About the Huntsville Alabama L5 Society (HAL5)

HAL5 is the Huntsville Alabama chapter of the National Space 
Society (NSS).  It was formed in 1983 and incorporated in 1984.  
Both HAL5 and the NSS are not-for-profit 501(c)(3), grassroots, 
space educational/ advocacy organizations.  Members share the 
enthusiasm that space development can stimulate our world with 
immeasurable benefits in the areas of education, energy, 
environment, industry, resources, and ultimately room to grow for 
our society.  HAL5 and NSS believe that by educating and working 
with the public, the government, and private industry, we can 
speed up the date when routine, safe, and affordable space travel 
is available to anyone who wants to go.

Over the past 13 years, HAL5 has sponsored numerous educational 
projects and activities in Huntsville.  It has hosted a 
continuing series of public lectures, forums, and events on 
space-related topics, at both the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and 
the Huntsville Public Library.  Hot topics have included the 
Space Station, space science, and both public and private 
attempts to provide cheap access to space.  In May of 1995, HAL5 
was presented an NSS Chapter Excellence Award for the outstanding 
public lecture series it held in 1994.  For years, HAL5 has 
coordinated or provided programs for the ConStellation science 
fiction convention.  HAL5 is devoted to speeding the transition 
of science fiction into science fact.

Four years ago, HAL5 hosted the 1993 International Space 
Development Conference (ISDC), the 12th annual conference of the 
NSS, and of one of its most successful.  Over 700 space 
enthusiasts from Huntsville and around the nation and the world 
gathered at the Hilton to hear over 120 speakers lecture and 
debate on the benefits of space and on what it will take to get 
there.  The City of Huntsville honored HAL5 for making the 1993 
ISDC one of its top ten conferences.  HAL5 is considering hosting 
the 2001 ISDC, when it will be able to promote the successful 
completion of Project HALO.

In 1987, HAL5 supported a local grade school’s "Get-Away-Special 
Canister" project.  In 1993, HAL5 hosted a highly successful 3-
day "Junior Cadet Program" as part of the 1993 ISDC.  Early in 
1995, HAL5 purchased and donated a reusable tethered balloon to 
the Huntsville elementary school system to support its HOPE 
program.  HAL5 has sponsored "Space Week" activities on numerous 
occasions, including this past March.  HAL5 has also created a 
pilot program, called HALO Achievement, designed to take space 
and science education into the grade-school classroom in the same 
manner as Junior Achievement does for business.  In 1997, HAL5 
plans to demonstrate this program at several schools.

As a space advocacy group, HAL5 has hosted many activities to 
build non-partisan political support for space.  Many HAL5 
members participate in letter writing campaigns to alert our 
governmental representatives of our interest in space.  HAL5 
hosts lectures designed to call the public attention to space-
related issues and to urge them to write, call, fax, or E-Mail 
their elected officials.  HAL5 also distributes petitions and 
surveys on space exploration, development, and tourism.

In 1994, HAL5 began its biggest project ever, Project HALO (for 
"High-Altitude Lift-Off").  The goals of the project are no less 
than to provide cheap access to space for small clubs and student 
groups.  In 1997, HAL5 will construct its own hybrid rocket 
(fueled by only asphalt and laughing gas!) and will launch it 
into space from a high altitude balloon floating 20 miles high!  
As of February 1997, HAL5 has flown balloons 4 times to 20 miles, 
test-fired 40 rocket motors, and ground launched to 30,000 feet.

Above all, HAL5 has pledged to keep Huntsville and its neighbors 
informed of the positive benefits of space research and 
development, whether by NASA, other governments, or private 
industry. HAL5 has also pledged to alert Huntsville and vicinity 
during the times for action, whenever letters, calls, and 
petitions can improve our chances for becoming a spacefaring 
civilization. And lastly, via Project HALO, HAL5 has pledged to 
lead the way in showing the public, the government, and private 
industry that cheap access to space can indeed be made a reality!

As the NSS motto states: Ad Astra per Ardua! (Latin for "To the 
Stars by Our Own Hands!")