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- Spaceport RT Sat Mar 13, 1993
- D.ANDERMAN
-
- This message may be freely copied>>>>>>>>>>>
-
- The Back to the Moon Bill - the Next Step
-
- Progress on the Lunar Resources Data Purchase Act is being made on all
- fronts: private research companies are becoming aware and extremely
- interested in participating in the bidding process; congresspersons and
- senators are expressing interest in enactment of this ground-breaking
- legislation; officials within NASA and other government agencies look at the
- Lunar Resources Data Purchase Act as a new means of turning America back
- towards lunar exploration; several pro-space organizations such as the Lunar
- Power Systems Coalition view the bill as the first, necessary step in a
- return to the Moon.
-
- However, one vital element is missing from this mosaic of diverse
- supporting groups: the space activist community, specifically - you.
-
- The Lunar Resources Data Purchase Act would authorize the U.S. government
- to purchase lunar science from the private sector, with vendors selected on
- the basis of competitive bidding. A cap on the bids is set at $65 million,
- with allowances for multiple, separate winning bidders to be selected if the
- total amount of the bids is under the cap. Both private and non-profit U.S.
- entities are allowed to bid, with organizations such as AMSAT, Lunar
- Exploration Inc. and the Experimental Spacecraft Society encouraged by the
- authors of the LRDPA to bid.
-
- For the Back to the Moon Bill to successfully pass through Congress, we
- need the activist community, and you, to spend a few minutes to write a
- letter to their congresspersons asking them to assist in the introduction
- and enactment of the Lunar Resources Data Purchase Act. The following is a
- sample letter that you may copy to send to your elected officials in
- Washington:
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- The Honorable XXXX XXXXXXXX
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Washington, DC 20515
-
- Dear Representative XXXXXXXX:
-
- Please assist in the introduction and passage of the Lunar Resources Data
- Purchase Act. This proposed legislation would provide an incentive for
- private companies to develop new technologies on a cost effective basis, and
- regain America's leadership in lunar exploration.
-
- Thank you for your support of America's space program.
-
- Sincerely,
-
- {Your name}
- {Your address}
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
-
- If you should have any questions about the LRDPA, the above letter, or
- your elected officials, please call David Anderman at 714/524-1674, or your
- nearest National Space Society chapter.
-
- Remember - the future of America's lunar program, stalled since 1972, no
- longer rests in the hands of the politicians - it now relies on you. Please
- send your letter today.