Engagement

'''We live in interesting times ... Engagement in the Space Movement'''

Letter from the Chairman of the Executive Committee by Gary Barnhard published in ad Astra Fall 2008

So for some reason, you think space matters? Regardless of how and why you may find yourself seized of such a notion, you should realize in no uncertain terms that we live in interesting times. Times of both crises and opportunity are with us now and lay ever more before us. I had this point driven home most poignantly at this year’s National Space Society International Space Development Conference (ISDC) ( http://www.isdc2008.org) which was held in Washington, D.C. at the end of May. I offer the following notes on my week there as evidence and as a challenge to you. If you believe that “space matters,” you must ask yourself, “what have I done today to make a difference?”

ISDC 2008 was preceded by the Advanced Technology Working Group (ATWG) ( http://www.atwg.org) meeting which brought together a “tough room” of technically engaged, seasoned professionals to address fundamental technology issues and what can be done about them. I gave a presentation and led a discussion titled “Lunar Settlement Architecture: Making the Best of Intentions Real.” Curiously enough, by the end of the discussion, the collective sense in the room was that the topics at hand were far more plausible than anyone necessarily would have ventured going into the discussion.

Next on the agenda was the Space Investment Summit-4 (SIS-4)( http://www.spaceinvestmentsummit.com), part of an ongoing series of forums which promote and support innovation in space commerce worldwide. SIS-4 focused on leading seed- and early-stage investors, space entrepreneurs, and space commerce professionals. Perhaps the most telling point was made by the luncheon speaker, Adeo Ressi of theFunded.com, who challenged the attendees and the broader space communities to get over themselves—both technically and as business leaders. He observed that in the marketplace of ideas, and at the negotiating table for funding, what matters most is what you bring to the table—not your sidebar opinions of someone else’s work. Space Investment Summit 5 (SIS-5) will be held on October 15, 2008 in Los Angeles.

Then there was the ISDC proper ... The combination of the scheduled plenary and breakout programming, a congressional briefing, NSS committee meetings, special project briefings, board meetings, special interest group meetings, and after-hours gatherings all provided a myriad of opportunities for engagement. Some of the many items accomplished include:

(1) the establishment of affiliation agreements between NSS and the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)( http://www.seds.org) as well as NSS and the Mars Foundation ( http://www.marshome.org);

(2) the development of a plan to take the original Integrated Space Plan (Ron Jones, et al.) and infuse it into a collaborative Web environment ( http://wiki.nss.org/CispWiki);

(3) the release of the NSS 2009 Space Settlement Calendar ( http://www.nss.org/spacestore);

(4) the demonstration of a functional model of a space-based solar power system funded and built by the Moon Society, an NSS affiliate( http://www.moonsociety.org/reports/spb-demo-exhibited.html);

(5) the acceptance of a new challenge to take the case for the efficacy of satellite solar power station/space-based solar power technology to the next level ( http://wiki.nss.org/SsafeWiki);

(6) the launch of the new NSS/Virgin Galactic Space Ambassadors Program( http://www.SpaceAmbassadors.com);

(7) the hosting of a meeting of the Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy (SSAFE)( http://www.ssafe.org);

(8) a plenary session to watch a thoughtfully scheduled space shuttle launch (thanks to NASA, the crew of STS-124, and the United Space Alliance);

(9) the continued growth of the many threads of cooperative action with the Space Frontier Foundation (SFF)( http://www.space-frontier.org), including space-based solar power projects and the Life Achievement Award for Dr. David C. Webb, presented by SFF, NSS, SEDS, and Space Generation at NewSpace 2008; and

(10) the NSS Board of Directors’ approval of the NSS Strategic Plan( http://www.nss.org/strategicplan), and the unanimous approval of the corresponding implementation plan. The plans, the result of nearly three years of in-depth analysis and discussion, are intended to serve as living documents to further the efforts of the society.

I even got to stay up way past my bedtime getting to know some of the next generation of space leaders.

All said, I think it was a fabulous week for space, and I would not have wanted to be any place else. Perhaps you should consider marking your calendar for ISDC 2009 ( http://www.isdc2009.org) in Orlando, Florida or ISDC 2010 ( http://www.isdc2010.org) in Chicago, Illinois. In case I have piqued your interest, all the links in this column are live and can be found in the Web version ( http://wiki.nss.org/engagement) along with even more resources at the NSS Web site ( http://www.nss.org).

Every day there are new opportunities before us. Every day we have choices as to what causes we can and should lend our efforts. Providing for the future that we wish to see come to pass needs to be present in our thoughts and reflected in our deeds. The opportunities for engagement abound. What have you done today?

Ad Astra!

Gary Pearce Barnhard

Chairman of the Executive Committee, National Space Society.