View source for National Space Society

{{Short description|US nonprofit spaceflight advocacy organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name              = National Space Society
| logo              = National Space Society logo.png
| type              = Space advocacy, 501(c)(3) Education
| founded_date      = {{start date and age|1987}}
| founder           = 
| location          = Kennedy Space Center, United States
| origins           = 
| key_people        = [[Isaac Arthur]] (President, March 2023 – Present)
| area_served       = Worldwide
| focus             = 
| endowment         = 
| num_members       = <!-- ?? -->
| homepage          = {{URL|https://nss.org/}}
}}

The '''National Space Society''' ('''NSS''') is an American international nonprofit [[501(c)(3)]] educational and scientific organization specializing in [[space advocacy]]. It is a member of the Independent Charities of America and an annual participant in the [[Combined Federal Campaign]]. The  society's vision is:  "People living and working in thriving communities beyond the Earth, and the use of the vast resources of space for the dramatic betterment of humanity."<ref>{{cite web |date=May 14, 2011 |title=NSS Statement of Philosophy |url=https://space.nss.org/nss-statement-of-philosophy/ |access-date=2011-05-14 |publisher=NSS.org}}</ref>

The society supports [[human spaceflight]] and [[robotic spacecraft|robotic spaceflight]], by both public (e.g., [[NASA]], [[Russian Federal Space Agency]] and [[Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency]]) and private sector (e.g., [[SpaceX]], [[Blue Origin]], [[Virgin Galactic]], etc.) organizations.

==History==
The society was established in the United States on March 28, 1987,  by the merger of the [[National Space Institute]], founded in 1974 by [[Wernher von Braun]],<ref>Richard Godwin, [http://www.space.com/1782-history-national-space-society.html "The History of the National Space Society"], ''Space.com'', November 16, 2005 (retrieved 10 February 2015)</ref> and the [[L5 Society]], founded in 1975 based on the concepts of [[Gerard K. O'Neill]].<ref>David Brandt-Erichsen, [https://space.nss.org/brief-history-of-the-l5-society/ The L5 Society] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010031535/http://www.nss.org/settlement/L5news/L5history.htm|date=2008-10-10}}, ''Ad Astra'', Nov.-Dec., 1994 (retrieved 29 Dec. 2015).</ref>

The society has an elected volunteer [[Board of Directors]] and a [https://space.nss.org/national-space-society-board-of-governors Board of Governors]. The Board of Directors provides day-to-day operational oversight for the organization, and the Board of Governors provide strategic oversight and advisory to the Directors in the form of recommendations and guidance with respect to the broad strategies, overall policies, objectives, and goals of the Society. The Chairman of the Board of Governors is [https://space.nss.org/karlton-johnson-biography/ Karlton Johnson], USAF-Retired. <ref>{{cite web | title = NSS Board of Governors | date = 3 August 2017 | publisher = NSS.org | url = https://space.nss.org/national-space-society-board-of-governors/ | access-date = 2019-03-15}}</ref> In this capacity, he provides overall senior executive leadership to enhance the effectiveness and performance of the Board of Governors in support of the Society's goals, imparts advice and guidance to the Board of Directors to enhance its conduct of business operations, and serves as the primary spokesperson for the Board of Governors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors is [[Kirby Ikin]]. 
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Abc seal.png|thumb|right|100px|The Independent Charities of America's Seal of Excellence]] -->
[https://space.nss.org/karlton-johnson-biography/ Karlton Johnson] is currently the organization's Chief Executive Officer.   

Serving the space community for nearly 50 years in its various forms, the National Space Society has remained a conduit for education, substantive dialogue, and impact player in the commercial and private space sector communities. The organization garnered the "Five-Star Best in America" award by the Independent Charities of America organization in 2005.

In 2014, the National Space Society launched<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nss.org/news/releases/NSS_Release_20140929_Enterprise.html|title=National Space Society Launches "Enterprise In Space"|website=www.nss.org|access-date=2016-10-27|archive-date=2017-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622185304/http://www.nss.org/news/releases/NSS_Release_20140929_Enterprise.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> the Enterprise In Space<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://enterpriseinspace.org/|title=Home|newspaper=Enterprise In Space|access-date=2016-10-28|archive-date=2021-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411011422/http://enterpriseinspace.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref> program in order to ignite interest in space and science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education.

In 2023, the National Space Society elected Isaac Arthur as President for a two-year term.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Society |first=National Space |date=2023-03-10 |title=Isaac Arthur Named President of the National Space Society – National Space Society |url=https://space.nss.org/isaac-arthur-named-president-of-the-national-space-society/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=space.nss.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

On July 30, 2025, the National Space Society and all other space advocacy organizations announced the Day of Action on October 5 and October 6.<ref>{{cite news |last=Feldscher |first=Jacqueline |date=August 19, 2025 |title=Organizations Band Together to Save NASA Science |url=https://payloadspace.com/organizations-band-together-to-save-nasa-science/ |publisher=Payload |access-date=August 24, 2025}}</ref>

==''Ad Astra''==
The Society publishes a magazine {{Lang|la|[[Ad Astra (magazine)|Ad Astra]]}}, which appears quarterly in print and electronic form.<ref>[http://www.nss.org/adastra/ ''Ad Astra'' online edition]</ref>

==International Space Development Conference==
The society hosts an annual [[International Space Development Conference]] (ISDC) held in major cities throughout the United States, often during or close to the [[Memorial Day]] weekend.

==NSS Chapters network==
[[Image:US chapters map.gif|thumb|right|280px|Locations and "sphere of operation" of current NSS chapters in the [[United States]] (image courtesy of NSS)]]

As listed in each quarterly issue of {{Lang|la|[[Ad Astra (magazine)|Ad Astra]]}}, a large number of NSS chapters exist around the world. The chapters may serve a local area such as a school, city or town, or have a topical or [[Special interest group|special interest]] focus, such as a [[rocket]]ry or [[astronomy club]], or [[educational]]/[[community]] [[outreach]] program. Chapters are the peripheral organs of the society by organizing events, communicating with the public on the merits and benefits of space exploration, and working to educate political leaders.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}}

[[Image:NSSA chapters map.gif|thumb|right|280px|Location of current NSS chapters in [[Australia]] (image courtesy of NSS)]]

===National Space Society of Australia===
A  strong contingent of chapters is located in [[Australia]]. Prior to the NSI-L5 merger, the L5 Society had been developing chapters around the world, and in Australia, three chapters had been established. The 'Southern Cross L5 Society' was formed in 1979, with groups in [[Sydney]], [[Adelaide]] (in 1984) and [[Brisbane]] (in 1986). It was decided in late 1989 to create the ''National Space Society of Australia'' (NSSA) which could act as an umbrella organization

Similar efforts have taken hold in Brazil, Canada, and Mexico, as well as European countries that have a strong aerospace presence. These include France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

==Awards==
The society administers a number of awards. These are typically presented during the annual [[International Space Development Conference]] that NSS hosts.  These awards are in recognition of individual volunteer effort, awards for NSS chapter work, the "'''Space Pioneer'''" award,<ref>Zee News, [http://zeenews.india.com/news/space/indias-mars-orbiter-team-wins-national-space-societys-space-pioneer-award_1529242.html "India's Mars Orbiter team wins National Space Society's Space Pioneer Award"], January 13, 2015 (retrieved 10 February 2015)</ref> and two significant awards which are presented in alternate years.

===Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award===
The '''Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award''' is given in even-numbered years (2004, 2006, etc.) to "honor those individuals who have made significant, lifetime contributions to the creation of a free spacefaring civilization."

''Heinlein Award Winners:''<ref>[http://www.nss.org/awards/heinlein_award.html NSS Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514074514/http://www.nss.org/awards/heinlein_award.html |date=2012-05-14 }} (retrieved 10 August 2016)</ref>

*2024 – [[William Shatner]]
*2022 – [[Lori Garver]]
*2018 – [[Freeman Dyson]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sandberg |first1=Lee |title=Freeman Dyson Receives Robert Heinlein Memorial Award from National Space Society |url=https://www.ias.edu/news/2018/dyson-nss-award |website=Institute for Advanced Study |date=6 June 2018 |access-date=20 September 2018}}</ref>
*2016 – [[Jerry Pournelle]]<ref>[http://www.nss.org/news/releases/NSS_Release_20160412_pournelle.html NSS Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award Press Release] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623005531/http://www.nss.org/news/releases/NSS_Release_20160412_pournelle.html |date=2017-06-23 }} (retrieved 10 August 2016)</ref>
*2014 – [[Elon Musk]]
*2012 – [[Stephen Hawking]]
*2010 – [[Peter Diamandis]]
*2008 – [[Burt Rutan]]
*2006 – [[Brigadier General]] [[Chuck Yeager|Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager]]
*2004 – [[Jim Lovell|James Lovell]]
*2002 – [[Robert Zubrin]]
*2000 – [[Neil Armstrong]]
*1998 – [[Carl Sagan]]
*1996 – [[Buzz Aldrin]]
*1994 – [[Robert H. Goddard]]
*1992 – [[Gene Roddenberry]]
*1990 – [[Wernher von Braun]]
*1988 – [[Arthur C. Clarke]]
*1986 – [[Gerard K. O'Neill]]

===NSS Von Braun Award===
The '''NSS Von Braun Award''' is given in odd-numbered years (1993, 1995, ''etc.'') "to recognize excellence in management of and leadership for a space-related project where the project is significant and successful and the manager has the loyalty of a strong team that he or she has created."  Awardees include:<ref>[http://www.nss.org/awards/vonbraun_award.html NSS Von Braun Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202034637/http://www.nss.org/awards/vonbraun_award.html |date=2015-02-02 }} (retrieved 10 February 2015)</ref>

''Von Braun Award Winners:''
*2023 – [[James Webb Space Telescope]] Team
*2021 – [[Gwynne Shotwell]]
*2019 – [[Tory Bruno]]
*2017 – Prof. [[Johann-Dietrich Wörner]]
*2015 – Mars [[Curiosity Rover]] project Team
*2013 – Dr. [[A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]]
*2011 – [[JAXA]] [[Hayabusa]] Team
*2009 – [[Elon Musk]]
*2007 – [[Steven W. Squyres]]
*2005 – [[Burt Rutan]]
*2001 – [[Donna Shirley]]
*1999 – [[Robert C. Seamans, Jr.]]
*1997 – [[George Mueller (NASA)|George Mueller]]
*1995 – [[Maxwell Hunter|Max Hunter]]
*1993 – Dr. [[Ernst Stuhlinger]]

===Space Pioneer Awards===

'''Space Pioneer Awards''' or '''NSS Space Pioneer Awards''' are the annual awards given by National Space Society, an independent non-profit educational membership organisation, to individuals and teams who have opened the space frontier.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://nss.org/national-space-society-space-pioneer-awards/|title= National Space Society Space Pioneer Awards |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 3 August 2017|website= |publisher= National Space Society|access-date= October 5, 2024}}</ref>

''Space Pioneer Award Winners:''
* 2024 — [[Rod Pyle]], Brian McManus, [[José M. Hernández|José Hernández]]
* 2023 — [[Jared Isaacman]], Dr. [[Pascal Lee]], Dr. David Livingston
* 2022 — [[Peter Beck]], Rocket Lab, [[Kathryn Lueders]], Ingenuity Mars Helocopter Team
* 2021 — Dr. [[Robert D. Braun]], Robert Manning
* 2020 - [[Isaac Arthur]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://space.nss.org/national-space-society-to-honor-isaac-arthur-at-its-2020-international-space-development-conference/|title=National Space Society to Honor Isaac Arthur at Its 2020 International Space Development Conference - National Space Society|date=2 March 2020}}</ref> [[Steve Jurvetson]], Dr. [[Peggy Whitson]], Mission Juno Team, Dr. [[Scott J. Bolton]], Dr. [[Phil Plait]]

===Other scholarships and award activities===
Other scholarships and award activities NSS provides or assists with include the following awards:

*The '''NSS-ISU scholarship''', worth $10,000, to the [[International Space University]] was offered from 2005–2008. The 2005 recipient was Robert Guinness of St. Louis.
*The '''[[NASA Space Settlement Contest|Gerard K. O'Neill Space Settlement Contest]]''', an annual competition for students in grades 6 to 12 to design and present a permanent space settlement in the form of a research paper, essay, or artwork.
*The '''[[Martine Rothblatt]] Space Settlement in our Lifetime Prize''', an annual competition for teams or individuals to submit complete business plans that can advance humanity to achieve the goal of expanding our species beyond Earth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Society |first=National Space |date=2025-07-09 |title=Rothblatt Space Settlement in Our Lifetime Winners Announced - NSS |url=https://nss.org/rothblatt-space-settlement-in-our-lifetime-winners-announced/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2023-06-02 |title=NSS Selects Winners for the Rothblatt Space Business Plan Competition - NSS |url=https://nss.org/nss-selects-winners-for-the-rothblatt-space-business-plan-competition/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Affiliations==
The National Space Society is a founding executive member of the [[Alliance for Space Development]].<ref>{{Citation |title=ASD Members |date=26 January 2015 |publisher=Alliance for Space Development |url=http://allianceforspacedevelopment.org/alliance-groups/ |access-date=March 4, 2015 |archive-date=2 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302191431/https://allianceforspacedevelopment.org/alliance-groups/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Astronomy|Spaceflight}}
*[[L5 Society]]
*[[Space advocacy]]
*[[Space colonization]]
*[[Space exploration]]
*[[Vision for Space Exploration]]
*[[Asgardia (nation)|Space Kingdom of Asgardia]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
*[http://www.space.com/adastra/070305_adastra_2007_budgetblitz.html "National Space Society 'blitzes' Congress on NASA budget"] Space.com – Mar. 5, 2007
*[http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=21969 "National Space Society to Host 26th Annual Conference in Dallas, Convening Pioneers from Government and Private Space Programs"] SpaceRef.com – Feb. 21, 2007
*[http://www.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_gsReport=1&npoId=324452 GuideStar – National Space Society] Information on NSS listed in GuideStar, a national database of nonprofit organizations

==External links==
* {{official website}}
* [http://space.nss.org/ad-astra-the-magazine-of-the-national-space-society/ ''Ad Astra ("To the Stars') The magazine of the National Space Society'']
* [http://www.islandone.org Island One Society] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050828172523/http://www.islandone.org/ |date=2005-08-28 }}, ISDC conferences archive

{{Politics of outer space|state=collapsed}}
{{Space colonization}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Space organizations]]
[[Category:Space advocacy organizations]]
[[Category:International scientific organizations]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Scientific societies based in the United States]]
[[Category:501(c)(3) organizations]]
[[Category:1987 in science]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1987]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in Washington, D.C.]]