Former NSS President and Board of Governors Member Provided Peerless Leadership

The National Space Society mourns the passing of former NSS leader Kenneth Money who passed on March 6 at the age of 88.

Money served on the NSS Board of Governors from its earliest years starting in 1986 and on its board of Directors from 2004 to 2016. He also served as the organization’s president for several years. His capable leadership helped to advance NSS over many decades and across many challenges.

“Ken was a foundational member of this important organization,” said Karlton Johnson, Chairman of the NSS Board of Governors. “His leadership and accomplishments helped to shape NSS into the organization it is today. The Governors mourn his passing but celebrate the legacy of his bright life.”

Money worked as Senior Scientist at the Canadian Defense and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine in Toronto and published over one hundred science articles and authored six different topics in the World Book Encyclopedia. He held a PhD in physiology from the University of Toronto and some of his contributions in the scientific field included knowledge of the inner ear, motion sickness, disorientation, and biological effects of space flight.

Money was selected as one of Canada’s astronauts in December 1983, and he left the Canadian Astronaut Program in 1992. He acted as Spacelab Payload Operations Controller for the Spacelab International Microgravity Laboratory mission in 1992, and trained as backup crew for the mission.

NSS Director Dr. Sherry Bell said, “While ordinarily reserved, Ken could become excited and almost exuberant when discussing his thoughts about NASA, the Canadian space program, and the future of space exploration and settlement. He was an amazingly accomplished and passionate man, and his contributions will be sorely missed.”

In 1994 Money was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General of Canada for his many contributions to science and technology. Money was a former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot who flew a wide variety of aircraft, including bush planes and helicopters. On two occasions, he piloted successful search and rescue missions in Canada’s northern wilderness.