National Space Institute
The National Space Institute was a space advocacy group, the first of its kind, established by Wernher von Braun to help maintain the public's support for the United States space program. It has since merged, in 1987, with the L5 Society founded by fans of the Space Colonization and Industrialization work of Gerard K. O'Neill, to become the present-day National Space Society.
Founding
In its earliest stages of formation in June 1974, NSI was first known as the "National Space Association", but was renamed from "Association" to "Institute" in April 1975. Von Braun was the NSI's first president, but shortly became chairman, with journalist and former ABC-TV 20/20 host Hugh Downs as president. Charles C. Hewitt was the first executive director.
Downs later recalled the beginning of the organization:
"Long before the launch of Apollo 17, the last [Apollo] Moon mission, Wernher von Braun recognized that something had to be done to keep the importance of ongoing space activity before the public mind. The sort of organization that could do such a job would need to be independent enough to view critically all aspects of NASA policy and implementation."[1]
At the first annual meeting of the organization, in July 1975, von Braun said:
"The main role of the National Space Institute will be that of a catalyst between the space techonologist and the user. It will attempt to bring to the attention of people the new opportunities offered by advances made in space experiments and space techniques. It will study the feasibility of the application, and the potential uses of space technology as it relates to other human activities."[2]
Initial members serving on the NSI board of directors and governors were a veritable "Who's Who" list that included comedian and entertainer Bob Hope, singer/songwriter John Denver, oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, "Original 7" Project Mercury astronaut and Senator John H. Glenn Jr., Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman, Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, Michael DeBakey, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and actress Nichelle Nichols.
Toward the end of 1975, von Braun commented on the state of the general public's interest in the space program.
"I'm fully aware that public interest is a very fickle thing. One day, the word is 'Moon or bust,' and the next day it is 'let's clean up the rivers.' People get so much information today that the priorities in [their] minds swing back and forth. The Apollo flights to the Moon were demonstrations of immense capabilities and potential, but in some respect they may be compared with Lindbergh's flight across the ocean. I think space is now entering a maturing period where it will be less gee-whiz, less sensational, but it will become more a part of everyday life -- just like the airlines. ... There were great men long before the first big rockets were built. And we are just building on their legacy. We want to make sure that this legacy can now be passed on to the next generation, the people who will really pick the fruits of the trees we have planted. I think the silliest part of the dacay of the public interest in space is that ... we planted the orchard, and we nourished it and fertilized it and watered it and gave it all our tender loving care. And now, the time comes when the fruits can be picked – and they don't want to play the fruit pickers! That is where I think the young generation can make the greatest contribution – pick the fruits."[3]
Relationship with Omni magazine
After some years of publishing a newsletter that became known as INSIght, the Institute entered into an arrangement with the publishers of Omni magazine whereby all members except life members would receive that magazine as part of their membership. Omni editor Ben Bova joined the NSI board, then became vice president and finally succeeded Downs as president. He continued as president after the Omni arrangement was discontinued and an agreement was made with Palmer Publications to make their monthly general space interest magazine Space World the official NSI member magazine.
When von Braun died in June 1977, Hugh Downs became Chairman of the Board and, after a time, Ben Bova assumed the presidency. After Hewitt departed in 1980, Courtney Stadd served for a period as General Manager. The Institute was then led until 1984 by executive director Mark R. Chartrand, followed by Glen P. Wilson.
Merger
Under Bova and Wilson, the arrangements for merger with the L5 Society were concluded, and the name change to National Space Society was announced in advance of the merger, with vague explanations to the members. Since the merger, it has been claimed that the name change took place upon the merger, but the historical record to the contrary is clear. Following the merger, Wilson was succeeded by his assistant, Lori Garver. The merged organization has continued to use the NSS name and logo after a joint membership vote was taken in 1987 to determine whether or not to change it to the "Space Frontier Society."
A more complete history of the National Space Institute is contained in a series of articles published in the November/December 1994 issue of Ad Astra, the magazine of the NSS.
See also
Notes
- ^ Hugh Downs. ""Growing to a Position of Strength"" Ad Astra (November/December 1994)
- ^ Frederick I. Ordway III. "Wernher von Braun and the National Space Institute," Ad Astra (November/December 1994)
- ^ Interview with Vernon A. Guidry, Jr. Washington Star (1975)
External links
- L5 News Archive
- A Brief History of the L5 Society
- NSS Chapters Story
- NSS Worldwide
- NSSA History - The 70's
- NSSA History - The 80's
- NSSA History - The 90's
- NSSA History - The Present
- National Space Society Official web site.
- Ad Astra Online Online edition of magazine
- National Space Society Chapters Network Resources for NSS chapters, members and space activists.
- v
- t
- e
space program
- Two Bombs, One Satellite doctrine (1966–1976)
- Shuguang program (1966–1972)
- Chinese ASAT program (1964–)
- Project 921 (1992–)
- Shenzhou program
- Tiangong program
- Space station
- Chinese Lunar Exploration Program (2003–)
- Mars and beyond
- European Launcher Development Organisation (1960–1975)
- Europa launcher programme (1962–1973)
- European Space Research Organisation (1964–1975)
- European Space Agency (1975–)
- EU/ESA Space Council
- European Cooperation for Space Standardization
- European Space Research and Technology Centre
- European Astronaut Centre
- ESA Centre for Earth Observation
- European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications
- European Data Relay System
- Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility (1983–2010)
- European Space Astronomy Centre (2005–)
- European Space Security and Education Centre
- European Space Operations Centre
- Guiana Space Centre
- Ariane launcher programme (1973–)
- Vega launcher programme (1998–)
- European Space Policy Institute
- Space Situational Awareness Programme
- Future Launchers Preparatory Programme
- ESA Television
- Mars and beyond
Horizon 2000 (1985–1995) |
|
---|---|
Horizon 2000 Plus (1995–2015) | |
Cosmic Vision (2015–2025) |
|
- Western European Union Satellite Centre (1992–2002)
- EU Satellite Centre (2002–)
- EU/ESA Space Council
- EU Commission DG Defence Industry and Space
- European GNSS Supervisory Authority (2004–2010)
- European GNSS Agency (2010–2021)
- EU Agency for the Space Programme (2021–)
- Galileo programme
- Copernicus programme
- EGNOS programme
- EUSST programme
- Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications
- European Union Aviation Safety Agency
- European Network of Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authorities
- European Defence Agency
- Europe by Satellite
initiatives and bodies
- AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe
- Eurocontrol
- Council of Europe
- Council of European Aerospace Societies
- European Broadcasting Union
- European Civil Aviation Conference
- European Committee for Standardization/European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
- European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations
- European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment
- European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites
- European Patent Organisation
- European Telecommunications Satellite Organization
- European Southern Observatory
- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
space programme
- Creation of the British National Committee for Space Research (1958)
- Start of the Ariel programme (1962)
- Black Arrow launcher (1964–1971)
- Creation of the British National Space Centre (1985)
- Outer Space Act 1986
- Project Juno (1991)
- Space Innovation and Growth Team (2009–2010)
- Creation of the UK Space Agency (2010)
- Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015
- Space Industry Act 2018
- UK Global Navigation Satellite System (2018–2020)
- 2021 Integrated Review
Truman space policy | |
---|---|
Eisenhower space policy | |
Kennedy space policy | |
Johnson space policy | |
Nixon space policy | |
Ford space policy | |
Carter space policy | |
Reagan space policy | |
George H. W. Bush space policy | |
Clinton space policy | |
George W. Bush space policy | |
Obama space policy |
|
Trump space policy | |
Soviet space program |
| ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roscosmos |
|
or inter-agency bodies
- African Space Agency
- Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems
- Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
- Committee on Space Research
- International Cospas-Sarsat Programme
- Group on Earth Observations
- Global Standards Collaboration
- Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee
- International Charter 'Space and Major Disasters'
- International Mobile Satellite Organization
- International Space Exploration Coordination Group
- International Space Station Multilateral Coordination Board
- International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
- Intersputnik
- Orbital Debris Co-ordination Working Group
- Regional African Satellite Communication Organization
- Arab Satellite Communications Organization
- Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization
- Partial Test Ban Treaty (1963)
- Outer Space Treaty (1967)
- Rescue Agreement (1968)
- Space Liability Convention (1972)
- US-USSR Cooperation Agreement (1972)
- Satellite Convention (1974)
- Registration Convention (1975)
- Bogota Declaration (1976)
- Moon Treaty (1979)
- Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (1981)
- International Cospas-Sarsat Programme Agreement (1988)
- International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement (1998)
- International Docking System Standard
- International Charter 'Space and Major Disasters' (1999)
- Cape Town Treaty, Space Assets protocol (2012)
- Artemis Accords (2020)
- Space jurisdiction
- Common heritage of mankind
- Extraterrestrial real estate
- Astronomical naming conventions
- ITU Radio Regulations
- CCSDS standards
- ODCWG standards
- CEOS standards
- COSPAR standards
- GSC standards
- GEO standards
- ISECG standards
- Various conventions, treaties, agreements, memorandums, charters or declarations establishing and governing intergovernmental organisations or inter-agency bodies dealing with space affairs
Space forces, units and formations | |
---|---|
Space warfare |
- Air & Space Forces Association
- Alliance for Space Development
- Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies
- British Interplanetary Society
- Coalition for Deep Space Exploration
- International Academy of Astronautics
- International Astronautical Federation
- International Astronomical Union
- Lunar Explorers Society
- Space Exploration Alliance
- Space Fellowship
- Space Force Association
- Space Foundation
- The Planetary Society