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Join NSS and the Alliance for Space Development (ASD) in our 2020 March Storm congressional advocacy blitz, March 15th – 19th in Washington D.C.!

Are you passionate about the continuation and growth of human space activity? Do you want to see the continued progress of space programs and policies? Are you willing to travel to Washington D.C.? Check out our March Storm event!

March Storm is the premiere citizen-run space advocacy event of the year. From March 15th – 19th, join fellow space enthusiasts from around the country to advocate for the 2020 Citizens’ Space Agenda. Developed by the Alliance for Space Development, our policy points were developed by our member organizations including the National Space Society, Space Frontier Foundation, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, and many others. This year, the Alliance will advocate for three policy points:

  1. Support planetary defense by funding NASA’s NEOSM mission.
  2. Start developing and demonstrating Space Solar Power (SSP)
  3. Support development of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) with full funding for the Commercial LEO Program.

The first of these points are a continuation of our previous efforts, which have made great strides in the past year. With NASA’s new focus on planetary defense from the public’s interest, the previously advocated NEOCAM mission has been moved to a new mission called NEOSM. This could likely be the year we see full funding of this mission and a success on our part. Similar to last year, we will also continue our campaign to make space development and settlement part of these agencies’ missions.

This year we are beginning a new campaign on Space Solar Power (SSP). SSP refers to the collection of the sun’s energy in the space environment, then beaming that energy for collection on the Earth’s surface. After a discussion with representatives from ASD member organizations, we believe our country’s capabilities with space access, solar power, and energy transfer have reached a level where we can begin looking at an SSP program. With increasingly cheaper access to orbit and a growing need for energy across the globe, this program could pave the way to U.S. dominance in LEO. Several agencies, companies, and international competitors have begun their own research into SSP programs.

Continuing our efforts from previous years, we are again turning attention towards the development of Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Humans have inhabited LEO for 20 years since the creation of the International Space Station. The station does not have an infinite lifetime, and will be decommissioned sometime in the coming years. An alternative needs to be developed to continue NASA research, provide a global testbed, and develop commercial products in LEO. With several US companies developing LEO stations, we are asking for full funding for Commercial LEO Development.

The March Storm event will begin with a mandatory training session on Sunday, March 15th. This training will make any citizen an expert on our policy points, how to advocate to congressional staffers, and lead to a strong showing by citizens from across the country. This will be followed by four days of congressional meetings in Senate and House of Representatives offices. Each signup is only required to attend one day of congressional meetings, which most opt to attend on Monday. Led by members with previous advocacy experience, we ensure that each of our meetings will have the highest success rate possible.

Interested? We encourage everyone to sign up on our Eventbrite page here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/march-storm-2020-tickets-80279950493

Please review a copy of the ASD 2020 Objectives, the same points we will be advocating for in March.

Questions or comments on the March Storm event? Please contact ASD Executive Coordinator Ian Burrell at [email protected].

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