Doug Plata
National Space Society Board of Directors
Dr. Doug Plata is a physician and public health specialist with a background in biophysics. He went on to completed specialty training in Family and Preventive Medicine. He has over 32 years of experience in the medical field.
His primary interest in space is the establishment of humanity’s first permanent foothold off Earth. Showing how this can be done on a practical basis using the Starship fleet, he authored the 300-page book, The Case for the Moon. The PDF and audio versions of the book are available for free at DevelopSpace.info/moonbook.
At the 2019 ISDC, Doug was the Chair of the Achieving Earth Independence track with presentations covering all of the steps needed to achieve full self-reliance which he believes can be achieved on the Moon and especially Mars more easily and earlier than most are aware. Then, in 2023, his Space Development Network organized the display of a full-scale mock-up of the inflatable InstaBase with space fair exhibits filling the majority of a large display room. See developSpace.info/instabase
Doug has actively participated in the NSS Space Settlement Roadmap Committee and has presented more than 70 times on space topics at advocate conferences, local chapters, radio shows, podcasts, in class rooms, three times on the NSS Space Forum, lobbied at dozens of congressional offices, and has published an AIAA scientific paper. He is recognized as one of the leading experts on the topic of lunar development, off-Earth healthcare, logistics, and full self-reliance.
Doug has founded a new type of free-to-join space advocacy organization called the Space Development Network focused on projects. It is for space advocates of any level who specify their interests upon joining. The Network then invites advocates of specific interests to join Zoom Working Groups to collaborate in order to advance space development to the extent that we, the space advocate community, are able to. More information about the Network can be found at DevelopSpace.info.
Visit his LinkedIn profile.
