National Space Society

This photo was taken by NASA's Mars rover Perseverance on Dec. 14, the rover's 646th Martian day on the planet!

(Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Aerojet Rocketdyne's Executive Director for Space, Joe Cassady, giving informative demonstrations at last year's annual International Space Development Conference!

Visit https://space.nss.org/join-membership/ to become a member and attend the ISDC!

BOOK REVIEW: A History of Near-Earth Objects Research by Erik M. Conway, Donald K. Yeomans and Meg Rosenburg 📖

A History of Near-Earth Objects Research is a 2022 release by NASA’s History Division. Over the last six decades, the space agency has published over 200 works. These books are a great resource for anyone wanting to understand NASA’s activities. A History of Near-Earth Objects Research is no exception. It makes a solid case that planetary defense should be a top priority for NASA.

Skyroot Aerospace is the first privately held Indian rocket company to build and successfully complete a launch campaign, from the ground up, accomplishing the campaign from company inception in 2018 to a successful maiden launch on November 18th, 2022.

During this week's informative space forum, NSS Board of Directors Member Madhu Thangavelu will lead a discussion with Sireesh Pallikonda, Business Development Lead for Skyroot Aerospace.

"Vikram-S Rocket: A Discussion with the SKYROOT Staff" Space Forum is this Thursday, January 19th from 9:00 pm to 10:15 pm EST!

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3816316335963/WN_JXyjK_ZpRjqSquREhyjLYg

Europe's Ariane 5 rocket was rolled out to the launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana, ahead of its launch to deliver a new cutting-edge weather satellite into orbit.

The launch was designed to lift Europe's new Meteosat Third Generation satellite (MTG-1) into geostationary orbit.

MTG-1 is the first in a planned fleet of three spacecraft that will replace Europe's aging family of geostationary weather spacecraft. The new satellites will constantly monitor the entire European and African continent as well as parts of Asia and the Middle East, and will enable European weather forecasters to better predict severe weather events. – Tereza Pultarova

Source: Space.com
Image credit: ESA

The SpUN Debates application deadline for University Debates have been extended to February 6th, 2023!🎤🛰️🌌

Debate on Who Governs The Universe! Engage with teachers, young adults and parents as you compete for cash prizes.

Visit www.space.nss.org/spun-debates to learn more!

Exploring the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, including the F-1 Engine, Delta II and Saturn 1B! 🚀

Join the National Space Society to become part of a "dynamic community" that fosters space exploration and settlement!

Visit www.space.nss.org/join-membership today to learn more!

NASA is supporting the development of commercial destinations in low-Earth orbit (LEO)to facilitate the creation of a cost-effective and robust commercial human spaceflight economy. Development and operation of commercial destinations in LEO is a key to achieving this goal.

This special space forum, featuring the NSS Space Ambassadors, will provide a review of the NASA Commercial LEO Destinations Program and an overview of each of the four commercial partners: Axiom, Blue Origin, NanoRacks, and Northrop Grumman.

"Commercial LEO Space Stations and the NASA Commercial LEO Destinations Program" Space Forum is this Thursday, January 12th from 9:00 pm to 10:15 pm EST!

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3816316335963/WN_YfBiayd1TROVySLXxM-S4w

BOOK REVIEW: Delta-V by Daniel Suarez 📖

This reviewer recommends Delta-V to National Space Society members for several reasons:

First, the book is well-written and keeps the reader’s interest.

Second, the description of the state-of-the art technological equipment is fascinating.

Third, there is a segment of the book that deals with all the legal ramifications that are needed to maintain a viable company and build and operate in outer space, which was very interesting to this reviewer.

Fourth, with all the private contractors now operating in the space arena, it provides the reader with an in-depth education in the legal, political and ethical realties that these companies now face if they want to continue working in space.

ROADMAP TO SPACE SETTLEMENT MILESTONE 🌌
15: Robust Space Infrastructure for Human and Robotic Operations

Robust space infrastructure includes not only crew habitats and the life support and power needed to operate them, but also the equipment that gives a space facility or base the ability to support what the crew is doing.

This includes science, spacecraft and logistics operations, support for construction of additional bases in space and on the Moon, Mars and asteroids. Space offers some major challenges for the operation and use of electronics, computers and communications and data transmission systems, but it also offers some major opportunities. Improvements are needed in a variety of areas specific to space applications.

Today is the last day for university applications for The SpUN Debates! 🎤🛰️🌌 High school & college level debate on Who Governs The Universe! Engage with teachers, young adults and parents as you compete for cash prizes.

Visit www.space.nss.org/spun-debates to learn more!

The Webb Space Telescope offers dramatically different views of the same scene! Each image combines near- and mid-infrared light from three filters. 📸

At left, Webb’s image of the Southern Ring Nebula highlights the very hot gas that surrounds the central stars. This hot gas is banded by a sharp ring of cooler gas, which appears in both images.

At right, Webb’s image traces the star’s scattered outflows that have reached farther into the cosmos. Most of the molecular gas that lies outside the band of cooler gas is also cold. It is also far clumpier, consisting of dense knots of molecular gas that form a halo around the central stars. “One of the things that drew my attention was the strong difference between the images of the hot ionized gas and the cold molecular gas,” explained Isabel Aleman of Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Brazil. “The hot gas is very smooth, but the cold gas shows these mini clumps, spikes, and arcs. Webb’s images are very, very rich in detail.”

Sources:
SCIENCE: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Orsola De Marco (Macquarie University)
IMAGE PROCESSING: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

The first civilian mission to the Moon is planned to take place in 2023! The rocket developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX will make a week-long journey to the Moon and back.

In 2018, Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa purchased all the seats aboard this rocket. Wishing to give as many talented individuals as possible the opportunity to go, he announced in March 2021 his plans to choose crew members from across the world.

The Space Launch System rocket towers high in the Vehicle Assembly Building. 🚀

Visit www.space.nss.org for a free copy of the ad Astra Article, "Moon Rockets" by John F. Kross

Credit: NASA

Happy New Year! 🎆🌎
May 2023 be full of discovery, progress and further knowledge!

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF THE LIMITED-TIME SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION! 🚨

Use promo code LIFTOFF22 for a discount on your first year of membership.

Visit https://inside.nss.org/page/membership-offer for more information!

Polaris Dawn crew prepares for the world's 1st private spacewalk with SpaceX.

Click on the link below to read an exclusive SPACE.com interview, where the Polaris Dawn crew outlined the meaningfulness of their private space voyage:

https://www.space.com/polaris-dawn-crew-private-space-mission

ROADMAP TO SPACE SETTLEMENT MILESTONE 14: An Integrated Cislunar Space Transportation and Logistics System 🌌

In addition to Earth-to-orbit launch systems, the creation of transportation systems and infrastructure in “cislunar space,” i.e., the space between the Earth and the Moon, resulting in regular commerce in cislunar space.

Cislunar space is considered to include all space near and within the Moon’s orbit, including low Earth orbit, any lunar orbits, the lunar surface and the five Earth-Moon Lagrangian points.

The view from National Space Society headquarters! 📸🚀

Burt Dicht, the NSS Managing Director of Membership, took this photo of the Artemis 1 launch just outside the back door of the building that contains the new NSS office!

Women are making history at NASA every day. Celebrate our past and look to our future as we continue to drive innovation and push the envelope.

For the launch of Artemis I, Christine St. Germain was part of the group supporting “call to stations,” which ensures everyone is at their console position for the start of the two-day countdown sequence before the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft launch. She helps ensure all the procedures have been confirmed, and everything is ready to proceed with the countdown.

Following the successful completion of Artemis I recovery operations, St. Germain will transition into a new role in program technical integration. Her focus will shift to the EGS post-flight assessment review the EGS team will do, including analyzing the Orion capsule and all the valuable data it holds to support future Artemis missions.

Read more in the article below!
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/i-am-artemis-christine-st-germain

Give the gift of space this holiday season! 🛰️🚀

Membership includes a subscription to the award-winning Ad Astra Magazine, online access to the New Space Journal, invites to exclusive space events, use of the new Career Center, and much more!

Visit https://inside.nss.org/page/gift-memberships to learn more!

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

LIMITED-TIME SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION! 🚀

Use promo code LIFTOFF22 for a discount on your first year of membership. This offer is valid through December 31.

Visit https://inside.nss.org/page/membership-offer for more information!

Today is the last day for High Schoolers to apply for The SpUN Debates! 🎤🛰️🌌

High school & college level debate on Who Governs The Universe! Engage with teachers, young adults and parents as you compete for cash prizes.

⌛ High School applications are open until December 22nd
⌛ University applications are open until January 6th

Visit www.space.nss.org/spun-debates to learn more!

For the space enthusiast in your life, there is no better than the gift of membership in the National Space Society! 🔭

Visit https://inside.nss.org/page/gift-memberships today to give the gift of space!

Use promo code LIFTOFF22 for a discount on your first year of membership. This offer is valid through December 31.

Visit https://inside.nss.org/page/membership-offer for more information!

Give the Gift of Space! 🎁🌌

This holiday season, give a National Space Society membership to a space enthusiast in your life.

Membership includes a subscription to the award-winning Ad Astra Magazine, online access to the New Space Journal, invites to exclusive space events, use of the new Career Center, and much more!

Visit https://inside.nss.org/page/gift-memberships to learn more!

HAKUTO-R Mission 1 is bringing government and private payloads to the Moon.

The Series 1 Lander has been optimized for lightweight, small size and reliability, aiming to succeed in the first commercial lunar landing.

Visit the iSpace website to learn more!
https://ispace-inc.com/m1

High school & college level debate on Who Governs The Universe! Engage with teachers, young adults and parents as you compete for cash prizes.🎤🛰️🌌

⌛ High School applications are open until December 22nd
⌛ University applications are open until January 6th

Visit www.space.nss.org/spun-debates to learn more!

SpaceX on Dec. 2 revealed a new business segment called Starshield aimed at U.S. national security government agencies.

This sector of SpaceX intends to leverage the Starlink internet constellation in low Earth orbit to develop products and services — including secure communications, remote sensing and space surveillance payloads — that are in growing demand by U.S. defense and intelligence organizations.

Read more in the article below:
https://spacenews.com/spacex-rolls-out-new-business-line-focused-on-military-satellite-services/

Photo Credit: SpaceX

The Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft is scheduled to return to Earth today after a moon flyby! 🌎

This image of the Orion capsule, the Moon and Earth was taken from a camera on one of the spacecraft’s solar panels. Courtesy of NASA.

LIMITED-TIME SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION! 🚀

Use promo code LIFTOFF22 for a discount on your first year of membership. This offer is valid through December 31.

Visit https://inside.nss.org/page/membership-offer for more information!

A half-century ago, an era ended. On Saturday at 7 am PST, the last
Breakfast On The Moon event will celebrate Apollo 17 and the era of the
Apollo missions.

This is your opportunity to join NSS members from around the world in
honoring that crowning achievement for humanity.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Dec 10, 2022 07:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: The Last Breakfast - celebrating Apollo 17's 50th anniversary
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rVFFMLL6Q2Cs6HV709Kl3w
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing
information about joining the webinar.

Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the launch of NASA’s Apollo 17 mission, which took three astronauts to the moon and back in December 1972!

Apollo 17 was the final mission of NASA's Apollo program and the most recent time humans have set foot on the Moon. 🚀🌕

Image credit: NASA