Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V08/V8_235.TXT

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X-Andrew-Authenticated-As: 7997;andrew.cmu.edu;Ted Anderson
From ota Fri May 27 03:05:06 1988
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    id AA11153; Fri, 27 May 88 03:04:49 PDT
Date: Fri, 27 May 88 03:04:49 PDT
From: Ted Anderson <ota>
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: SPACE Digest V8 #235

SPACE Digest                                      Volume 8 : Issue 235

Today's Topics:
            the old days vs today
                A New Holiday?
           Re: Uncle Carl is on the rampage
              Re: A New Holiday?
              Re: A New Holiday?
              Re: A New Holiday?
              Re: A New Holiday?
              Re: A New Holiday?
              Re: A New Holiday?
              Re: A New Holiday?
              Re: A New Holiday?
              Re: A New Holiday?
              Re: A New Holiday?
          Petition for redress of grievances
               Open reply to Jim Bowery
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 6 May 88 21:32:22 GMT
From: mnetor!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: the old days vs today

> ... it was the (superb) Lunar Orbiter's mission to do it
> for Surveyor (also superb! remember when we could knock 'em off like that?)

Ranger would be a better comparison to the current state of NASA...
--
NASA is to spaceflight as            |  Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
the Post Office is to mail.          | {ihnp4,decvax,uunet!mnetor}!utzoo!henry

------------------------------

Date: 9 May 88 15:15:37 GMT
From: bbn.com![e-mail]  (Miles Fidelman)
Subject: A New Holiday?

Does anybody else out there think that July 20 (the day of the first moon
landing) should be a recognized holiday?

------------------------------

Date: 9 May 88 17:32:00 GMT
From: necntc!encore![e-mail]  (Jim Paradis)
Subject: Re: Uncle Carl is on the rampage

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mike Smithwick) writes:
>Carl : "Well, yes, the Soviets would have to worry about us, seeing
>that they are so far ahead in both manned and planetary space
>exploration"
>
>[...] Carl should learn to think before he speaks.

Oh, I dunno about that... I think that this is a GREAT jab at all those
State Department spooks and "America First" types who honestly believe
that the Soviets wouldn't know the sky was blue if they hadn't stolen
the information from the U.S.

Jim Paradis, Encore Computer
(.signature undergoing renovations. Please pardon our appearance.)

------------------------------

Date: 9 May 88 23:50:26 GMT
From: ganelon.usc.edu![e-mail]  (Steve)
Subject: Re: A New Holiday?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] () writes:
>Does anybody else out there think that July 20 (the day of the first
>moon landing) should be a recognized holiday?

I think it's a marvelous idea.  It could be called moon-day and it would
remind everyone how important space exploration is.  It would also be a
yearly event during which media would undoubtedly seize on to
demonstrate how far we've come in the last year.  ( let's not start
until 1989, OK? )

=Steve=

------------------------------

Date: 10 May 88 15:59:29 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Thomas L Hausmann)
Subject: Re: A New Holiday?

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Miles Fidelman) writes:
> Does anybody else out there think that July 20 (the day of the first
> moon landing) should be a recognized holiday?

People are already ignoring the "holidays" we currently have!  (Or are
pushing them off onto Mondays.)  For example, few universities (none I
have attended) cancel classes for Labor Day.

Perhaps something on the level of Flag Day to commemorate the event is
possible, but I feel that most people would be relatively
unenthusiastic.

-Tom

------------------------------

Date: 10 May 88 15:46:34 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Diana Hadley)
Subject: Re: A New Holiday?

In 1971 a high school student in Utah, J. David Baxter, made that same
suggestion -- that July 20 be considered a national celebration.  Ken
Randle of AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)
picked up the ball and has worked for over a decade and a half now.
Thanks to his efforts, and the efforts of many others, in 1976,
President Ford, at the request of AIAA, issued the first Space
Exploration Day Proclamation for July 20th, to co-incide with Viking
One's landing on Mars.  Since the early 80's governors of all 50 states
plus Puerto Rico have issued US Space Observance related proclamations.

In 1980, Spaceweek Inc. was founded as a non-profit educational
corporation to oversee a national program that conducts educational
space-related activities at the local level to bring public attention of
the many benefits and potentials of space with the goal of conducting an
annual national celebration of space, expanding the celebration to
include the whole eight day period (July 16 - July 24) of the Apollo 11
mission.  Besides the landing of Viking One, the Apollo-Soyuz
anniversary also falls within this period.  Spaceweek activities are
sponsored on the local level, and I suspect many of the people on this
network have their own stories to tell of their efforts to organize
Spaceweek events in their hometown.

Addresses:

Spaceweek National HQ
P.O. Box 56172
Houston, TX  77258
[phone]

Mr. Randle is with the AIAA section in Utah.

(Check with your congress rep to see if he/she are sponsoring
this year's Space Exploration Day Resolutions.)

------------------------------

Date: 11 May 88 23:30:47 GMT
From: oliveb!3comvax![e-mail]  (Michael McNeil)
Subject: Re: A New Holiday?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Steve) writes:
>I think it's a marvelous idea.  It could be called moon-day and it
>would remind everyone how important space exploration is.  It would
>also be a yearly event during which media would undoubtedly seize on to
>demonstrate how far we've come in the last year.  ( let's not start
>until 1989, OK? )

I also think that a holiday on July 20 is an excellent idea.  However,
as far as "Moon Day" is concerned, we've already got some 52 "Moon Days"
every year (one each week) -- of course, the name has gotten shortened a
bit over the years....  How about if we just incorporate all Mondays
into the weekend!

Michael McNeil

------------------------------

Date: 11 May 88 16:57:03 GMT
From: tektronix!sequent!mntgfx![e-mail]  (Mike Butts)
Subject: Re: A New Holiday?

>From article <[e-mail]>, by [e-mail] (Steve):
> I think it's a marvelous idea.  It could be called moon-day and it would
> remind everyone how important space exploration is.  It would also be a
> yearly event during which media would undoubtedly seize on to demonstrate
> how far we've come in the last year.  ( let's not start until 1989, OK? )

You bet!  I suggest you take the idea up with the greeting card
companies.  I'm serious!  They were behind the development many of our
'secondary' holidays.  They'd have a fine opportunity to purvey space
photography on cards, posters, etc.  (How about 'Wish you were here'
postcards?)

Mike Butts

------------------------------

Date: 11 May 88 17:27:34 GMT
From: pyramid!cbmvax!vu-vlsi!swatsun![e-mail]  (Leif Kirschenbaum)
Subject: Re: A New Holiday?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] () writes:
> Does anybody else out there think that July 20 (the day of the first
> moon landing) should be a recognized holiday?

Yes, it would be a great opportunity for the media and other
organizations to remind the public of how far we've come and how far we
have *not* come.  People (other than the minority already interested)
might learn about our space program, or lack of one, and might see some
of the significance in it.  This hopefully would give it greater support
and thus more impetus.

The only drawback I see in June 20 is that some schools have let out by
that time.  Most schools seize upon holidays as an opportunity to teach
important ideas to young people (elementary and junior high and some
high schools).  Martin Luther King Day teaches about prejudice.
Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays- to teach about our government and
the value of freedom.  Memorial Day to teach about the negative value of
war.  And others.  Lunar Landing Day (or whatever) would be a great
opportunity to teach young people about our space program, its
importance, and where it can go from here.  I think the support of
future citizens will do the most to garner support for our space
program.

------------------------------

Date: 12 May 88 13:30:47 GMT
From: cfa!cfa250![e-mail]  (Jonathan McDowell)
Subject: Re: A New Holiday?

I actually celebrate Dec 21st - the day humans first left the Earth's
gravitational sphere of influence and opened the highway to the worlds.
Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders left Earth orbit in Apollo VIII
on their way to lunar orbit. It's a good excuse for those of us who have
no other for carrying on celebrating the ancient pagan festival of the
winter solstice. But I think Jul 20 would be a good date too.  The USSR
makes a big fuss on Cosmonautics Day, Apr 12 (anniversary of Gagarin's
flight) - does anyone know if it's actually a national day-off holiday
there or does the worker's paradise not go in for that sort of idea?

Jonathan McDowell

------------------------------

Date: 12 May 88 19:04:32 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Robert Eachus)
Subject: Re: A New Holiday?

     I have always assumed that July 20 would someday be a planet wide
holiday -- on the moon, and probably on Mars as well (the first unmanned
Mars lander landed on July 20).  Seriously, bang on your personnel
departments, congressmen, etc.  Space Day is a much more appropriate
holiday than Labor Day, New Years Day, Martin Luther Kings Birthday, or
Presidents Day. (And occurs at a much nicer time of year!)

                    Robert I. Eachus

------------------------------

Date: 13 May 88 16:25:56 GMT
From: mcvax!ukc!its63b![e-mail]  (ERCF08 Bob Gray)
Subject: Re: A New Holiday?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mike Butts) writes:
>You bet!  I suggest you take the idea up with the greeting card companies.
>I'm serious!  They were behind the development many of our 'secondary'
>holidays.  They'd have a fine opportunity to purvey space photography
>on cards, posters, etc.  (How about 'Wish you were here' postcards?)

And until I can post it in person, How about some "Wish I
was there" postcards.
    Bob.

------------------------------

Date: 17 May 88 18:57:42 GMT
From: killer!tness7!tness1!sugar![e-mail]  (Peter da Silva)
Subject: Re: A New Holiday?

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:
> Does anybody else out there think that July 20 (the day of the first moon
> landing) should be a recognized holiday?

Yes. Apollo Day?

-- Peter da Silva

------------------------------

Reply-To: pnet01![e-mail]
Date: Sun, 8 May 88 21:26:33 PDT
From: [e-mail] (Jim Bowery)
To: crash![e-mail]
Subject: Petition for redress of grievances

The Pikes Peak chapter of the National Space Society is circulating this
petition.  You should print it out, sign it and mail it to them at:

Pike's Peak L5
919 N 19th #23
Colorado Springs, CO 80904

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We the members of the chapters of the National Space Society, find the
following:

- That the policies, attitudes, and actions of the leadership of the
Society are failing to promote the stated goals of the organization.

- That the Society's current publication, in it's present form, fails to
recognize the organization's purpose of existence.

- That the actions of the current publication are in every way in
opposition to the chapter structure.  Space World therefore spends
considerable effort undermining effors of the active NSS membership.

- That the editorial policies of Space World Magazine serve to exclude
the positions and beliefs of the majority of the active membership.

Therefore it is imperative the following changes take place:

- The National Space Society leadership must openly recognize the stated
objectives of the organization being that of:

        The creation of a space-faring civilization which will establish
    communities beyond Earth; promotion of the earliest possible
    establishment of self-sustaining human settlements in space;
    promotion of large scale industrialization and private
    enterprise in space; (Bylaws of the National Space Society;
    Article II, Section 1(A).

- Those leaders which openly renounce these objectives shall be
considered to have renounced their positions as leaders of the
organization.

- The editorial staff of Space World Magazine must be changed to reflect
the stated objectives of the Society.

- NSS and Space World Magazine must be changed to reflect the stated
objectives of the Society.

- NSS and Space World Magazine must cease its blind support of
government space endeavors.  More discussions of pros and cons of NASA
and military space projects must take place.

- The editorial policy must be changed to an orientation toward the
future of space development with a mixture of approximately 25% current
topics (Space Shuttle, political action, etc.), 50% near future plans
(Space Station, private launch companies, External Tanks Corp., etc.),
and 25% distant future possibilities (O'Neill colonies, solar power
sattelites, etc.).

- A wider variety of new authors must be published in the magazine.  The
magazine will also provide greater access to members and their ideas and
opinions.

- The Space Advocate section is to be removed and all columns will be
placed within the magazine at suitable locations.  In addition,
information concerning chapter and membership activities will be
provided as an integral part of the publication.

- Space World and the remainder of the National Space Society leadership
will recognize international space efforts in addition to the American
and Soviet programs.

The overwhelming majority of the active membership is of similar
sentiment.  Membership of such individuals is drastically declining,
except in areas with active chapters to support their interest.  These
changes must be made while an active membership is in place to achieve
our stated objectives.

Written for Pikes Peak L5 Chapter
by Keith L. Hamburger

UUCP: {cbosgd, hplabs!hp-sdd, sdcsvax, nosc}!crash!pnet01!jim
ARPA: crash!pnet01![e-mail]
INET: [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 27 Apr 88 15:42:14 PDT
From: Bruce Bon <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Subject: Open reply to Jim Bowery

It is my hope that this will reach all NSS members who received Jim
Bowery's blistering reply to Scott Pace's earlier response to Bowery's
message regarding National Space Society Policy!

Conflict of interest: it is absurd to expect those of us who have an
active vocational interest in the space program to avoid participation
in organizations such as NSS or SpacePAC or SpaceCause which try to
affect national space policy!  Would you expect unions not to try to
influence right-to-work legislation?  Or government employees not to
vote?  Legal conflict of interest generally involves direct and
substantial financial gain, which Bowery has not shown.  His allegations
are reckless, insulting and full of misinformation.

I believe that there is a broad consensus within NSS, which is
faithfully represented by the Board of Directors, that the U.S. won't
achieve substantial occupation of space in our lifetimes without
government support, and that the space station, for all of its Cadillac
faults, is the only game in town for the next decade or two.  Of course
there is disagreement, and that is perfectly healthy, but the allegation
that the NSS board is dominated by an unethical, minority viewpoint
shows either a very warped perception of NSS or intentional
misrepresentation of reality.

All organizations suffer from incomplete communication, and NSS is
certainly no different.  It would be truely amazing if all the Board
members were aware of the opinions and complaints of every disgruntled
member.  My experience is that it is very difficult to strike a balance
between having adequate communication and getting anything else done.

I have known Scott Pace for several years and have a great deal of
respect for both his competence and his sincerity.  He is certainly not
the unethical NASA lacky that Bowery accuses him of being.  This, in
fact, is what compelled me to reply.  Bowery, or any other NSS member,
is entitled to disagree with any position of the Board or anyone else,
but such emotional, uninformed, irresponsible attacks as his most recent
communication show his true colors -- he must be a fanatic, infantile
person who disregards facts at his convenience in order to promote his
unpopular position.

In case you couldn't tell, I won't be voting for Jim Bowery for NSS
Board of Directors!

                    Bruce Bon
                    [e-mail]

Caveat:  I work for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but my views on this
    or any other topics are not dictated by my employer, nor do they
    necessarily represent the policy or opinion of my employer.

------------------------------

End of SPACE Digest V8 #235
*******************