National Space Society

May 2021

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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This Space Available, by Emily Carney. One experimental satellite program contributed to the actual Apollo-Soyuz mission in July 1975, and later, to less interruptions in...
This Space Available by Emily Carney. The shuttle program, once a symbol of America’s technological might, is frequently a subject of think pieces that depict...

You are Invited to the National Space Society Space Forum Thursday, June 3, 2021, 9:00 to 10:15 PM EDT Gerard K. O’Neill and the Future...

Video Spots Explain the Benefits of Clean and Unlimited Space-Based Solar Power to Our Planet The National Space Society announced today its “Dear Earth” campaign...

Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys which became the movie October Sky, summed it up this way: “This is as important a book on space...

Flight is first spaceflight from Spaceport America, New Mexico By Bob Brodbeck Image: Cabin interior with passenger seats rotated back in space (courtesy of Virgin...

The mission of the National Space Society’s (NSS) Legal Fellows Program is to provide gifted and highly motivated law students with a national platform to...

By Robin Scott Image: Brandon Lloyd, part of NASA’s flight director class of 2021 (courtesy NASA). On April 11, 2021, on the eve of two...

You are Invited to the National Space Society Space Forum Thursday, May 20, 2021, 9:00 to 10:15 PM EDT A Modern Day Space Elevator –...

A recently unveiled 1970 letter from then-astronaut Dr. Philip Chapman to his fellow astronaut-scientists revealed, in his own words, his frustration with NASA’s lack of...

By Dale Skran On May 9th at 2:42 AM a Falcon 9 roared skyward lofting another 60 Starlink satellites to orbit. Ho-hum! That’s the 11th...

The Mars Pioneer’s Guide is a gold mine of ideas that touch on every aspect of building a base on Mars, and from there, expanding...
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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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The National Space Society has just released a Position Paper on Selected Space Environmental Sustainability Issues. Below is the Conclusion section. The full paper can...

What do National Space Society members think about the future of space and how should their views help shape the priorities of NSS? Join us...

By Robin Scott NSS Chapter Middle Tennessee Space Society (MTSS) President Chuck Schlemm performs outreach, directly contacting about 560 attendees (STEM teachers, school faculty, students,...

The future depends on leaders who can collaborate across disciplines, communicate effectively, and bring diverse teams together to solve complex challenges. The National Space Society...

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Applications open 1 Oct – 1 Dec, 2026 The National Space Society’s Global Space Debates is a unique, 100% virtual program that brings high school...

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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