Newly Illustrated Versions of the NSS Roadmap to Space Settlement Now Available

(Washington, D.C., May 18) A newly illustrated version of the National Space Society publication Milestones to Space Settlement: An NSS Roadmap is now available in three new formats from nss.org/roadmap: (1) A free downloadable PDF edition [6 MB]; (2) a free online full-screen flip-book edition; and (3) a quality full-color magazine-style printed edition for $9.95 (think Father's Day?). These new editions provide additional ways to read and distribute this material to help promote the NSS Vision. The NSS Roadmap to Space Settlement discusses milestones to be reached for the settlement of four destinations: the Moon, Mars, asteroids, and orbital space settlements. The Roadmap takes no stand on which may or should come first but supports all four destinations. As originally announced in Ad Astra magazine, this Roadmap was adopted by the NSS Board of Directors in 2012, updating the original NSS Roadmap published in 2000. On May 24th the 2013 International Space Development Conference will feature a Roadmap Track and Press Conference about the Roadmap.

NSS Featured on The Space Show

(Washington, D.C., May 15)  The Space Show featured two speakers from the National Space Society on May 14 and the archived presentation is now online. The speakers were Dr. Stan Rosen, NSS Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Dave Dressler, Chairman of the 2013 International Space Development Conference (ISDC), the NSS annual conference. Topics: The upcoming NSS ISDC 2013 conference, space education, commerce, human exploration, science, & more. The program is archived here. Click on “Listen to the Show” or download it for later listening.

Dr. Abdul Kalam to Receive Von Braun Award at ISDC 2013

(Washington, D.C., May 8)  The National Space Society's prestigious Wernher von Braun Memorial Award will be presented to Dr. Abdul Kalam on Friday, May 24 at the 2013 International Space Development Conference (ISDC). Held at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine Hotel in San Diego, CA, the ISDC will run from May 23-27, 2013. Dr. Kalam will receive the award and be the Keynote speaker during Friday's Gala and Governors Dinner, speaking on the subject SPACE SOLAR POWER: KEY TO A LIVEABLE PLANET EARTH.

The National Space Society is honoring Dr. Kalam for his long-time work in and support of India's space program, and his support for space development. Dr. Kalam's life's work parallels that of Dr. Wernher von Braun in many ways. India first developed rockets for military use, but Kalam, like von Braun, has been in the forefront of "turning missiles into space launch vehicles." Gala tickets to hear Dr. Kalam's keynote are available through the ISDC website. READ FULL PRESS RELEASE.

Over 20 Exhibitors to Present at International Space Development Conference

(Washington, D.C., May 7)  Space advocacy organizations, educational institutions and companies from around the world are among the 22 groups which will be presenting as exhibitors at this year's International Space Development Conference. The 2013 ISDC, the annual conference of the National Space Society and a premier event for space leaders and enthusiasts, will be held from May 23 - 27 at the La Jolla Hyatt Regency in San Diego, California. READ FULL PRESS RELEASE.

National Space Society Adds to Its Leadership Team

(Washington, D.C., April 24)  The National Space Society announces the selection of four new additions to its leadership team: Dr. Stanley G. Rosen to the newly created position of Vice Chairman of the Society’s Board of Directors, Bruce Pittman as Senior Vice President and Senior Operating Officer, Dr. Paul Werbos as Executive Vice President and Chair of the Policy Committee, and Craig Andrew Max IV as Assistant Secretary. READ FULL PRESS RELEASE.

National Space Society Applauds NASA Asteroid Capture Plan

(Washington, D.C., April 11)  The National Space Society (NSS) applauds the new NASA budget item that would provide close to $100 million for a mission to rendezvous with a small asteroid and move it into orbit around the Moon where it could later be visited by astronauts.

"An asteroid capture mission is a tremendously important mission, and one that could not be more relevant to the challenges our civilization faces today," said Mark Hopkins, Chairman of the NSS Executive Committee. "Robotic asteroid capture is the first step to exploiting the vast material resources of the solar system for a hopeful and prosperous future for mankind."

Notes NSS Executive Vice President Paul Werbos, "Even small asteroids contain tremendous wealth—precious metals, rare strategic metals important for sustainable development, raw materials for in-space construction, and volatiles for life support and propulsion in space."

Robotic asteroid capture is also a key step toward an effective planetary defense. The mission will mature our ability to capture and deflect a hazardous asteroid—protecting civilization from suffering the same fate as the dinosaurs. The search for suitable targets will find huge numbers of smaller, currently unknown asteroids which pose a very real meteor threat to cities as evidenced by the explosion last month over Chelyabinsk, Russia that injured over 1000 people.

READ FULL PRESS RELEASE.

ISDC 2013 Will Be the 'Must-Attend' Space Event This Year! Register now! Prices go up after April 12!

(Washington, D.C., April 1)  Register now! Prices go up after April 12! NSS members know that the International Space Development Conference (ISDC) is the foremost space conference that brings together all subsets of the space community: the traditional and commercial aerospace industries, NASA and space activists from around the world. And this year, ISDC goes to the west coast to San Diego, California!

While the primary focus of the conference will be looking at advances in space exploration, development and settlement, we will also highlight our global efforts at the Governors Dinner & Gala on Friday evening, at which we will honor the work of India's former President and a leading aerospace scientist/engineer - Dr. Abdul Kalam - with the National Space Society's prestigious Von Braun Memorial Award. Participants can also look forward to meeting science and engineering team members from the successful GRAIL Moon gravity mapping mission, X-37 B space plane, and the inspiring "seven minutes of terror" CURIOUSITY Mars landing team. Saturday night's dinner banquet will honor the Women of Space - women engineers and astronauts.

The ISDC 2013 Planning Committee has put together an impressive list of confirmed speakers and presenters and a comprehensive program. Confirmed speakers and VIPs include: Apollo Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, last space shuttle Commander Christopher Ferguson, shuttle astronaut and director of the "100 Year Starship" project Dr. Mae Jemison, Congressman Dana Robrabacher of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Ian O'Neill from Discovery News, Planetary Resources Chris Lewicki, and Deep Space Industries' Rick Tumlinson. READ FULL PRESS RELEASE.

National Space Society Officer and Director to Receive Prestigious National Space Educator Award

(Washington, D.C., March 18) Lynne F. Zielinski, National Space Society (NSS) officer and director has been selected by the National Space Club as the 2013 recipient of the National Space Educator Award. Since 1982, the award has been given annually to secondary school teachers who mentor students in the field of space, science, and technology. Recipients are also given a $1,500 grant and a plaque for their respective school. Read full press release.

NSS Executive Committee Chair Quoted on Fox News

(Washington, D.C., January 29) In an online article about Deep Space Industries, the newly announced asteroid mining company, Fox News quoted NSS Executive Committee Chair Mark Hopkins as follows:

"They have the potential to make an enormous amount of money," Mark Hopkins, a founding member of the Space Development Steering Committee and the Chair of the Exec. Committee of the National Space Society, told FoxNews.com.

"It’s a risky venture. But if they don’t make it some other company is likely to do it in the future," Hopkins said. "[Space mining] has the potential of restoring the American dream in the minds of Americans and the rest of the world."

Hopkins is a former Rand Corporation economist.

Deep Space Industries offers competition for Planetary Resources in mining asteroids

(January 22) Deep Space Industries announced that it will send a fleet of asteroid-prospecting spacecraft out into the solar system to hunt for resources to accelerate space development to benefit Earth.

See the full press release and full press conference on the NSS Blog.

NSS Directors Quoted in N. Y. Daily News Article "Life in Outer Space?"

(Washington, D.C., December 13) The New York Daily News published a story on December 13, quoting two National Space Society Directors: Mark Hopkins and Al Globus.

"37-year-old NASA project depicts how leading minds of the time dreamed about colonizing space. Amazing artwork from the 1970s shows scientists’ vision of creating settlements in space. They got most of it right, say experts. But funding for the massive endeavor remains a large hurdle."

Read the full story here and see higher resolution versions of all the art work on the NSS website here.

NSS Announces Partnership with New Mexico Museum of Space History to Preserve the History of Space Advocacy

(Las Cruces, NM, October 19) The National Space Society (NSS) and the New Mexico Museum of Space History (NMMSH) announced a new partnership for the establishment of a permanent home for historic records chronicling the development of the space activist community and the U.S. space industry. This alliance is the result of four years of discussions and negotiations about the disposition of the Society's archives (which go back as far as the mid-197s when Wernher von Braun founded the National Space Institute, a predecessor of NSS) and will officially enable the Museum to begin accepting materials from the Society.

"It is a rare privilege to have our Museum chosen to conserve and protect the National Space Society Collection. Current and future historians will find that this Collection provides an uncommon insight into the hearts and minds of the activists who founded what is known today as the commercial space industry," said Chris Orwoll, Executive Director of NMMSH. "The Museum's partnership with the National Space Society will ensure that this Collection, reflecting decades of dedication to opening space for all, will be preserved to provide understanding and education for future generations."

See full press release with photo.