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Campaign to Save NEOSM (Near-Earth Object Surveyor Mission)
The Save NEOSM campaign will run throughout the summer of 2022. Over the next few months, NSS and the Alliance for Space Development (ASD) will be scheduling meetings with key congressional offices and splitting volunteers into action teams. Virtual training will be provided for all signups. Our training will include specifics on who we are, what we are advocating for, and how to participate in these virtual meetings. We make sure that everyone can contribute to our advocacy efforts regardless of prior experience. Don’t be afraid to sign up if it’s your first time advocating! More information will be provided by email after signup.
All actions events during 2022 will be virtual, using a combination of Zoom calls and conference calls.
Please direct any questions or comments to Executive Coordinator Cari Reinert at [email protected] and the NSS NEOSM Campaign Manager Jon Dagle at [email protected]
Background information
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 several others. During this period we will focus on three policy points, with a special focus on saving NEOSM from proposed devastating cuts:
- Support planetary defense by continued funding of NASA’s NEO Surveyor mission and other planetary defense initiatives.
- Support the Commercial LEO Development Program through CLD stations and products.
- Support the development of Space Solar Power capabilities through multiple programs between the Departments of Commerce and Defense.
Following years of success, we are in serious trouble with the NEO Surveyor Mission. This mission will supply critical information on near-Earth objects unavailable to current ground-based instruments by using infrared detection and the Earth-Sun L1 orbit.
The Commercial LEO Development (CLD) Program supports industry efforts to develop sustained commercial LEO presence, transition manned LEO activity from NASA to commercial partners, develop commercial LEO destinations, stimulate commercial growth in LEO, and ensure a seamless transition at the end-of-life for the International Space Station. We are asking for funding of CLD stations and purchase of CLD products.
We are also continuing our efforts to promote 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 already begun their own research into SSP programs, and ASD is asking for government focus into this capability.
ASD 2022 Objectives [PDF]
Space Policy Blog Posts:
Lessons from the Sea to Combat Space Debris
By Leana Brown, NSS Legal Fellow In 1957 the USSR launched the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth, Sputnik. Since then, increased space activity and the resulting debris have led to a potential tragedy of the commons, creating liability concerns for all States...
Space: The Final Frontier for Garbage?
By Jessica Berger, NSS Legal Fellow Pollution isn’t the first thing people usually think of when they are talking about space exploration and development. But truth be told, there is a lot of trash circling the Earth. Currently there are around 1800 operative...
NSS Urges Rapid Selection of a Dynamic New NASA Administrator
The National Space Society urges the rapid selection of a dynamic new NASA administrator to replace Jim Bridenstine. NASA is currently engaged in many important initiatives, including a transition to commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space stations, Commercial Lunar...
Space Force Journal: A platform for Diverse Conversations around Spacepower
By Namrata Goswami Art work by James Vaughan The newly minted Space Force Journal (SFJ) with its beautiful space art makes for exciting and inspiring reading. The Journal launched January 31, 2021. Per the Editorial Foreword, SFJ offers a platform for diverse...
A New Gateway to Space
By Laura Brady, NSS Legal Fellow Krafft Ehricke once said, "If God wanted [hu]man[s] to become a spacefaring species, He would have given [hu]man[s] a Moon." The former NASA aeronautics engineer and innovator believed the Moon to be the jumping-off point for further...
To Space—to Save the Earth
By Fisher Smith, NSS Legal Fellow Why should we spend the money, effort and time focusing on outer space exploration and development? After all, it’s a very expensive process to get resources, people and infrastructure into space. Wouldn’t that money be better spent...
Ground-Breaking SpaceX Crew-1 Commercial Flight Enhances International Space Station Productivity
National Space Society's Ongoing Support for Commercial Spaceflight Shows Results On Tuesday, at 11:01 pm Eastern Time, SpaceX’s Crew-1 flight successfully docked with the International Space Station in its first operational flight with a crew of four. The National...
Are We Ready for a Real-Life War of the Worlds?
By Bailey Cunningham, NSS Legal Fellow In 1897, H.G. Wells envisioned a Martian invasion. Today we know there is no need to panic, but that doesn’t mean we should be complacent about planetary defense. The threat posed by Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) is very real. NEOs...
Status of the Global Space Alliance Coalition and Plans for the Future
Paper to be presented at upcoming Moon Village Association Cyber Conference. By Joseph N. Pelton (Dean Emeritus - International Space University) and Jim Crisafulli (Director - Hawaii Space Industry Innovation Program [HiSpace]) The purpose of this paper is to...
To the Moon and Back Again: A Collaborative Endeavor
By Laura Brady, NSS Legal Fellow It has been over forty years since astronaut Eugene Cernan left the Moon and returned to Earth. Since then, the Moon has been absent of humanity, but not for long. With NASA’s Artemis Moon Program, humans once again have their sights...