NSS Urges Congress to "Choose to Explore Space" on 50th Anniversary of JFK's Historic Speech

(Washington, D.C., September 19) On September 12, the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's "We Choose to Go to the Moon" speech, members of the National Space Society (NSS) went to Capitol Hill and urged Congress to support our nation's space program in a Legislative Blitz that was co-organized with Explore Mars, Inc.

"During our September 12th visit to Capitol Hill, we found broad bi-partisan support for our space program, yet our space program continues to be subject to the budgetary pressures of these difficult fiscal times. With the ever increasing threat of the implementation of further budget cuts, members of the space advocacy community must continue to speak out in order to have their voices heard," said NSS Executive Vice President Rick Zucker.

NSS Executive Director Paul E. Damphousse said, "NSS will continue to lead the space advocacy community in calling on Congress and the Administration to work together to leverage the necessary partnerships between the public and private sectors relative to space. We recognize the fiscal times that we live in today, but our future depends on a strong commitment to our nation's space program."

See full press release.

Neil A. Armstrong, 1930-2012

(Washington, D.C., August 25) The following statements are in reaction to the death of former test pilot and NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong. He was 82.

From Hugh Downs, Chairman of the NSS Board of Governors:  "News of Neil Armstrong's passing is so shocking that there is no way it can be absorbed right away as reality. His position in history is deeper than that of any known discoverer or explorer in the history of  this planet. As the first human to land on any world outside the Earth, and probably the first living creature of any sort to come from the Earth and reach the Moon, his legacy will be safe as long as intelligent life survives in this corner of the cosmos."

From Paul E. Damphousse, NSS Executive Director:  "Humanity will one day become a truly space-faring species and millions of people will venture beyond the Earth. But Neil Armstrong will always be the first among us to set foot on another world. Today we mark his passing and celebrate his place in history. He was one of the giants upon whose shoulders we stand, and we will honor his legacy by continuing our efforts to move humanity into the cosmos."

From Buzz Aldrin, fellow Apollo 11 Astronaut and member of the NSS Board of Governors: "I am deeply saddened by the passing of my good friend, and space exploration companion, Neil Armstrong today. As Neil, Mike Collins and I trained together for our historic Apollo 11 Mission, we understood the many technical challenges we faced, as well as the importance and profound implications of this historic journey. We will now always be connected as the crew of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon, yet for the many millions who witnessed that remarkable achievement for humankind, we were not alone.

"Whenever I look at the Moon I am reminded of that precious moment, over four decades ago, when Neil and I stood on the desolate, barren, yet beautiful, Sea of Tranquility, looking back at our brilliant blue planet Earth suspended in the darkness of space, I realized that even though we were farther away from Earth than two humans had ever been, we were not alone. Virtually the entire world took that memorable journey with us. I know I am joined by many millions of others from around the world in mourning the passing of a true American hero and the best pilot I ever knew. My friend Neil took the small step but giant leap that changed the world and will forever be remembered as a historic moment in human history."

From Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator: "On behalf of the entire NASA family, I would like to express my deepest condolences to Carol and the rest of Armstrong family on the passing of Neil Armstrong. As long as there are history books, Neil Armstrong will be included in them, remembered for taking humankind's first small step on a world beyond our own.

"Besides being one of America's greatest explorers, Neil carried himself with a grace and humility that was an example to us all. When President Kennedy challenged the nation to send a human to the Moon, Neil Armstrong accepted without reservation. As we enter this next era of space exploration, we do so standing on the shoulders of Neil Armstrong. We mourn the passing of a friend, fellow astronaut and true American hero."

See NSS Press Release: NSS Mourns Neil Armstrong – Calls for Renewed Emphasis on Human Space Exploration. See also our book review of Armstrong's biography, First Man.

Join the NSS Leadership Team – Apply by September 4 (or 24)

(Washington, D.C., August 23) The NSS 2012 Leadership Search Committee is seeking volunteer candidates with the time, talent, and motivation to serve as a member, Secretary, or Chair on an NSS operating committee.  Superior candidates will also be considered for an Officer position (apply by September 4 to be considered for nomination by the Executive Committee; else by the 24th).

See the full annoucement for details and links to committee and officer descriptions.

Successful Landing of Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) Rover – Historic Next Step in Mars Exploration

(Washington, D.C., August 6) The successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, Curiosity, early Monday morning marks a significant and historic achievement on the way to the eventual human exploration of Mars.

“Curiosity's successful landing demonstrates the feasibility of delivering ever-heavier payloads to the martian surface, and paves the way for future missions to land, gather samples and return them to Earth,” said Paul E. Damphousse, NSS Executive Director. “The ongoing successes of these unmanned data-gathering missions will ultimately lead to manned Mars missions, thus bringing us ever closer to the realization of NSS's vision - people living and working in thriving communities beyond the Earth and using the vast resources of space for the dramatic betterment of humanity.” See full press release.

NSS Congratulates Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) Participants

(Washington, D.C., August 6) The National Space Society (NSS) congratulates Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX), The Boeing Company (Boeing), and Sierra Nevada Corporation (Sierra Nevada) on their selection by NASA as Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) participants.

“With recent successes in commercial launches to Low Earth Orbit, including a successful cargo mission to the International Space Station, the United States has entered a new era in access to space,” said NSS Executive Director Paul E. Damphousse. “NSS welcomes this next round of funding, which is designed to expand those capabilities to include crewed access to LEO.” See full press release.

NSS and Explore Mars announce September 12th Congressional Space Blitz

(Washington, D.C., July 30) The National Space Society (NSS) and Explore Mars will be conducting the “We Choose to Explore Space” Congressional Blitz on September 12, 2012 — the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's iconic “We choose to go to the Moon” speech.

According to NSS Executive Director, Paul Damphousse, “Our nation's space program is at a crossroads in these difficult economic times. We can think of no more fitting date for our members to have their voices heard on Capitol Hill than on the upcoming anniversary of President Kennedy's famous speech — a momentous call to action which set the United States on a path to the Moon.”

“This blitz will take place a little more than a month after the scheduled landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars,” commented Explore Mars Executive Director, Chris Carberry. “We hope that the Curiosity mission and other exciting and important developments in the space sector will lead to bi-partisan support in Congress for a sustainable and goal oriented space program.”

Participants in this legislative outreach event will talk to key congressional offices about strategies for advancing our space program. If you are interested in participating in the We Choose to Explore Space Blitz, please contact Rick Zucker at rick.zucker@nss.org. Otherwise, we hope that you will reach out to your members of Congress in other ways, to let them know that there is strong constituent support for an ambitious and well-funded space program.

NSS Mourns Sally Ride – First American Woman Astronaut

(Washington, D.C., July 25) The National Space Society (NSS) mourns the death of Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut and, at the time of her first flight, the youngest as well. Ride passed away on Monday, July 23 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

“Sally Ride was an extraordinary woman who spent almost her entire life as a role model to women and girls desiring to pursue careers in space and other STEM fields,” said Paul E. Damphousse, Executive Director of NSS. “She was an inspiration to many of us, men and women alike, desiring to open up the space frontier for exploration and settlement and her dedication and enthusiasm will be sorely missed by the entire space community.”

“I remembered watching her launch with pride, and I had read and remembered her work on the Challenger commission when I met her,” said NSS Board of Governors member and CEO of XCOR Aerospace, Jeff Greason. “It was a privilege to work with her on the Augustine Committee. Her passion for education was clear and it was the subject she would turn to whenever we had a free moment. I am surprised and saddened to hear of her death.” See full story.

Coalition for Space Exploration “Why Explore Space?” Video Contest Winners

(Washington, D.C., July 12) The Coalition for Space Exploration has chosen the grand prize winner and runner up videos in its “Why Explore Space” video contest. The 2-minute videos can be seen on the NSS Blog.

NSS Mourns Passing of Ray Bradbury, Author and NSS Space Pioneer Award Recipient

(Washington, D.C., June 8) The National Space Society mourns the loss of legendary author and visionary, Ray D. Bradbury, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 91. The author of more than 50 books, Bradbury’s works encompassed many genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and mystery.

In appreciation and recognition of his lifetime body of work in fantasy writing, including a significant amount of science fiction, such as The Martian Chronicles, Bradbury was awarded the NSS’s prestigious Space Pioneer Award for Mass Media in 2010.

The entire NSS membership mourns his loss, and extends its condolences to the Bradbury family. See full press release.

NSS Congratulates SpaceX Team — Calls on Congress to Fully Fund Commercial Crew & Space Technology

(Washington, D.C., June 1) The National Space Society congratulates Elon Musk and the entire SpaceX team on the Dragon spacecraft's historic mission to the International Space Station and its safe return to Earth yesterday.

NSS calls on the Senate to fully fund the commercial crew development program and space technology lines of the NASA budget as proposed in the President's FY2013 budget request earlier this year, removing the proposed cuts made by the House in May. While NSS acknowledges the difficult budgetary parameters under which Congress must work, we strongly encourage both Houses of Congress to accede to the President's request for both commercial crew and space technology during conference later this year.

See full press release.

Stephen Colbert Receives NSS Award from Buzz Aldrin May 3 on The Colbert Report

5-minute video. See also press release and photo of award.

NSS Congratulates SpaceX on a Magnificent First Docking of Dragon Capsule and Successful Launch of NSS "Special Payload"

(Washington, D.C., May 25) "On Friday, May 25, the National Space Society, along with a number of commercial space companies were cheering on the progress of the Dragon spacecraft real-time while at the Society's 2012 International Space Development Conference (ISDC) being held in Washington D.C. May 24-28," said NSS Executive Director Paul E. Damphousse. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden was the Keynote speaker for the ISDC Opening Plenary Session. He spoke about the successful capture of Dragon, which took place during his speech.

The Falcon 9 flight that carried Dragon also carried a special NSS "payload": Along with a portion of the ashes of Star Trek actor James Doohan ("Scotty") and astronaut Gordon Cooper, were a portion of the ashes of former Chairman of the NSS Executive Committee, Chris Pancratz.

See full press release.

NSS Urges Congress to Ease Export Control Restrictions on Satellites and Space-Related Items

(Washington, D.C., May 14) The National Space Society (NSS) calls on Congress to ease export control regulations on spacecraft and related items, as urged by the Departments of Defense and State in their recent, joint "Section 1248" report, "Risk Assessment of the United States Space Export Control Policy."

"For many years, the U.S. space industrial base has been at a competitive disadvantage with other countries due to outdated and overly burdensome licensing processes under ITAR," said NSS Executive Director, Paul E. Damphousse. "The U.S space export control system has created delays, driven up costs, and severely hampered the ability of the American space industry to compete in an increasingly global market, and this situation must not be allowed to continue."

A distinguished panel of export control policy experts will discuss the recommendations outlined in the Section 1248 report at NSS's upcoming International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in Washington, DC May 24-28, 2012. Patricia Cooper of the Satellite Industry Association will moderate the panel, which will include representatives from the Defense Department, Tauri Group, Bigelow Aerospace and the Universities Space Research Association. For more information about media access to the panel, please visit isdc.nss.org/2012 or email ISDC2012.Media@nss.org. See full press release.

First Major International Space Solar Power Organization Includes the National Space Society

(Washington, D.C., May 9) The Global Space Solar Power Working Group (Global SSP-WG) has held its first meeting at the European Space Agency in Paris, France. All of the world’s major SSP players were represented, except for the Chinese. National Space Society CEO Mark Hopkins had the honor of representing NSS.

The Global SSP-WG, organized under the auspices of the prestigious International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), was created for the most part as a response to the very supportive IAA study of SSP (Space Solar Power: the First International Assessment...), which was published last fall. This report was the subject of NSS' November 14, 2011 press conference, a video of which can be seen on the NSS website.

Read full story on the NSS Blog.

25th Anniversary of Merger Forming NSS from National Space Institute and L5 Society

March 28 marked the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the National Space Society in 1987 by the merger of two organizations: the National Space Institute (of which Wernher von Braun was founding president in 1974), and the L5 Society (founded on the ideas of Princeton physics professor Gerard K. O'Neill in 1975). See story — NSS 25th Anniversary salute to its founding fathers.

Video Interview of NSS Executive Director Paul E. Damphousse

Moonandback Media has released a video interview of NSS Executive Director Paul E. Damphousse about his background, NSS goals, and the upsoming International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in Washington DC later this month.

See the 10-minute interview on the NSS Blog.

Ad Astra Magazine Wins Two Major Awards

(Washington, D.C., April 12) NSS congratulates Silver Marketing, Inc. for the exemplary work it has done to publish the Society's Ad Astra magazine. Silver Marketing won a Gold MarCom award for Ad Astra Magazine, Spring 2011 edition. MarCom is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected creative industry competitions. Silver Marketing also won a Silver Award from the Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA) in the external publications category for the same issue of Ad Astra. SIAA awards are given to top-tier organizations within the service industry.

Stephen Hawking Accepts Prestigious NSS Award on Society's 25th Anniversary

(Washington, D.C., March 28) The National Space Society (NSS) is pleased to announce Dr. Stephen Hawking as the 14th recipient of NSS’s Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award. The award was presented to Dr. Hawking at a special ceremony at the Cooks Branch Conservancy in Montgomery, Texas on Wednesday, March 28 and is given in recognition of his outstanding and continuing public efforts in support of human space development and settlement.

"I believe that the long-term future of the human race must be in space," says Hawking. "It will be difficult enough to avoid disaster on planet Earth in the next hundred years, let alone the next thousand, or million. The human race shouldn’t have all its eggs in one basket, or on one planet. Let’s hope we can avoid dropping the basket until we have spread the load."

Read full press release. Also see Stephen Hawking 25-minute video: Why We Should Go into Space (with transcript).

National Space Society's Call to Action for American Leadership in Civil Space

The National Space Society calls for the United States to make civil space a high national priority in order to ensure American leadership in scientific discovery, technology development, and the creation of new industries and new applications that will benefit all humanity.  Five actions are necessary to achieve this objective: See full statement.