Space advocacy
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Space advocacy can be described as the general position supporting, pleading or arguing for[1] the idea or cause of space exploration and settlements. It is a form of advocacy that specifically includes support for private space initiatives and is also a political position that favors the exploration, utilization, and colonization of outer space.
There are many different individuals and organizations dedicated to space advocacy. They are usually active in educating the public[2] on space related subjects, lobbying governments[3][4] for increased funding in space-related activities or supporting private space activities. They also recruit members, fund projects, and provide information for their membership and interested visitors. They are sub-divided into three categories depending on their primary work: practice, advocacy, and theory.
History
Historians[weasel words] agree that space flight and especially manned space flight was not inevitable, but rather that society was convinced of the need for it by a few “revolutionaries”, primarily members of the Russian[5], American, British, and German[6][7] science communities and starting in the 1930s began to share their individual plans for a future in space to their respective governments and the public[8].
Influential books and other media began to emerge which included works containing illustrations by Chesley Bonestell (based on Wernher von Braun's designs) such as The Conquest of Space (1949)and magazine articles including the "Man Will Conquer Space Soon!" series of article in Colliers magazine between 1952 and 1954. Television shows included Walt Disney's Man in Space and Man and the Moon in 1955, and Mars and Beyond in 1957.
List of organisations
Actively involved
Organizations that are directly involved in space exploration, having their own active projects.
| Organisation | Founded | Purpose and goals | Pursuits | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SETI Institute | 1960, America | to search for extraterrestrial intelligent life | Runs SETI | link |
| The Planetary Society | 1980, America | to explore the Solar System, search for Near Earth Objects, and search for extraterrestrial life | Launched Cosmos 1 | link |
| Artemis Project | was a private venture to establish a permanent, self-supporting base on the Moon by 2002 | link |
Lobbying
Organizations that focus mainly on lobbying government agencies and businesses to step up their efforts.
| Organisation | Founded | Purpose and goals | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Interplanetary Society | 1933, United Kingdom | to support and promote astronautics and space exploration | link |
| American Astronautical Society | 1954, America | dedicated to the advancement of space science and exploration | link |
| National Space Institute | 1974, America | to help maintain public support for the US space program (later became the National Space Society) | |
| L5 Society | 1975-1987, America | to promote the space colony ideas of Dr. Gerard K. O'Neill (later became the National Space Society) | |
| Citizens' Advisory Council on National Space Policy | 1980, America | was a group of prominent American citizens concerned with US space policy | |
| Students for the Exploration and Development of Space | 1980, America | to promote space exploration and development through educational and engineering projects | link |
| Space Frontier Foundation | 1988, America | to promote large-scale settlement of the inner solar system, under strong free market capitalism | link |
| Mars Society | 1998, International | to encouraging the exploration and settlement of Mars | link |
| California Space Authority | 2001, America | "to foster the development of specified activities in California related to space flight." | link |
| MarsDrive | 2005, International | to involve the public, directly and actively, in the settlement and exploration of space | link |
Educating and publicising
Organisations involved in educating the public, to boost their understanding and enthusiasm about space.
| Organisation | Founded | Purpose and goals | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coalition for Space Exploration | to educate and inform the public on the value and benefits of space exploration and to help ensure the United States will remain a leader in space, science and technology | link | |
| Canadian Space Society | 1983, Canada | to sponsor, promote and engage in activities designed to promote increased knowledge of space | link |
| National Space Society | 1987, America | an organization with the vision of "people living and working in thriving communities beyond the Earth." | link |
| El Club de los Astronautas | 2004, Spain | to promote the exploration of space in a wider sense, and to experience the universe | link |
| SpaceVidcast | 2008, America | a multimedia, internet based broadcaster dedicated to "...getting all of planet Earth excited about space flight and living amongst the stars." | link |
Theorising
Organisations that focus on advocating a theory for space exploration or colonization.
| Organisation | Founded | Purpose and goals | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance to Rescue Civilization | devoted to the establishment of an off-Earth "backup" of human civilization | link | |
| Living Universe Foundation | has a detailed plan in which the entire galaxy is colonized. | link | |
| Red Colony | strives to collect and develop theories in Mars colonization and terraformation via contributions and debate from the general public. | link | |
| The Mars Foundation | through its Mars Homestead Project, is developing a unified plan for building the first habitat on Mars by exploiting local materials. | link |
References
- ^ Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
- ^ The Solar System Ambassadors Program
- ^ http://chapters.marssociety.org/usa/dc/pdfSRC/MarsSociTest2003.pdf
- ^ Technical Societies Call for Increase to NASA Budget
- ^ Korolev
- ^ Biography of Wernher Von Braun
- ^ German Civilian Rocketry
- ^ HobbySpace - Space Activism - History