National Space Society

September 2025

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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Category: Nonfiction (?) Reviewed by: Dale Skran From Ad Astra Winter 2023 Title: Astrotopia: The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race Author: Mary-Jane Rubenstein...

By Bryce Meyer, Track ChairProgram arranged by NSS Space Settlement Advocacy CommitteeHeld Friday, June 20, 2025, Rosen Center, Orlando, FloridaPhotos by Bryce Meyer 10:00 AM...

Image: Artist’s impression of the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP). Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Princeton University/Steve Gribben. By Burt DichtNSS Managing Director of Membership Surrounding...

This Space Available, By Emily Carney A new book reveals the unseen dimensions of the oft-neglected Gemini program. Here’s what most people know about NASA’s...

NASA’s VIPER — short for the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover — sits assembled inside the cleanroom at the agency’s Johnson Space Center. Credit: NASA....

By Burt DichtNSS Managing Director of Membership “In Space for Earth” is more than just the title of a presentation. It captures a vision for...

Category: Nonfiction Reviewed by: Mark Lardas Title: Rocket Dreams: Musk, Bezos, and the Inside Story of the New, Trillion-Dollar Space Race Author: Christian Davenport Format:...

The National Space Society invites you to the next Space Forum Thursday, September 18, 2024, 9:00 pm to 10:15 pm EST In Space for Earth:...

NSS Statement of Support for the below Op-Ed by Dr. Alan Stern: Saving NASA’s Paid-For Missions The National Space Society (NSS) strongly endorses the urgent...

Category: Nonfiction(?) Reviewed by: Dale Skran (from Ad Astra Winter 2025) Title: Ground Control: An Argument for the End of Human Space Exploration Author: Savannah...

The National Space Society invites you to the next Space Forum Thursday, September 11, 2024, 9:00 pm to 10:15 pm EST The Commercial Space Office:...

Category: Children’s Books Reviewed by: Casey Suire Title: Cassini’s Mission: A Spacecraft, a Tiny Moon, and the Search for Life Beyond Earth Author: Katie Venit...

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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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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...

By Burt Dicht NSS Space Coast Correspondent Some weeks in spaceflight are just busy. This one was something more. Over a period of four days,...

By Burt Dicht NSS Space Coast Correspondent A large anvil cloud hanging over Florida’s Space Coast added some uncertainty to the final hours of the...

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...
"Today Starship Flight 14 successfully reached orbit and delivered 26 Starlink Version 3 satellites," said Dale Skran, NSS COO. "Although not totally nominal, today's flight...
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