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Keeping Tabs on the International Space Development Conference May 18-22

Monday, April 4th, 2011

The NSS International Space Development Conference (ISDC) will be this May 18-22 at the Von Braun Center and Embassy Suites Hotel and Spa in Huntsville, Alabama. You can keep tabs on announcements regarding the ISDC via the following social media outlets:

Twitter (short messages and updates)
http://twitter.com/ISDC

Facebook (longer messages and pictures)
http://www.facebook.com/NSSISDC

LinkedIn (broadcasting to a professional audience)
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/2011-International-Space-Development-Conference-3844843?mostPopular=&gid=3844843

Cafepress.com (for merchandise sales)
http://www.cafepress.com/dd/53083292

And, of course, the main ISDC website:
http://isdc.nss.org/2011/

Posted in Event, ISDC, National Space Society, The Space Movement | No Comments »

Coming to Huntsville in May: NSS 2011 International Space Development Conference

Saturday, April 2nd, 2011

The 30th International Space Development Conference (ISDC), the annual gathering of the National Space Society (NSS), is coming to the Von Braun Center in Huntsville May 18-22, 2011. NSS and its local chapter, the Huntsville Alabama L5 Society (HAL5), are looking forward to hosting entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists, politicians, and private citizens who are interested in creating a spacefaring civilization “From the Ground Up,” which is the theme of the conference.

ISDC 2011 on The Space Show: ISDC 2011 Chair, Bart Leahy, and Business Track Chair, Cliff McMurray, were on The Space Show with David Livingston on March 22. They talked about ISDC 2011, space advocacy, space policy, and space networking. Click here to listen.

With all the changes and uncertainties in the space business, it would be nice to get some perspective, as well as some idea of what the future might hold. ISDC does just that. ISDC will cover the broad spectrum of space topics, including the current and future states of space policy, the proposed Space Launch System, the future of the International Space Station, military space activities, Earth and planetary sciences, and the Google Lunar X Prize. Other sessions will discuss space-based solar power, biotechnology, breakthrough science and technology, space settlement and colonization, living in space, education, advocacy, and outreach, economy and business, and space history…but that’s not all.

To address these challenging topics, our programming will feature panels and talks by professionals from across the industry, from NASA to commercial space to military space to the halls of Congress to the science community. Among these speakers will be international, national, and local experts, including:

Lori Garver, NASA Deputy Administrator
David Neyland, Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Office (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office
George Nield, Associate Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation
Dennis Stone, Manager, Program Integration, Commercial Crew and Cargo Program, NASA
John Logsdon, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University
Phil McAlister, Acting Director, Commercial Human Spaceflight, NASA HQ
Buzz Aldrin, Former Apollo 11 Astronaut, Author, and Founder, ShareSpace Foundation
Michael Griffin, UA Huntsville Eminent Scholar and former NASA Administrator
George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic
Michael Simpson, President, International Space University
Ken Money, President, National Space Society and former Canadian astronaut
Klaus Dannenberg, Deputy Executive Director, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Simon ‘Pete’ Worden, Director, NASA Ames Research Center
Robert Zubrin, Founder and President, Mars Society
Les Johnson, Deputy Manager, Advanced Concepts Office, NASA MSFC, and Author
Tim Pickens, Chief Propulsion Engineer and Commercial Space Advisor, Dynetics, and Team lead, Rocket City Space Pioneers
Deborah Barnhart, CEO, U.S. Space & Rocket Center

In addition to these luminaries, NSS will be presenting the Wernher Von Braun Award (http://www.nss.org/awards/vonbraun_award.html) to Japanese Hayabusa team for their work in developing a spacecraft to bring samples of asteroid material back to Earth. The award is given every other year and recognizes excellence in management of, and leadership for, a space-related project. Previous winners of the award include Burt Rutan, Steven W. Squyres, Donna Shirley, Robert C. Seamans, Jr., George Mueller, Max Hunter, and Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger. This year, we are privileged to have Curt Von Braun, an executive at Raytheon and nephew of Wernher von Braun, presenting the award on behalf of NSS.

This year’s ambitious agenda also will feature a trade show for civil, military, academic, and non-profit groups interested in space activities; a job fair hosted by Huntsville Space Professionals and Next Step in Space; and a book fair showcasing the latest in space-themed authors. All of these activities will be hosted in the VBC East Hall, while technical programming will occupy most of the North Hall.

Prior to ISDC proper, which begins on May 19, on May 18 the National Space Society will host the Space Investment Summit, an invitation-only event that educates space-minded entrepreneurs on the ins and outs of securing investors and doing business. Huntsville entrepreneur, “rocket man,” and Google Lunar X Prize team leader Tim Pickens will be the keynote speaker for this event.

Other opportunities for registered conference attendees include tours of Marshall Space Flight Center, the United Launch Alliance plant in Decatur, and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, and discounts at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Space Camp.

For more information on exhibiting or sponsoring, attending, or volunteering for ISDC 2011, visit the web site is www.isdc2011.org. Come learn how to make a spacefaring civilization grow “from the ground up!”

Posted in Event, ISDC, National Space Society, The Space Movement | No Comments »

Japan and Support of the International Space Station

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Previously, we looked at the Europeans Space Agency (ESA) and their ATV program, which is preparing to send their resupply spacecraft, Johannes Kepler, to the International Space Station on 15 February.

Now, we look at the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the recently completed launch and capture of the Kounotori spacecraft.

HTV-2 “Kounotori”
Image Credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The external exposed cargo includes a Flex Hose Rotary Coupler and Cargo Transport Container. These spare parts will be transferred to External Logistics Carrier 4 after it is installed during the Discovery STS-133 mission.

The pressurized cargo space is carrying 2,928 kilograms of supplies and equipment:


630 kilograms of crew provisions
1,626 kilograms of research equipment and supplies
609 kilograms) of station hardware
49 kilograms of computers and supplies
14 kilograms of spacewalking equipment and supplies

Among the new research equipment will be the Japanese Kobairo gradient heating furnace for generating high-quality crystals from melting materials, an Amine Swingbed technology demonstration that will look at ways to revitalize the air on space vehicles, and the International Space Station Agricultural Camera, which will take frequent images, in visible and infrared light, of vegetated areas on the Earth.

Canadarm2 Captures HTV2
Image Credit: NASA

Hatch Open
Removing cargo through the hatch on HTV2
Image Credit: JAXA

Tags: Amine Swingbed Technology Demonstration, ATV, Canadarm2, ESA, Europeans Space Agency, HTV-2, International Space Station, International Space Station Agricultural Camera, ISS, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, Johannes Kepler, Kobairo Gradient Heating Furnace, Kounotori, NASA, Space Station Remote Manipulation System, SSRMS, STS-133
Posted in Dave Fischer, ESA, European Space Agency, Event, ISDC, International Space Station, JAXA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Mark Hopkins, NASA, Science | 1 Comment »

Legislative Blitz in Washington Feb. 27 - Mar. 1

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

From February 27–March 1, 2011, the National Space Society (NSS) and the Space Exploration Alliance (SEA) will be holding the annual Legislative Blitz in Washington, D.C. The 2011 Blitz comes at a crucial moment. In September 2010, Congress passed the NASA Authorization Act of 2010. It is now time for Congress to enact legislation that appropriates the required funding in compliance with the Authorization Act.

In the current economic climate, however, it is uncertain which path our nation’s leaders will now take. 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. Please REGISTER here for the Legislative Blitz. For more information, please contact Rick Zucker at rick.zucker@nss.org or 508-651-9936.

Posted in Event, National Space Society, Space Policy, The Space Movement | No Comments »

Moon Day in Dallas July 18

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

The National Space Society of North Texas, in conjunction with the Frontiers of Flight Museum, is hosting Moon Day 2010 on Sunday July 18 from 1 pm to 5 pm. In addition to displays and demonstrations by numerous space-related organizations, “Moon Day” features “lunar sample bags” of giveaway items for the first 150 visitors, door prizes throughout the day, and a considerable array of family-oriented programs and activities. The Frontiers of Flight Museum is located on the southeast corner of Dallas Love Field Airport at 6911 Lemmon Avenue (entrance at University and Lemmon) and the regular $8 admission to the Museum applies to this event.

Complete schedule of events (PDF file).

Posted in Event, NSS Chapters, National Space Society | No Comments »

National Space Society Co-Sponsors NewSpace 2010 Conference July 23-25

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

The National Space Society (NSS) is pleased to be a continuing co-Sponsor of the Space Frontier Foundation (SFF) NewSpace Conference. This year the conference will take place July 23-25, 2010, at the Domain Hotel in Silicon Valley, CA.

“The SFF NewSpace Conference seeks to expand the market place of ideas essential to growing the ecosystem of commercial/new space entrepreneurial companies and lay the foundation for opportunities to engage the wider space community,” said Gary Barnhard, Executive Director of the National Space Society.

On the heels of SpaceX’s successful Falcon 9 flight and the re-envisioning of NASA priorities, the NewSpace Conference is focused on the rapidly developing commercial space industry. The conference provides an opportunity to discuss the future of commercial spaceflight, as well as nurture entrepreneurial relationships in this field. Panel topics will cover space tourism, government-commercial cooperation, cutting edge technology, future missions, and more. The NewSpace Conference panels will be led by a host of CEOs, technologists, and thought leaders in the space industry.

Register now at the NewSpace 2010 Registration Page. The conference will be held at the Domain Hotel in Silicon Valley, CA., which is also providing an affordable group rate for guests attending the conference. For more information, visit newspace2010.spacefrontier.org and or RSVP on Facebook today.

Posted in Event, National Space Society, The Space Movement | No Comments »

Buzz Aldrin “Dances to the Stars”

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

The National Space Society wishes Apollo 11 astronaut, and NSS Governor, Buzz Aldrin, great success in his latest adventure. As the next installment in his tireless efforts to raise public awareness of and support for the future of our nation’s space program, Buzz is trading in his moonwalking shoes for dancing shoes. By participating in the new season of Dancing with the Stars, Buzz (and the National Space Society along with him) will have a national audience, and a national stage from which to speak.

“My primary motivation for joining the show is to help bring NASA and the U.S. human spaceflight program to the front of popular consciousness. Until there’s a spectacular success or failure, the space program is not on everyone’s lips,” Aldrin says. “Dancing with the Stars has an audience of millions of followers and it would be great if those viewers became supporters of our space program. I’m hoping that all of my old friends and colleagues in the space community can tune in and cast their vote for the octogenarian on the dance floor!”

As long as Buzz remains a contestant on the show, he will be able to engage every American household in the debate about the importance of space exploration, development, and settlement to our nation’s future. Please support Buzz in his efforts to pump up public support for a new direction outward for America’s human space program.

Posted in Event, Space Art, The Space Movement | No Comments »

Two LCROSS Lunar Impacting Events on Friday

Monday, October 5th, 2009

OMSI To Show NASA LCROSS Impacting The Moon

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) will offer space exploration enthusiasts the opportunity to watch the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite(LCROSS) crash-land on the Moon Friday, October 9. The LCROSS will crash into the Moon in order to gather data from the 6-mile-high impact cloud it will create. OMSI will be showing the impact in the auditorium live via satellite on NASA TV beginning at 3:30 a.m., with the impact scheduled at 4:30 a.m. PDT. Admission for the televised impact is free.

NASA Kicks Up Moon Dust at the Newseum

The mission is called the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), and visitors can see it live on the Newseum’s 40-foot high-definition media screen located in The New York Times—Ochs-Sulzberger Great Hall of News.

At approximately 7:25 a.m., the first satellite is scheduled to crash into the moon, creating a crater and a cloud of dust and debris that will rise above the lunar surface.

At 7:30 a.m., the second satellite will fly through the debris — analyzing it and the lunar surface to determine the presence of hydrated minerals and potentially water — before it impacts the moon.

Doors open to the public at 6:30 a.m. The program starts at 7 a.m. Participants include Lori B. Garver, NASA deputy administrator; Jim Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; and Benjamin Neumann, director of NASA’s Advanced Capabilities Division.

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AIAA to Discuss Implications of Augustine Commission Report

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

AIAA Panel to Discuss Implications of Augustine Commission Report for America’s Human Space Flight Plans

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will host a panel of experts to discuss the implications of the Augustine Commission report, “Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans.” Scheduled for Monday, October 5 at 2:00 p.m. EDT* as a live, streaming, Internet radio broadcast, the discussion will be moderated by Dr. David Livingston, host of “The Space Show with Dr. David Livingston,” and may be accessed at www.thespaceshow.com (*Note: Scheduling is subject to the actual release of the final report.)

Posted in Event, NASA, Space Policy | No Comments »

Malta and the Moon

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

THE MOON FOR ALL MANKIND – THE MALTA MOON

The moon is our closest celestial body and by far the brightest object in the night sky. It has fascinated man since antiquity.

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 celebrates the four hundred year anniversary since Galileo turned his telescope towards the night sky. He was the first to observe our moon in detail and some of the maps have been preserved.
The year 2009 is also the fiftieth anniversary of the first unmanned lunar landing and also the fortieth anniversary of the first manned landing.

Malta is an archipelago of small islands in the Mediterranean with a population of just over four hundred thousand people. It has a rich history and is home to the oldest free standing stone structures in the world. It is claimed that these temples, which are thousands of years old, were aligned to the solstice and so there has been a strong astronomical tradition in Malta since antiquity.

The IYA 2009 Malta committee has been very busy organising several astronomy events and it has also put an emphasis on the moon and its exploration by robotic and manned spacecraft. This included the issue of a stamp set commemorating Galileo, Apollo 11 and Lassell’s famous telescope in Malta. A highlight of the activities was a very successful visit to Malta by the Apollo 17 lunar module pilot, the geologist Senator Harrison Schmitt. There have been several talks, seminars, exhibitions and observing sessions.
During the early meetings of the committee the chairman Dr Gordon Caruana Dingli proposed that Malta should co-ordinate an international project for the IYA 2009. Mr Leonard Ellul Mercer, who is a keen astrophotographer, had long wished to produce an astronomy image involving various countries and after discussions with Dr Alex Gatt, Gordon proposed forming an image of the moon composed of images taken by countries all over the world. Leonard then divided an image of the moon into numbered segments and all IYA 2009 single points of contact with an email address were invited to take part. The response was overwhelming with 40 countries submitting images from all five continents, one country for every year that has passed since Apollo 11 landed on the moon! We have also included an image from the European Union’s Smart-1 spacecraft. Most of the images were taken during the May or June full moons of 2009 but some were older and Italy’s was a four hundred year old sketch by Galileo Galilei. These images were painstakingly processed and pasted as a collage on the background of an image of a full moon imaged by Leonard. This took up many hours of Leonard’s time especially after he decided to produce an audiovisual production of the project. The music of the animated feature is specifically composed and played for the project by Lynn Faure.

The project commemorates the Russian Luna 2 which was the first unmanned spacecraft to land on the moon. We also commemorate the Apollo project which reached Kennedy’s goal with the first manned lunar landing on 20th July 1969 followed by another five landings. Other countries that have launched spacecraft to the moon are Japan, Europe, China and India. These probes are also featured in the image.

The font used in the project is Futura which was used on the plaque that was fixed to the Apollo 11 lunar module Eagle, this read:

“HERE MEN FROM THE PLANET EARTH FIRST SET FOOT UPON THE MOON JULY 1969, A.D. WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND”

This was the inspiration for our project “THE MOON FOR ALL MANKIND”

Leonard Ellul-Mercer
Gordon Caruana Dingli

International Year of Astronomy 2009 Malta Committee

Posted in Event, Movies, Space Art | No Comments »

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