National Space Society

December 2011

Welcome to the NSS blog. Feel free to comment on any post (comments are moderated so won’t show up immediately). Contributors to the NSS Blog are unpaid volunteers. Unless specifically labeled an NSS position or press release, all blog posts represent the views of the author and not of NSS, even if written by an NSS officer.

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The National Space Society is a co-sponsor of the Kepler Space Institute Convention, March 14-16, 2012, at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort in South Carolina.

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Because every girl’s crazy about a sharp dressed man. Pete Conrad and his wife, Jane, 1970. Photo from Retro Space Images.  My resolution for 2012...

I usually never, ever do blogs here which share anything personally, but I’d like to use this space today to share my gratitude and happiness...

The National Space Society wishes you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season.  As we look forward to another successful year, we...

STS-133 launches in February 2011. Photo by the author taken at Space View Park, Titusville, Florida. Despite the end of the space shuttle program in...

From Sunday, February 26 through Tuesday, February 28, 2012, the National Space Society and the Space Exploration Alliance will be holding the annual grassroots visit...

Editorial by Al Globus, December 2011 Do lunar mines make sense? The answer depends on what you want to do in space. If what you...

Lockheed Martin has been selected by the U.S. Air Force for a contract award to support the Reusable Booster System (RBS) Flight and Ground Experiments...

The NSS Space Settlement Journal has commenced publication this month, beginning with two new papers: A Contemporary Analysis of the O’Neill – Glaser Model for...

The National Space Society (NSS) hails the announcement of Stratolaunch Systems, a Paul G. Allen Project, as a pioneering investment in space transportation. The company...

SEATTLE, WA, Dec 13, 2011 – Entrepreneur and philanthropist Paul G. Allen announced today that he and aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan have reunited to develop...

For Christmas, get this book NOW for your space-obsessed buddy or family member. The Astronaut’s Cookbook: Tales, Recipes, and More, by Charles T. Bourland and...

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Book Reviews

Lunacy

Lunacy: A Book Review Essay

This long essay defends the NSS Vision against those who, like the author of the book being reviewed, think “we shouldn’t colonize Mars or the Moon, or even vacation there.” Ben Bramble, an Australian philosopher who teaches at Australian National University, has penned a YAASS (Yet Another Anti-Space-Settlement) book. These books are multiplying like flies, so space settlement advocates must be gaining ground to generate such an abundant response.

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HOTOLSkylon

Book Review: HOTOL & Skylon: The Story of Britain’s Spaceplanes

In HOTOL & Skylon: The Story of Britain’s Spaceplanes, Rob Coppinger covers the story of both in great detail, with the reminiscences of many who played integral roles in these ambitious programs. The book shines when it captures the enthusiasm and excitement of those involved, and there are extensive quotes from many who devoted years of work on these projects.

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Out of This World

Book Review: Out of This World

Anyone seeking a short but comprehensive introduction to human spaceflight would do well to start with this book. It reviews its history, highlights the accomplishments and tragedies, and describes the equipment used. It also looks at living in space, what space travelers experience, and how they work.

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This long essay defends the NSS Vision against those who, like the author of the book being reviewed, think "we shouldn’t colonize Mars or the...
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