NSS Online Report Issue #12 / March 2001
Inside this issue:
- Fourth National Space Forum
- Third Annual Lunar Development Conference
- Sixth International Space Cooperation Workshop
- CATO Institute Conference, Space: The Free-Market Frontier
- NSS Announces Appointment of First Roadmap Group Leaders
- Clear Lake NSS Chapter Sponsors Student Projects
- NSS Director Govers and SGI Create Space Center Houston Exhibit
- Brandenstein to Keynote Project Brainstorming at ISDC
- Sign Up Now to Participate in Once-in-a-lifetime Events at ISDC 2001!
- Bring Space to a School in Your Community
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FOURTH NATIONAL SPACE FORUM
Together with the American Astronautical Society and The Space Club,
the National Space Society is co-sponsoring the 4th National Space Forum on
Military Space taking place on June 5-6, 2001 at the National Academy of
Sciences in Washington, DC. This conference will provide an opportunity for
space industry leaders to discuss how the changes in space policy will affect
both military and commercial space endeavors. For more information call: 703-
866-0020
THIRD ANNUAL LUNAR DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
The Third Annual Lunar Development Conference – entitled “Return to
the Moon III: Moon Town – The Planning Begins” will again be held at Caesarís
Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada July 19-21, 2001. Coordinated by the Space Frontier
Foundation and co-sponsored by NSS the conference plans to build on the work
of the previous two years and produce a planning document that will lead to
the blueprint from which the first permanent human settlement on the moon
will be built. The previous two meetings have been resounding successes and
this conference will build on the excellent proposals presented previously.
For more information see www.space-frontier.org
SIXTH INTERNATIONAL SPACE COOPERATION WORKSHOP
The Sixth International Space Cooperation Workshop
entitled “Addressing Challenges of the New Millennium” will take place from
March 11-15, 2001 in Seville, Spain. NSS Executive Director Pat Dasch is co-
chairing a workgroup entitled “Space and the Public: A Critical Link” which
will begin to develop, on an international basis, an implementation
methodology for promoting continuous public awareness of the benefits and
excitement of space activities. Few people recognize that the daily weather
forecast, miniaturization of revolutionary medical devices, and improved
aerodynamic design of their automobile are direct results of investment in
space research and development. The workshop aims to determine the best and
most cost effective ways of promoting space to the general public. The
conference attendees are considered leaders in the international arenas of
space science, business, government, research and law.
CATO INSTITUTE CONFERENCE, SPACE: THE FREE-MARKET FRONTIER
Frank Sietzen, Editor of NSSís bimonthly magazine Ad Astra, will
moderate the Panel 2 discussion “Barriers to Space Enterprise”. The
conference, cosponsored by ProSpace and the Space Frontier Foundation will
take place on March 15, 2001 at the Cato Institute, F.A. Hayak Auditorium,
Washington, D.C. For more details see www.cato.org/events/space.
NSS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF FIRST ROADMAP GROUP LEADERS
The National Space Society has announced the appointment of the first
four Leaders of NSS Roadmap Work Groups:
Jerry Samples, of Atlanta, Georgia, will be the Leader of the Closed
System Life Support Work Group. Jerry holds a BS degree in Physics from
Georgia Tech and an MS degree in Geophysics from the University of Southern
California. He has twelve years experience as a software engineer for
embedded real-time systems in the defense, aerospace and industrial controls
industries. He is currently with Automated Logic Corp., Kennesaw, GA,
manufacturer of hardware and software for commercial “building automation”
systems.
Eleanor A. O’Rangers will lead the group addressing two healthcare-
related Barriers. Eleanor received a doctorate in pharmacy from the
University of Maryland in 1990 and served at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT
and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Dr. O’Rangers has
held positions with Bristol-Myers Squibb and Parke-Davis Companies and is
currently Medical Marketing Leader, Dyslipidemia Product Team, with Astra-
Zeneca. She also serves on the Integrated Nutrition Therapeutics Projects
Team at Johnson Space Center, which provides non-agency perspective on
pharmacology and nutrition research needs for the U.S. Manned Spaceflight
Program.
Jeffery Candiloro has volunteered to lead the Group focused on two
Barriers dealing with International Treaty Issues. Jeffery is currently
serving as Partner Group Intern with Sun Micro Systems Australia while on
leave as a fifth year student at the University of New South Wales studying a
double degree, Bachelor of Science (Chemistry)/ Bachelor of Engineering
(Mechatronics). He is Chief Operating Officer of the National Space Society
of Australia (NSSA), Editor of Space Frontier News, national publication of
the Australian Space Industry Chamber of Commerce and a member of the
Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia.
Mark Holthaus of Southern California will lead the Group
concentrating on the two Barriers concerned with Launch Technologies. Mark
has a Bachelors of Electrical Engineering with a minor in economics from the
University of Detroit and a Masters of Computer Engineering from the
University of Southern California. He has been involved in Reliability and
Safety for the past twelve years at Rockwell (which is now Boeing) working on
U.S. Space Shuttle, U.S. Space Station, X-33, X-37, National Missile Defense,
and other advanced programs.
The NSS Roadmap to the Settlement of Space is a process by which the
Society identifies Barriers to the Vision of Humans living in working in
thriving communities in space. The NSS Roadmap Work Groups will identify and
monitor elements of the Strategic Barriers to Space Settlement and recommend
NSS volunteer efforts that will contribute to the removal of those Barriers,
and the sharing of The Vision. Every Member is encouraged to participate in
this process that will keep the Roadmap current and NSS moving forward.
The Work Groups will conduct ongoing discussion via the Internet and
provide NSS Members with opportunities to participate in identifying
intermediate Barriers. For more information, see the March/April edition of
Ad Astra, the NSS web site — www.nss.org, or email to
NSSPublicAffairs@aol.com.
CLEAR LAKE NSS CHAPTER SPONSORS STUDENT PROJECTS
The Clear Lake (Houston, TX) Chapter of NSS is sponsoring a group of
junior high school students to fly a “Get Away Special” on a future Space
Shuttle mission. The students have selected two projects — the first to
create a “space washing machine,” to help with the dirty clothes situation in
space, and the second to create “space bricks” from simulated lunar material.
There is currently no clothes washing facility on the International
Space Station, but an efficient, reusable, and environmentally friendly
method of keeping garments clean would be important for long duration
missions like a trip to Mars. A group of the students is currently
investigating low tech, low impact cleaning methods to find a suitable
process.
Meanwhile, another group of students, the “Brick Team”, is
investigating manufacturing bricks. The scenario they are investigating is
the construction of a future space colony, like an L-5, which could be
manufactured from lunar materials lifted from the Moon and sent into orbit
via a mass driver or similar launch system. This lunar soil would need to be
formed under microgravity conditions into a suitable building material. The
students are investigating brick making methods, and will soon tour a local
concrete factory to get some ideas.
NSS DIRECTOR GOVERS & SGI CREATE SPACE CENTER HOUSTON EXHIBIT
Silicon Graphics (SGI) and National Space Society Director Francis X.
Govers III are designing a permanent, interactive International Space Station
exhibit, which will open in the fall at Space Center Houston. This exhibit
will provide the public with a “virtual reality” space walk experience, using
techniques and software similar to that used to train Space Station
astronauts. For more information, contact Francis Govers, SGI Government
Reality Center Solutions Mgr., fxgovers@sgi.com.
BRANDENSTEIN TO KEYNOTE “PROJECT BRAINSTORMING” AT ISDC
The “Project Brainstorming” Session during ISDC 2001 in Albuquerque
is tentatively scheduled from 3:30 to 5:30 PM on Friday, May 23. NSS
President and former Space Shuttle Commander Dan Brandenstein will be the
guest speaker at this special event designed to facilitate the sharing and
inspiration of project ideas. More than 100 people are expected to attend
and identify new and creative ways for individual volunteers and NSS chapters
to actively promote the changes needed to create thriving human communities
in space.
Brandenstein is currently Vice President, Customer Service, Lockheed
Martin Space Operations, Consolidated Space Operations Contract at Lockheed
Martin in Houston. He has logged flying time in 24 different types of
aircraft and has 400 carrier landings. Brandenstein began active duty with
the Navy in 1965 and became a NASA astronaut in 1979. A veteran of four Space
Shuttle flights, he has logged over 789 hours in space. From April 1987
through September 1992 Brandenstein served as Chief of the Astronaut Office.
Plan to attend this special Project Brainstorming session. Admission
is FREE. For more information or to RSVP, email to NSSPublicAffairs@aol.com.
Check the ISDC web page, www.isdc2001.org, for any updates to the scheduled
time.
SIGN UP NOW TO PARTICIPATE IN ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVENTS AT ISDC 2001!
The list of celebrity speakers continues to grow for the National
Space Society’s 2001 International Space Development Conference, to be held
May 24-28 at the Albuquerque Hilton Hotel. Bruce Boxleitner (Capt. John
Sheridan of the science fiction TV series, “Babylon 5”), will host the NSS
Awards Banquet on Sunday night. Tickets for the following ISDC banquets are
selling fast!
“Hail Columbia: 20th Anniversary of STS-1,” John Young, commander of
the first Shuttle flight (STS-1) and members of the STS-1 mission control
team. Friday, May 25 luncheon.
“Progression of Human Spaceflight,” Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17), Sid
Gutierrez (STS-40 and 59), & Edward Lu (Mir on STS-84, ISS on STS-106).
Friday, May 25 dinner.
“Space Tourism,” Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Saturday, May 26
luncheon.
“2001: A Space Odyssey,” Keir Dullea (astronaut Dave Bowman in the
film); Dan Richter (played Moonwatcher, the apeman); Frederick Ordway III
(the film’s technical advisor); and Robert McCall (renowned space artist),
video presentation from Arthur C. Clarke. Saturday, May 26 dinner.
“Humanity at the Crossroads,” Alan Hale, co-discoverer of Comet Hale-
Bopp. Sunday, May 27 luncheon.
“20th Annual National Space Society Awards Banquet,” Bruce Boxleitner
(from “Babylon 5”), NSS Executive Director Pat Dasch and NSS President Dan
Brandenstein. Sunday, May 27 dinner.
“The State of the Space Industry: An Investor’s View,” Frank DiBello,
Managing Director of SpaceVest. Thursday, May 24 luncheon.
Registration for ISDC 2001 includes admission to four and a half days
of outstanding programs including the presentations by renowned
astrogeologists on the Moon, the planets, asteroids and comets at the
ASTROGEOLOGY SYMPOSIUM, an introduction to the world of venture capital with
an emphasis on space development, tutorials on writing business plans, and
oral presentations by entrepreneurs at the SPACE DEVELOPMENT ENTREPRENEURIAL
SEMINAR, and the SPACE SYSTEM SAFETY AND RELIABILITY SYMPOSIUM all on May 24.
ISDC 2001 also includes tours of several space research and
development sites that are normally off-limits to the public including the
Starfire Optical Range (Thursday night) and an overnight tour of White Sands
Missile Range and other Southern New Mexico sites described here:
ISDC 2001 Tour of SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO (International Space Hall of
Fame, White Sands Missile Range, and Very Large Array Radio Telescope) –
Wednesday, May 23 and Thursday May 24, 2001. Cost: $125/person single
occupancy; $225 for two people if sharing a room. (Includes admission to
Space Center and motel accommodations.) Wednesday, May 23rd: Leave Hilton
Hotel at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 24th: Return Hilton Hotel at 8:00 p.m.
Space Center in Alamogordo on Wednesday afternoon, May 23rd. Includes the
International Space Hall of Fame. Spend the night at the Alamogordo Holiday
Inn (continental breakfast included). Thursday, May 24th, White Sands Missile
Range (WSMR): Introductory presentation at headquarters, followed by tours of
the new Range Control Center, Missile Museum and Missile Park. Lunch on your
own at the WSMR Officer’s Club. NASA Space Harbor: briefing on NASA’s
astronaut training activities; view the alternate Orbiter landing support
facilities and actual approach and landing training in progress with
astronaut trainees flying the specially modified Shuttle Training Aircraft.
Trinity Site: test location of the first atomic bomb, and McDonald Ranch
where nuclear components of bomb were assembled. Very Large Array (VLA) Radio
Telescope Facility near Magdalena: The VLA consists of 27 antennas arranged
in a huge Y pattern up to 22 miles across. Non-U.S. Citizens must submit an
official visit request to WSMR Public Affairs (see web page for details).
For information on travel and accommodations and to download the ISDC
2001 REGISTRATION FORM visit: www.isdc2001.org/register.htm. A secondary
form for tour sign-ups will be sent to conference registrants.
BRING SPACE TO A SCHOOL IN YOUR COMMUNITY
One of the easiest and most effective programs to conduct in your
community is to “Adopt-a-School.” Plan NOW for a kickoff during World Space
Week, October 4-10, 2001. NSS has gathered classroom materials and an
extensive directory of educational tools to enable you to become a volunteer
resource for a teacher or school in your community. For more information,
visit the “Space Educator” under “Knowledge” at www.nss.org, or email to
NSSPublicAffairs@aol.com.
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NSS Online Report
Issue #12 / March 2001
Editor: Joshua Powers (powers1.geo@yahoo.com)
National Space Society — 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. — Suite 201 —
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 543-1900 — www.nss.org — nsshq@nss.org
