The National Space Society (NSS) is an independent, educational, grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization.  Founded as the National Space Institute (1974) and L5 Society (1975), which merged to form NSS in 1987 (see merger proclamation), NSS is widely acknowledged as the preeminent citizen's voice on space.  NSS has over 12 thousand members (and more supporters) and over 50 chapters in the United States and around the world.  The society also publishes Ad Astra magazine, an award-winning periodical chronicling the most important developments in space.

For U.S. tax purposes, NSS is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) educational, non-profit corporation.  All donations to NSS are fully tax deductible (as allowed by your local laws).

NSS' grassroots political activities are governed by the 501(h) election, which permits a limited amount of activity aimed at influencing U.S. legislation.

Contact Information for NSS is in the footer for this and other web pages on this site.

For more details on what NSS stands for, visit our Statement of Philosophy Web page or download a PDF version.

• NSS 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."
• NSS Mission: "to promote social, economic, technological, and political change in order to expand civilization beyond Earth, to settle space and to use the resulting resources to build a hopeful and prosperous future for humanity."
• NSS Rationale – Why Our Mission is Important: Survival, Growth, Prosperity, and Curiosity
• NSS Principles – What Does NSS Stand For?
• NSS Beliefs – What Does NSS Support?
• Barriers to Space Settlement

NSS Organization and Leadership

NSS leadership is provided by a member-elected, all-volunteer Board of Directors that provides strategic direction for the Society, and a Board-elected set of Officers that manages the functions of the Society and oversees a number of supporting operating committees.  The NSS President and Chairman of the NSS Board of Directors is Mr. Kirby Ikin.  If you are interested in participating as a Director of the society, nomination guidelines and petition forms are available.

Our Board of Governors and Board of Advisors provide additional expertise and visibility.  The Chairman of the Board of Governors is Mr. Hugh Downs, former host of ABC's 20/20.  The Board of Governors includes Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut, Tom Hanks, Norman Augustine, General Simon "Pete" Worden, and many other notable figures.

The day-to-day operations of the society are managed by a Headquarters Staff lead by NSS Executive Director George Whitesides, with the assistances of operating committees, chapters, and other volunteers.  If you are interested in volunteer work with one of the committees, please fill out the Online Volunteer Form.  Local volunteer work is generally performed through chapters: check our chapters listings to find a chapter near you, or organize a new chapter.

The NSS Bylaws, Rules, and Corporate Policies describe the committees and other aspects of the organization in detail.

See also the chart of NSS organizational structure.

NSS FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Click here to view our FY2005 financial information.

MAJOR INDIVIDUAL DONORS TO NSS

Buzz Aldrin Council ($5000 and above)

Steve Adamczyk – Ken Armour – Janet Asimov – Jack Bader – Majel Barrett-Roddenberry – L. Baxter – Richard Beers – Paul Canolesio – Lori Cooke-Marra – Michael Cronin – Stephen Donaldson – Hugh Downs – Lars S. Easterson – Robert Edwards – Gregg Foote – Marc Foulkrod – Kane Gross – David Hamlin – Mark Herrup – Daryl Hester – David Hindi – Robert Hunter – John Irwin – William Jaeger – Dana J. Johnson – Edwin Jones – David Peter Kapelanski – Don Kimball – Jeffrey Kodosky – Ronnie Lajoie – J. Michael Lekson – Charles T. Lenzmeier – Dean E. London – John H. McQuilkin – Mary Morss – Elon Musk – Florence Nelson – Stanley J. Novak – Frederick Ordway III – John Pascoe – Jared Polis – Guillermo Rodriguez – Greg Rucker – Allan M. Schiffman – Randall Skinner – Mike Symond – Eric Tilenius – Michael Tomkins – Jeffrey Walker – Alan Wasser – Dave Welden – Glen Wilson – Jay Wittner

Visionary Donors ($1000 to $4999)

Edward Apke – Jack Bader – Keith Barbaria – John Brennan – Michael Downey – Vernon Edgar – Eugene Ely – Steven Goddard – Seymour Graff – David R. Hamlin – David Hampton – Mark Herrup – Adrian Hooper – Mark Hopkins – Hugh Hotson, Jr. – Robert Hunter – Dave Jacques – William Jaeger – Randy D. Kelley – Don Kimball – Jeffrey Kodosky – Georgette Koopman – Evan Malone – Donald McClellan – George McIntyre – Kenneth Money – Eugene Montgomery – M Montoure – James O'Neil – Christopher Pancratz – Ed Post – Guilermo P. Rodriquez – Neil Ruzic – James Skaggs – Charles E. Stauble – John A. Swanson – Adrian Tymes – George Walden – Rich Wall

NSS CORPORATE MEMBERS

The National Space Society is pleased to recognize its 2007 Corporate Members for their support in the coming year.

Arianespace – Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation – Betty MacLean Travel – Boeing – Booz Allen Hamilton – Computer Sciences Corporation – Lockheed Martin – Northrop Grumman – Orbital Sciences Corporation – Raytheon – Space Adventures – t/Space – Virgin Galactic