The Never Ending Space Adventure

by guest blogger Ken

While Jon has his hands full with rocketey flamey stuff, I've had my hands full with my own little ongoing space adventure.

Regular readers know that I'm one of the co-chairs for the NSS's 2007 International Space Development Conference. I don't remember exactly how I got roped into it, but boy am I up to my neck in it. It's been going on two years now that we've been working on the bid and then laying the groundwork, and we're actually in good shape, with an almost finalized sponsorship/exhibitor package, a wish list of speakers, and a basic layout of the timeline. I've got a good team here in Dallas with the local NSS of North Texas chapter, and we've always delivered the goods, on time and in excess of expectations. Boy is it a lot of telecons and flurries of e-mails and downloading attachments and other stuff that completely engulfs my non-work hours. Oh, and of course a local ExecComm this weekend.

Part of the philosophy is that we want to get other space groups to participate and provide content and support (like publicising the event to their members). This has led in a roundabout way (via the LCR/LEAG meeting in Houston last October) to conversations with the Aerospace Technology Working Group. They've just published "Beyond Earth: The Future of Humans in Space", and are having a book signing at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field in Dallas on August 26th with several of the authors. Since we're looking to tie in the ATWG spring meeting in with ISDC, I'll get to go and meet some movers and shakers in the space field so we can discuss how to tie things together. I may get to practice my French a bit too.

The book is not an easy read, and several of the chapters have seriously disturbed my calm, especially those by Dr. Paul Werbos of the NSF. The synchronicity in how we think about different things and ways is seriously spooking me. Also the chapter on Stage Three Leadership. Some of the chapters are a bit out there in the aether of esoterica, others propose grand projects. It's definitely geared to an advanced crowd, and my general impression is that it is written at about a Masters level of comprehension. Quite on the other end of the spectrum from "Kids to Space". Its audience needs to be policy makers and thought shapers.

Then I get an invite from Apogee Books and the editor of "Kids to Space" to be at a book signing over the Labor Day weekend at Space Center Houston. Okay, all the authors got the invite, but still it's kind of cool. Remember, you heard about "Kids to Space" first right here in the Selenian Boondocks. It is a righteous book, no doubt about it. My 9-year old nephew just got a look at it. His response: "Man, I want one of my drawings in a book." I told him to keep his eyes open for opportunities at school.

So now my Labor Day weekend is shot, and of course the weekend after is the next local NSS meeting. Someday, maybe not soon, I'll get some time to relax.

It won't be before September 22nd, because that's when abstracts are due for the next International Space University annual symposium, this time on the theme of "Why the Moon?" How can I let a question like that go unanswered? And luckily the chair was my advisor during my MSS studies, so I may have an edge on getting a paper accepted. (though I know some of the folks on the organizing committee and I can tell it won't be a cakewalk, so I'll still have to put some effort into it ;-) I'm mulling over ideas in my head for a 15-minute presentation, which is not much time to say what I have to say. I'll probably focus on infrastructure.

Meanwhile, on the NASA front, I submitted an application to receive a copy of the new Lunar E-Library, which is a sort of archive of things Lunar disgorged from the bowels of NASA, and noted on the CollectSPACE website. It's a perfect addition to the Lunar Library. In an annoying twist, it was necessary to have two references as part of the submission. Since I work in a bank there was really no point in submitting my boss as a reference. So I reached out to a couple of guys whom I've talked with over the years and who know about what I'm doing with the Lunar Library, and both Dr. Paul Spudis of JHU/APL and Wendell Mendell of NASA JSC agreed to be my references. They were a bit confused by the requirement, but still acquiesced.

I sent the application on the 4th, and then a polite follow-up e-mail requesting confirmation of receipt on the 11th, or absence thereof (though my records show it as having been received). Last night I received word that I have been approved to access the Lunar e-Library. I certainly look forward to seeing the stuff that's on it.

Also on the NASA front, too bad I missed the Next Generation Exploration Conference. It would have been great to get a briefing on asteroid resources from John Lewis. I think I'll keep my eye open for their final report.

Speaking of the Lunar Library, I've been working with Mark and Rob over at Out of the Cradle on updating the Lunar Library and bringing it to a new level of utility. I'm almost done with the semi-annual cataloguing and seeing what's gone missing, plus making sure I've got all of the new stuff entered, but I've got the two worst sections to go: Lunar Fiction and Journals/Article/Papers, plus I'm still waiting on my copy of New Views of the Moon. The transformation is a collaborative effort, so the end result won't be quick, but it should be most pleasing.

So the adventure that began in 1999 continues, in ways too weird and unexpected to have ever been foreseen. That's one of the few cool things about being a pathfinder - when you blaze new trails and new ways of doing things you make wonderful unexpected discoveries, far more than can be attributed to random chance.

Anyone can have a space adventure...if they want it.