committee.

In addition, the chapters of the NSS have collectively formed the NSS Chapter's Assembly. Please visit their web site at http://home.hiwaay.net/~hal5/assembly/ for additional information.

Education

Education is a major focus of the National Space Society's goal of a spacefaring society. Only by the public understanding the benefits of space exploration today will we move further into the "final frontier" tomorrow. The following resources are intended for educators, students (of all ages) and anyone with an interest in learning the basics of space exploration and development.

The Space Educator
The National Space Society's educational resource -- the Space Educator includes resources for students and educators, including scholarship information, reading lists, NASA resources, and museum information.

Bring Space to School
The National Space Society Education Committee has put together a number of documents that outline ways to assist teachers, parents, and volunteers in teaching space in our schools. Click on Adopt-A-School to see a brief guide to conducting a simple project that can have a big impact. Click on Index to Resource Materials to find out how to obtain many more helpful documents.

Adopt-A-School (PDF format, one page)
Index to Resource Materials
Center for Lunar Research
Learn about the latest work

Application for Lunar Research Summer Scholarship Program (PDF Format)
NSS Headquarters Internship Program

Application for NSS Headquarters Internship Program (PDF Format)

Recommended Reading

The following reading list has been suggested to enhance your knowledge about the history, theory, and future of space exploration. Many of these books can be found in major bookstores, used bookstores and libraries, or by running a Google, Yahoo, or AltaVista search engine on the Author's name or book title. Additionally, new reading suggestions appear every month in Ad Astra.
Science Reference

Engines of Creation - Eric Drexler
Paperback, Anchor, ISBN: 0385199732, In Print

Cosmos - Carl Sagan
Paperback, Ballantine Books, ISBN: 0345331354, 324 Pages, In Print

Space Advocacy

Reaching for the High Frontier: The American Pro-Space Movement, 1972-1984 - Michael Michaud
Hardcover, Praeger Publications Text, ISBN: 0275921514, 462 Pages, In Print

Space Science

Before Liftoff: The Making of a Space Shuttle Crew - Henry S.F. Cooper
Hardcover, Johns Hopkins University Press, ISBN: 0801835240, 270 Pages, In Print

Space Station Science: Life in Free Fall - Marianne Dyson
Hardcover, Scholastic Trade, ISBN: 0590058894, 128 Pages, In Print

Indistinguishable from Magic - Robert L. Forward
Paperback, Pocket Books, ISBN: 0671876864, 384 Pages, In Print

Space Exploration History

Men from Earth - Buzz Aldrin
Hardcover, Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishers, ISBN: 0553053744, Available but Not In Print

First on the Moon - Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins
Hardcover, Little Brown & Company, ISBN: 0316051608, Recently reprinted??

Dragonfly - Brian Burrough
Paperback, Harper Perennial, ISBN: 0060932694, 544 Pages, In Print

This New Ocean: The Story of the First Space Age - William E. Burrows
Hardcover, Random House, ISBN: 0679445218, 912 Pages, In Print
Paperback, Modern Library, ISBN: 0375754857, 784 Pages, In Print

Last Man on the Moon: Astronaut Eugene Cernan and America's Race in Space - Eugene Cernan
Hardcover, St. Martin's Press, ISBN: 0312199066, 356 Pages, In Print
Paperback, Griffin Trade Paperback, ISBN: 0312263511, 368 Pages, In Print

A Man on the Moon - Andrew Chaikin
Paperback, Viking Penguin, ISBN0140272011, 704 Pages, In Print

October Sky (originally published as Rocket Boys) - Homer Hickham
Hardcover, Delacorte Press, ISBN: 038533320X, 384 Pages, In Print
Paperback, Delta, ISBN: 0385333218, 368 Pages, In Print

Failure is Not an Option - Gene Kranz
Paperback, Berkley Publishing Group, ISBN: 0425179877, 416 Pages, In Print

Lost Moon (also published as Apollo 13) - James Lovell
Hardcover, Houghton Mifflin Co, ISBN: 0618056653, 400 Pages, In Print
Paperback, Pocket Books, ISBN: 0671534645, In Print

...The Heavens and the Earth: A Political History of the Space Age - Walter A. McDougall
Paperback, Johns Hopkins University Press, ISBN: 0801857481, 584 Pages, In Print

Apollo EECOM: Journey of a Lifetime - Sy Liebergot
Hardcover, Apogee Books, In Print

Space Settlement

Welcome to Moonbase - Ben Bova
Paperback, Ballantine Books, ISBN: 0345328590, Available, but Not In Print

Colonies in Space - T. A. Heppenheimer
Hardcover, Stackpole Books, ISBN: 0811703975, Out of Print

Mining the Sky - John S. Lewis
Paperback, Perseus Press, ISBN: 0201328194, 288 Pages, In Print

Space in the 21st Century - Richard Lewis
Hardcover, Columbia University Press, ISBN: 0231063040, 234 Pages, Available, but Not In Print

The High Frontier - Gerard O'Neill
Paperback (with CD), Collectors Guide Publishing, ISBN: 189652267X, 232 Pages, In Print, but rare.

Outer Space: Problems of Law and Policy - Glenn Reynolds and R. Merges
Hardcover, Westview Press, ISBN: 0813318025, 432 Pages, Out of Print

Islands in the Sky - Edited by Stanley Schmidt and Robert Zubrin
Paperback, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN: 0471135615, 266 Pages, In Print

Pioneering the Space Frontier: The Report of the National Commission on Space - Edited by Ted Simpson
Paperback, Bantam Doubleday Dell Publications, ISBN: 0553343149, Available, but Not In Print

The Third Industrial Revolution - G. Harry Stine
Hardcover, Putnam, ISBN: 0399115528, Out of Print

Halfway to Anywhere: Achieving America's Destiny in Space - G. Harry Stine, Wolfgang Demisch, and Pete Conrad
Paperback, M. Evans & Co., ISBN: 0871318474, 320 Pages, Limited Availability

The Case for Mars: The Plan for Exploring and Settling the Red Planet and Why We Must - Robert Zubrin
Paperback, Simon & Schuster, ISBN: 0684835509, 352 Pages, In Print

Entering Space - Robert Zubrin
Paperback, J P Tarcher, ISBN: 1585420360, 305 Pages, In Print

Recent Books

Star-Crossed Orbits - James Oberg
Flight - Christopher Kraft
Understanding Space (2nd ed.) - ed. Jerry Jon Sellers
For Spacious Skies - Scott Carpenter
The All-American Boys - Walter Cunningham
Moon Lander: How We Developed the Apollo Lunar Module - Thomas J. Kelly
Carrying the Fire - Michael Collins
To Rise From Earth: An Easy-to-Understand Guide to Spaceflight - Wayne Lee
The Compact NASA Atlas of the Solar System - Ronald Greeley and Raymond Batson
Space - Andrew Chaikin
Project Orion - George Dyson
New Moon Rising - Frank Sietzen and Keith Cowing
Lost in Space - Greg Klerkx
Leap of Faith - Gordon Cooper
Space: The Free-Market Frontier - ed. Edward Hudgins (Cato Institute)

Space Tourism and Suborbital Launches

LINKS & RESOURCES

Space Adventures
X-Prize Foundation
Space Access Society
Zero-G Corporation
NEWS

NSS Urges Swift Passage of Commercial Space Act of 2003 (October 15, 2003)
A coalition led by the National Space Society and other space organizations is helping to advance legislation that will clarify and streamline a muddled and uncertain regulatory regime faced by the emerging American suborbital space flight industry. The Commercial Space Act of 2003 (HR 3245) has been approved by the House Space & Aeronautics Subcommittee, but still needs approval by the full Science Committee before going to the floor for a vote. The bill, introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Ralph Hall (D-TX) and Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), directs the Secretary of Transportation to set up an enabling regulatory regime for commercial human space flight, separate from that under which the FAA governs commercial aviation. The coalition issued a statement to demonstrate its common purpose and objective.

An executive briefing on the suborbital industry is available online. You can also read more about the legislation at Spaceref.com.

NSS members are encouraged to contact their U.S. Representatives and ask them to cosponsor HR 3245 so that it can continue advancing in the legislative process. You can locate your Member of Congress at www.congress.org.

FAA Regulatory Logjam Stifles Private Rocketeers (July 17, 2003)
The emerging suborbital rocket business has to overcome federal government regulatory hurdles to be successful, reports Space.com. NSS is playing a leading role in a coalition to help overcome these hurdles and help foster the growth of the suborbital launch industry.

"The U.S. suborbital rocket industry has the potential to develop a world-dominating business base in commercial space tourism, said Brian Chase, executive director of the National Space Society (NSS), and a coalition member....'In the near future, space will be open to the public, changing how citizens view space transportation and exploration. NSS is committed to helping ensure government policies and regulations help, not hinder, this fledgling industry,' Chase said."

Space Adventures Announces First Private Soyuz Flights (June 18, 2003)
Commercial space flight took a giant leap forward today with the announcement by NSS Partner Space Adventures, Ltd., the leading space experiences company, of its plans to launch the world's first privately funded mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Space Adventures recently secured a contract with the Russian Aviation & Space Agency (RASA) to fly two explorers to the ISS aboard a new Soyuz TMA spacecraft. The mission, Space Adventures-1 (SA-1), continues the company's record of opening the space frontier to explorers other than government astronauts and cosmonauts. The company brokered the flights for the world's first private space explorers, American businessman Dennis Tito in 2001, and the first African in space, Mark Shuttleworth, in 2002. SA-1 has the potential to establish several world records, and also marks the first private mission to the International Space Station. Read more on CNN, MSNBC, the BBC, or Space.com.

Techies Race to Suborbital Space (June 11, 2003)
The $10 million X Prize, to the first team that sends three people 100 kilometers above Earth twice in two weeks, is inspiring a shift from cyberspace to outer space. By Carl Hoffman of Wired magazine.

NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY AND SPACE ADVENTURES TEAM UP TO SUPPORT COMMERCIAL SPACE EXPLORATION (August 14, 2002)
The National Space Society (NSS) and Space Adventures, Ltd., have announced a joint program to promote commercial space exploration and to advance the day when humans will live and work in space. The two organizations will work together on a number of space tourism initiatives including joint conferences and events. The partnership is also intended to provide NSS members with unique benefits and to bring space advocates closer to the next frontier through a number of Space Adventures' experiences. NSS members will receive discounts on select programs such as terrestrial tours, zero-gravity and supersonic jet flights, and sub-orbital space flights. Space Adventures will also operate an NSS members-only tour. Read the complete press release here.

News

The National Space Society is a grassroots organization, which means that our strength is in the actions of our individual members and their efforts to support the space program. Whether it is writing a letter to our elected officials or presenting a pro-space lecture at the local library, every pro-space action is one step closer to a spacefaring civilization.

Press Releases | General News | Letters from NSS | Capital Capsules(2001 and earlier)

National Space Society Press Releases -
If you are a member of the media and would like to be placed on NSS's media list, please send a message to nsshq@nss.org and include the following information: name, title, affiliation, address, phone, fax, e-mail address, and your areas of interest.
[ access pre-2001 press release archive ]

18 October 2004 NSS and SEDS announce new scholarship for the International Space University
4 October 2004 The Right Stuff is back! - NSS congratulates the SpaceShipOne team on winning the X PRIZE on the anniversary of Sputnik
4 October 2004 Lance Bass joins NSS Board of Governors - Marking the beginning of World Space Week, scheduled for October 4 – 10, Lance Bass and the National Space Society announced that the world-famous entertainer had joined the society’s Board of Governors.
29 September 2004 NSS lauds first ANSARI X PRIZE success - Combines with Branson and Bigelow announcements to knit the fabric of a new space economy
16 September 2004 National Space Society is First in Zero-G
26 July 2004 National Space Society Partners with the Coalition For Space Exploration to advocate new vision
19 July 2004 MOON MARS BLITZ A SUCCESS! - Members from NSS and the Space Exploration Alliance blitz Congress to show support for an ambitious space program
21 June 2004 NSS members energized by world's first private spaceflight - Next milestone is legal: Senate must pass a fair Commercial Space Bill soon to maintain US lead in critical growth industry
16 June 2004 NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY STATEMENT ON ALDRIDGE COMMISSION REPORT - Report unlocks the power of the private sector; Breakthrough recommendations must now be put into action
3 June 2004 NSS encourages its members to attend the world's first private manned spaceflight launch - It's on! June 21 launch date set for Scaled Composite's SpaceShipOne
20 May 2004 HISTORIC FIRSTS CHALLENGE THE EDGE OF SPACE - NSS annual conference to bring together pioneering leaders during the 'Summer of Space'
17 May 2004 Space Exploration Alliance to mobilize 'Moon-Mars Blitz' on Capitol Hill - Leading space groups to assemble their members in support of Exploration Vision
8 May 2004 Leading Space Groups Agree: It’s Time For The Moon, Mars And Beyond - Announcement of formation of new Space Exploration Alliance
5 May 2004 NSS TO ALDRIDGE COMMISSION: EXPLORE TO CREATE A SPACEFARING CIVILIZATION - Executive Director states strong support for Exploration Vision; Urges Commission to integrate space settlement, private industry, and direct public participation
9 Apr 2004 The Right Stuff Lives Again - NSS lauds the first Mach 2 flight by a private piloted rocket vehicle and granting of the first private spaceship license by the FAA
30 Mar 2004 NSS Hails The Restart Of Space Tourism And The Next Private Space Explorer, Dr. Gregory Olsen
24 Mar 2004 NSS Hails Discovery Of An Ancient Salty Sea On Mars
18 Mar 2004 George T. Whitesides Named Executive Director Of The National Space Society
16 Mar 2004 National Space Society applauds Senate's commitment to visionary space exploration
04 Aug 2003 National Space Society Mourns Loss of Executive Committee Chairman
26 May 2003 STS-107 Columbia Crew Honored at 22nd International Space Development Conference
2 Apr 2003 Senate Testimony
1 Feb 2003 Statement by Brian Chase, Executive Director of the National Space Society about the loss of the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia
14 Aug 2002 The National Space Society And Space Adventures Team Up To Support Commercial Space Exploration
25 Jun 2002 National Space Society Governor, Michael Debakey, Honored by NASA Administrator
23 May 2002 NSS hails reported discovery of Water on Mars
23 May 2002 Dr. Robert Zubrin presented Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award at ISDC
15 May 2002 Space Exploration Act of 2002
09 Jan 2002 NSS STATEMENT ON CLOSE APPROACH OF 2001 YB5
09 Apr 2001 STATEMENT ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION BUDGET