Stephen Colbert Receives NSS Award from Buzz Aldrin May 3 on The Colbert Report

5-minute video. See also press release and photo of award.

NSS Urges Congress to Ease Export Control Restrictions on Satellites and Space-Related Items

(Washington, D.C., May 14) The National Space Society (NSS) calls on Congress to ease export control regulations on spacecraft and related items, as urged by the Departments of Defense and State in their recent, joint "Section 1248" report, "Risk Assessment of the United States Space Export Control Policy."

"For many years, the U.S. space industrial base has been at a competitive disadvantage with other countries due to outdated and overly burdensome licensing processes under ITAR," said NSS Executive Director, Paul E. Damphousse. "The U.S space export control system has created delays, driven up costs, and severely hampered the ability of the American space industry to compete in an increasingly global market, and this situation must not be allowed to continue."

A distinguished panel of export control policy experts will discuss the recommendations outlined in the Section 1248 report at NSS's upcoming International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in Washington, DC May 24-28, 2012. Patricia Cooper of the Satellite Industry Association will moderate the panel, which will include representatives from the Defense Department, Tauri Group, Bigelow Aerospace and the Universities Space Research Association. For more information about media access to the panel, please visit isdc.nss.org/2012 or email ISDC2012.Media@nss.org. See full press release.

First Major International Space Solar Power Organization Includes the National Space Society

(Washington, D.C., May 9) The Global Space Solar Power Working Group (Global SSP-WG) has held its first meeting at the European Space Agency in Paris, France. All of the world’s major SSP players were represented, except for the Chinese. National Space Society CEO Mark Hopkins had the honor of representing NSS.

The Global SSP-WG, organized under the auspices of the prestigious International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), was created for the most part as a response to the very supportive IAA study of SSP (Space Solar Power: the First International Assessment...), which was published last fall. This report was the subject of NSS' November 14, 2011 press conference, a video of which can be seen on the NSS website.

Read full story on the NSS Blog.

Additional Keynote Meal Speakers Announced for ISDC

(Washington, D.C., May 8) We are pleased to announce that the following individuals have been confirmed as featured meal speakers for the 2012 International Space Development Conference later this month:

Mark Sirangelo, Chairman, Sierra Nevada Space Systems, as the Keynote Speaker at the 25th Anniversary Governors Dinner and Gala on Friday, May 25th. Mr. Sirangelo will also present the Space Pioneer Awards to John Glenn and Scott Carpenter. Michael Lopez-Alegria, President, Commercial Spaceflight Federation, as the Keynote Luncheon Speaker on Saturday, May 26th. Rick Tumlinson, Founder, The EarthLight Institute, as the Keynote Luncheon Speaker on Sunday, May 27th.

These speakers supplement previously-announced Keynote Speakers: Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator, and Lori Garver, Deputy NASA Administrator, Eric Anderson of Planetary Resources, Inc., and Jeff Greason, President of XCOR Aerospace.

For more information on these noted individuals, as well as all of our other featured speakers and VIPs, please visit the ISDC Speakers and VIPs page. If you haven’t yet registered for ISDC 2012, please visit the registration page today. Registration rates go up on May 21 and the last day to register for these and all other ISDC meals is May 20.

25th Anniversary of Merger Forming NSS from National Space Institute and L5 Society

March 28 marked the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the National Space Society in 1987 by the merger of two organizations: the National Space Institute (of which Wernher von Braun was founding president in 1974), and the L5 Society (founded on the ideas of Princeton physics professor Gerard K. O'Neill in 1975). See story — NSS 25th Anniversary salute to its founding fathers.

Video Interview of NSS Executive Director Paul E. Damphousse

Moonandback Media has released a video interview of NSS Executive Director Paul E. Damphousse about his background, NSS goals, and the upsoming International Space Development Conference (ISDC) in Washington DC later this month.

See the 10-minute interview on the NSS Blog.

Planetary Resources’ Eric Anderson Keynote Luncheon Speaker at ISDC 2012

(Washington, D.C., April 26) The National Space Society (NSS) is pleased to announce that Eric Anderson, the Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of newly-announced Planetary Resources, will be the keynote speaker for the opening luncheon at this year’s International Space Development Conference (ISDC), being held at the Grand Hyatt Washington (DC) hotel May 25-28, 2012.

Anderson is expected to address conference attendees on his new company’s plans for asteroid mining. “Planetary Resources is perfectly aligned with the second half of the National Space Society’s vision, that of ‘the utilization of space resources for the dramatic betterment of humanity,’” said Paul E. Damphousse, NSS’s Executive Director, “We look forward to hearing more specifics on the company’s strategies for harvesting planetary materials for use here on Earth.”

NASA Administrator Bolden, Deputy Administrator Garver Announced as Keynote Speakers at ISDC 2012

(Washington, D.C., April 23) The National Space Society is pleased to announce NASA Administrator Charles Bolden as the Keynote speaker for the Opening Plenary Session at this year's International Space Development Conference (ISDC), being held at the Grand Hyatt Washington (DC) Hotel May 25th. In addition, NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver is confirmed as the Keynote speaker for NSS's Annual Awards Dinner on Sunday evening, May 27th.

Ms. Garver, who also worked for NSS from 1984 through 1996 and served as the Society's Executive Director for a number of years, will also participate in a panel exploring NSS's heritage during a plenary session the same morning, as part of the Society's celebration of its 25th Anniversary year.

Read full press release.

Greason Announced as Keynote Speaker for Saturday Dinner at ISDC 2012

(Washington, D.C., April 22) The International Space Development Conference (ISDC) 2012 Planning Committee is pleased to announce Jeff Greason, President and Co-Founder of XCOR Aerospace, as the Keynote Speaker at the Saturday Dinner on May 26th. The dinner will be held in the Independence Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel at 7:00 pm.

“Jeff’s well-received and thought-provoking speech at ISDC 2011 - A Settlement Strategy for NASA – has become widely regarded as a major statement in the field of space policy and we very much look forward to hearing what Jeff has to tell us this year,” said Paul E. Damphousse, NSS Executive Director. See a video or transcript of Greason’s 2011 speech or more information about Greason.

Why Explore Space Video Contest

(Washington, D.C., April 14) The Coalition for Space Exploration is sponsoring a video contest to communicate why space matters. Deadline for submission is May 19. Will your video excite the American public about space exploration and how it makes our lives exponentially better each day? The winner will receive a 64gb iPad 3, smart pad cover and a 2-year Apple digital protection plan with a retail value of $967. Details and info to enter the contest.

Ad Astra Magazine Wins Two Major Awards

(Washington, D.C., April 12) NSS congratulates Silver Marketing, Inc. for the exemplary work it has done to publish the Society's Ad Astra magazine. Silver Marketing won a Gold MarCom award for Ad Astra Magazine, Spring 2011 edition. MarCom is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected creative industry competitions. Silver Marketing also won a Silver Award from the Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA) in the external publications category for the same issue of Ad Astra. SIAA awards are given to top-tier organizations within the service industry.

NSS Thanks Our Members for Record Online Membership Renewals

(Washington, D.C., April 4) NSS thanks our members: We just passed the 10,000th online renewal at www.nss.org/renew, which first went live in 2004; and we have also set a record year-to-date for online renewals.  Thank you for reaching for the stars with us.

Stephen Hawking Accepts Prestigious NSS Award on Society's 25th Anniversary

(Washington, D.C., March 28) The National Space Society (NSS) is pleased to announce Dr. Stephen Hawking as the 14th recipient of NSS’s Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award. The award was presented to Dr. Hawking at a special ceremony at the Cooks Branch Conservancy in Montgomery, Texas on Wednesday, March 28 and is given in recognition of his outstanding and continuing public efforts in support of human space development and settlement.

"I believe that the long-term future of the human race must be in space," says Hawking. "It will be difficult enough to avoid disaster on planet Earth in the next hundred years, let alone the next thousand, or million. The human race shouldn’t have all its eggs in one basket, or on one planet. Let’s hope we can avoid dropping the basket until we have spread the load."

Read full press release. Also see Stephen Hawking 25-minute video: Why We Should Go into Space (with transcript).

John Glenn and Scott Carpenter Featured Guests for NSS 25th Anniversary Gala

(Washington, D.C., March 22) The National Space Society is pleased to announce that Project Mercury astronauts, Senator John Glenn and Commander Scott Carpenter, will be the featured guests at the Society’s annual Governors’ Dinner and Gala being held at the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC on Friday, May 25, 2012. The Governors’ Dinner and Gala is a highlight of the Society’s annual International Space Development Conference, taking place in Washington from May 24th through 28th at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

Tickets for the 25th Anniversary Governors' Dinner and Gala will go on sale April 1. Please be sure to visit the ISDC 2012 web page at isdc.nss.org/2012, as we will continue to post updates on conference and Gala information. You may also "Like" our page on Facebook www.facebook.com/NSSISDC, follow us on Twitter, or join the International Space Development Conference group on Linked In. Read more on the NSS Blog.

2012 Legislative Blitz: Broad Bi-Partisan Support for US Space Program on Capitol Hill, Yet Differing Opinions on Approach

(Washington, D.C., March 4) The National Space Society (NSS) is pleased to announce that this year’s Legislative Blitz was very successful. “We had 100 congressional meetings over two days, and found broad bi-partisan support for our space program, but varying opinions as to the best path forward in light of the current budget situation, and those differences of opinion are not necessarily based on party lines,” said NSS Executive Vice President Rick Zucker, the primary coordinator and scheduler for the Blitz on behalf of the Space Exploration Alliance. Read full press release.

Read also a high school student’s personal account of the Space Exploration Alliance Legislative Blitz.

NSS Executive Director Gives "State Of The National Space Society" Address

The Executive Director of the National Space Society, Paul Damphousse, addresses the media during the Next Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference in Palo Alto, California, on February 27. He talks about the 25th anniversary of NSS this month, the organization’s two-fold mission, strategic partnerships with other space advocacy groups, and current NSS projects. 15-minute video courtesy of moonandback.com.

National Space Society's Call to Action for American Leadership in Civil Space

The National Space Society calls for the United States to make civil space a high national priority in order to ensure American leadership in scientific discovery, technology development, and the creation of new industries and new applications that will benefit all humanity.  Five actions are necessary to achieve this objective: See full statement.