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Conference 7.286::space

Title:Space Exploration
Notice:Shuttle launch schedules, see Note 6
Moderator:PRAGMA::GRIFFIN
Created:Mon Feb 17 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:974
Total number of notes:18843

235.0. "Space Groups Beside L5" by ROCK::REDFORD (On a pure caffeine high) Fri Dec 05 1986 17:42

I've been thinking vaguely about which space organization I should 
contribute to.  Many recommend the L5 Society, but the members that 
I have run across in the net have all been virulent libertarian flamers.
I'm not all that sure space colonization is such a great idea anyhow
(it seems equivalent to wanting to colonize Antarctica), but I'm all 
for the exploration and scientific aspects.  Can anyone recommend any 
other organizations?  Ones with local (Boston) chapters?

/jlr
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235.1RE 235.0EDEN::KLAESLooking for nuclear wessels.Fri Dec 05 1986 17:5812
    	While I do not support some of the stronger attitudes of the
    L5 Society, it is almost a fact - based on the past history of
    humanity's explorations - that, barring a major disaster, we will
    almost certainly colonize the other planets and moons, and eventually
    the other stellar systems.
    
    	You may find colonizing Antarctica an unpleasant thought, but
    it is already evidient that thousands of people have thought otherwise;
    and traveling to an entirely new world is even more interesting.
                        
    	Larry
    
235.2space telescope PIPA::BIROMon Dec 08 1986 07:226
    you may want to look into the amateur space telescope, I will
    try to find the info on it, but they are looking for donation
    to help build/launch a space telescope.
    
    jb
    
235.3NSS and PlanetarySKYLAB::FISHERBurns Fisher 381-1466, ZKO1-1/D42Mon Dec 08 1986 13:4120
    I recommend the National Space Society and/or the Planetary Society,
    depending on where your prejudices lie.  The NSS is soon to merge
    with L5.  This does not thrill me, but perhaps it will merge the
    "solid citizen" credibility of the NSS with the activist fervor
    of L5 and come up with something better than both.
    
    NSS is a very large organization which does the standard educational
    things, has local chapters, etc, and also testifies before Congress.
    It makes an impression before committees to say that our society
    represents nn-thousand people who freely put their money where there
    mouth is, and we think...
    
    The Planetary Society has gotten some bad press from people-in-space
    enthusiasts lately as a mouthpiece for Carl Sagan, anti-people in
    space, etc.  I don't find this true.  They have presented both sides
    of the people issue fairly, in my view.  One of their advantages
    is that they actually fund things.  For example, SETI research,
    asteroid searching, etc.
    
    Burns
235.4some hypeAIWEST::DRAKEDave (Diskcrash) Drake 619-292-1818Mon Dec 22 1986 02:426
    I've been a member of the Planetary Society for some time and have
    enjoyed their mag and invites to events in California, (not exactly
    local to Boston.) I have received solicitations from the amateur
    space telescope group, but could not obtain a phone number, or a
    listing for them in the town they mailed from. Are they for real?
    Sounds like a nice project..but??$$??