The National Space Society Welcomes You

Our Vision:  People living and working in thriving communities beyond the Earth, and the use of the vast resources of space for the dramatic betterment of humanity.

The Society publishes Ad Astra magazine and maintains an active global network of volunteers and local chapters.  Membership and participation are open to all.

Join the space movement, and help build a positive future for humanity!

NSS Supports Hubble 3D

(Washington, DC -- February 16, 2010)

NSS has partnered with IMAX on the upcoming Hubble 3D movie, which enables movie-goers to journey through distant galaxies, explore the mysteries of our celestial surroundings, and accompany the astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important task in NASA's history. The film will offer an inspiring and unique look into the Hubble Space Telescope's legacy and highlight its profound impact on the way we view the universe.
 
The film will be narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio.  The IMAX 3D camera, flown aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis last May, captured stunning 3D images of the intricate spacewalks required to service the telescope.  The footage, shot by the STS-125 astronauts, puts IMAX audiences right  alongside the spacewalking astronauts. The film will also feature never-before-seen 3D flights through awe-inspiring Hubble imagery, providing a first-person journey to the far reaches of our universe.

Check out the Hubble 3D trailer and get more information on the movie at www.imax.com/hubble/.
 
Make sure you are following nss on Twitter and National Space Society on Facebook to have the chance to win prizes such as signed Hubble 3D Posters, patches, polo shirts and IMAX tickets. Also, make sure you are a current NSS member to be eligible for a grand prize to be announced in the spring issue of Ad Astra magazine.

NSS Calls for Continued Human Spaceflight beyond Earth Orbit

(Washington, DC -- February 5, 2010)

The National Space Society (NSS) commends NASA and the Executive Branch for proposing to increase spending for science, technology, and sustainable economic development in space; however, we believe the President’s 2011 budget request would leave the job only partly done. NSS calls for the President and Congress to restore funding for human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit. NASA’s goal should be to make it possible to incorporate energy and resources from space into our economy and to extend human presence throughout the solar system.

Read full NSS statement here.

February 2010 Legislative Blitz on Capitol Hill

(Washington, DC -- February 2, 2010)

From February 21-23, 2010, the NSS and the Space Exploration Alliance (SEA) will be holding the annual Legislative Blitz.  The 2010 Blitz comes at a crucial moment in the formulation of space policy with the release of the new NASA budget and the changes in space policy that it entails.  More than ever before, it is absolutely critical that the voices of the space advocacy community be heard in the debate over the future of our nation's space program.

Come join space advocates from around the country to let Congress know that there is strong constituent support for an ambitious space program. We will provide an information/training session plus materials that you will need for the meetings. Please REGISTER HERE for the Legislative Blitz.  For more information, please contact Rick Zucker (Rick.Zucker@nss.org or 508-651-9936).

National Space Society Congratulates Tim Pickens

(Washington, DC -- December 21, 2009)

The National Space Society ("NSS") congratulates one of its own, Tim Pickens, on the sale of his successful pioneering NewSpace company, Orion Propulsion, Inc. ("OPI"), to another Huntsville, Alabama-based aerospace company, Dynetics. OPI specializes in spacecraft and rocket propulsion design and fabrication, testing services, ground support equipment, and launch operations support. Mr. Pickens, who was chief technology officer for OPI, will serve as chief propulsion engineer for Dynetics.

Read full NSS statement here.

Holiday Gifts from NSS -- Give your Family and Friends the Gift of Space!

(Washington, DC -- December 16, 2009)

NSS Gift Memberships -- Share the vision of a vigorous future of exploration and settlement of outer space!  NSS membership includes a subscription to the Society's award-winning magazine Ad Astra, our free monthly electronic newsletter NSS Downlink, invitations and discounts to NSS-sponsored events, and much more.

Don't Wait!  The U.S. Introductory NSS membership rate will increase to $30 on January 1.

Space Books @ Amazon.com

Select from over 130 space related fiction, non-fiction, and children's books available via Amazon.com, or follow the Amazon.com link for any purchase to earn credit for NSS.

NSS Congratulates Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites for Rollout of SpaceShipTwo

(Washington, DC -- December 9, 2009)

On December 7, 2009, Virgin Galactic's new commercial suborbital spacecraft, SpaceShipTwo (manufactured by Scaled Composites) was unveiled to the public for the first time.  SpaceShipTwo is now ready to undergo the series of rigorous test flights and certification procedures which are necessary before it can proceed to operational status.

According to Gary Barnhard, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Space Society (NSS), "The rollout of Space Ship Two, VSS-Enterprise is the dawn of commercial passenger space flight.  It blazes the path forward to tomorrow.  It is jumpstarting the future of personal space flight."

Read full NSS statement here.

National Space Society Congratulates NASA for Successful LCROSS Mission

(Washington, DC -- November 16, 2009)

According to Mark Hopkins, Senior Vice President of the National Space Society, "The discovery of water on the Moon dramatically improves the case for the development of lunar resources. All of the varied proposals to use these resources to provide very large amounts of carbon free energy for use on the Earth are suddenly more cost effective. In the long run, lunar resources may provide the solution to our energy and climate change problems."

Added Rick Zucker, NSS Vice President of Public Affairs, "NSS applauds NASA's continuing efforts to unlock the secrets of the universe, to expand the boundaries of human knowledge, and to apply that which we learn for the betterment of humanity."

Good News! LCROSS Impact Data Indicates Water on the Moon

(Washington, DC -- November 14, 2009)

On November 13, 2009, NASA announced that preliminary data from the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, indicates that the mission successfully uncovered water during the October 9, 2009 impacts into the permanently shadowed region of Cabeus crater near the Moon's south pole.

See the November 13, 2009 NASA Mission Update.

NSS Congratulates NASA for Successful Flight of Ares I-X

(Washington, DC -- October 30, 2009)

"Many people said it could not possibly work, yet it flew quite well," said Gary Barnhard, Chairman of the NSS Executive Committee.  The 327-foot tall rocket thundering into the Florida sky on the 28th of October is the first developed and launched by NASA since the space shuttle was launched.

"This represents a milestone of future possibilities for the human exploration and eventual settlement of space," proclaimed Rick Zucker, NSS Vice President of Public Affairs.

Read full NSS statement here.

NSS Statement on "Final Report of the Review of U.S. Space Flight Plans Committee"

(Washington, DC -- October 28, 2009)

NSS welcomes the release of the Final Report of the Review of U.S. Space Flight Plans Committee, better known as the Augustine Commission.  NSS thanks the Committee for its hard work and due diligence, and for the message that its Final Report seeks to convey: The United States can, and must, continue to be the world's leader in space, but to do so, our space program must be appropriately funded.  NSS joins with the Committee in its call for an additional $3 billion in annual funding for NASA.

"NASA has been chronically underfunded in recent years," says Greg Allison, NSS Executive Vice President.  "Our nation's space program has simply not received the level of funding which has been needed, with the result that NASA has fallen further and further behind each year, being asked to do more and more with less and less."

Read full NSS statement here.

NSS Statement on "Summary Report of the Review of U.S. Space Flight Plans Committee"

(Washington, DC -- September 11, 2009)

NSS welcomes the release of the Summary Report of the Review of U.S. Space Flight Plans Committee, especially agreeing with the Committee that "the ultimate goal of human exploration is to chart a path for human expansion into the solar system."

NSS agrees with the Commission that NASA needs and deserves at least $3 billion more per year in order to accomplish the planned missions. NSS supports the development of a family of cargo and crew transportation options to Low Earth Orbit and beyond. NSS agrees that ISS should be extended.

The NSS vision is that NASA should be charged with ever expanding the zone of exploration and development beyond Low Earth Orbit while commercial entities then provide operational services to fill in behind that “bubble” as it expands outward.

Read full NSS statement here.

Ad Astra magazine ONLINE (a special, limited, one-time engagement)!

(Washington, DC -- September 3, 2009)

The National Space Society is proud of its award-winning magazine, Ad Astra ("To the Stars"). Ad Astra features the latest news and commentary about space exploration, development, and settlement, with stunning full color photographs.

As a way to show our appreciation to our loyal members for their continued support, as well as to "spread the word" to the greater community about the benefits of membership in the Society, NSS (for a limited time only) is making one full issue of Ad Astra available online to our members, as well as to anyone who registers on our website (such registration is free and without obligation). Please follow the link below to review the full Spring 2009 issue:

www.nss.org/adastra

We hope that our members and registered users will enjoy this special, limited, one-time opportunity, and will also provide us with their feedback as to this online version of Ad Astra.

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