The Newsletter of
the Seattle Chapter
of
The National Space Society
»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» April 1998 «««««««««««««««««««««
NORWESCON
1998
XVII
so·journ(sò jûrn), to stay for a time in a place; live temporarily.
Presidents Message
"Help build a limitless future"
Vince Creisler
Do you want to help posterity live in a space-faring civilization, enjoying continuously improving quality of life in a society expanding on all frontiers? Join the National Space Society. The National Space Society is a non-profit organization open to citizens of all nations, formed by a merger of the National Space Institute and The L-5 Society in 1987. The NSS has affiliated organizations Spacecause and SpacePac for engaging in pro-space political activies.
The NSS promotes interest in space exploration, research, development and habitation, toward the purpose of establishing
a space-based civilization, economically self-sufficient and supported by a free enterprise structure utilizing the nearly limitless resources of the Solar System. The NSS focuses its efforts on:
Lowering the cost of access to space.
Learning how to work in space and utilize space resources.
Ensuring supportive government space policies and practices.
Fostering private space initiatives.
Current NSS officers include former Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin, scientist Robert Zubrin, and astronaut Charles Walker as President. Dues are $35.00 a year ($20.00 for students and seniors) including a subscription to the NSS Publication Ad Astra. Those interested in joining, or seeking more information, can contact the NSS at:
National Space Society
600 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E.
Suite 201
Washington, DC 20003-4316
1-800-376-ORBIT
http://www.nss.org
The National Space Society is an international membership group
dedicated to furthering the exploration and development of space. The Seattle
chapter mission is to facilitate Space Activism and all pro-Space activities; and to provide
a gathering place for space enthusiasts to meet, exchange information and ideas.
President: Vince Creisler vincelc@hotmail.com
Vice President: Chris Vancil CLVANCIL@aol.com
Secretary: Randy Rumley rjrumley@juno.com
Treasurer: David Stuart xsxs80a@prodigy.com
Editor: Christopher Erickson aster@wolfenet.com
----------Board of Directors---------
Kelly Caviezel Gary Harrison Christopher Erickson Susan Harrison Toni Rusi
------------Advisors------------
Terrill Burlison
Chapter meetings are held at 7:00 PM on the second Saturday of each month, at the
Museum of Flight; parking is available in the lot North of the museum. To receive
information regarding upcoming events please send your name and addresses
to: Randy Rumley; 12008 S.E. 223rd Drive Kent, WA 98031
NSS at NorWesCon
This year we will have a club table available containing information about the state of the various space efforts, both national and international, public and private.
At the last minute three hours on Saturday morning were made available for additional panels - the subjects are yet to be determined.
On Saturday evening beginning at 6:00 we will be hosting an open meeting of the National Space Society in Evergreen Room 1, and all are welcome. The subject for discussion this evening will focus on the International Space Station. We have an interesting review and line-up of speakers, and the presentations will conclude with an open floor debate over the future of the station. Included on the back page are some possible scenarios that will be considered, and any others brought up besides. At 9:00 we will begin the room party.
Open Meeting
Vince Creisler, President of NSS Seattle, will open the meeting with an introduction of the National Space Society, and the Seattle chapter of the NSS.
An introduction of the participants in this panel will be made. They include:
Vince Creisler
President
NSS Seattle
Chris Vancil
Vice President
NSS Seattle
Christopher Erickson
Avionics Engineer
Teledyne Controls BCA
Randy J. Rumley
Electrical Engineer
KEPI
David Stuart
Biologist
Opening Topic
For more than one hundred years the idea of building a way station from which humans would set out to colonize the heavens has been a fundamental component in space exploration scenarios. Fifteen nations are about to began the construction of a massive station this summer, one that will dwarf past efforts, What was the road that led to where we are, and why did it take so long to travel?
In the Beginning...
David Stuart
As the nineteenth century comes to a close, the view of what is possible is broad. Powered flight isn't far off, and the idea that Space Flight will soon follow is taken seriously. How will the Space Age began?
The Space Age
Randy Rumley
National agenda encompasses the desires of all, and national sentiment is a whimsical thing. What we should do and why we should do it leaves the drafting table and enters the Halls of Congress.
The MOL
(manned orbital laboratory)
Christopher Erickson
Lead, follow, or get out of the way. The military seeks the high ground independent of the National Space Program.
Skylab
Randy Rumley
Apollo was a final product. Not just the end of the race to the Moon, but a system that could be considered foundationnal. NASA plans the follow-on to the Moon landings
Second Hour
The effort to build the International Space Station began with President Reagan's call for an orbital platform. People came out in favor of the station, vehemently oposed any further space efforts, argued over the design, or went back to their knitting.
Though the argument for and against the Space Station continue, the issue for the time being, is moot- construction on the ISS begins this year. What are we getting?
The discussion begins with a review of the participants, what they are contributing, and what they intend to do with their share. We will then look at the final product and open the floor to a discussion of what the future holds- on the next page are some possible scenarios that may be played out.
Scenarios
Three large corporations located within Nation X are producing most of the world's satellites. While all ISS participants have shown an inerest in constructing a satellite maintenance facility only Nation X can turn a profit due to the volume it will see.
Nation X can build the facility and rent time to others that allows them tiime in accordance with contribution that each has made. But this is capitalism in action. If Nation X builds a free flying facility in the area that only they are allowed to use then they can increase their edge over the competition by offering a service no one else has. Because several companies are monopolizing this industry, is it a monopoly? And is it a National monopoly? Will other nations demand, and receive access to this private facility?
Nation Z has put most of their resources into pharmaceuticals research and has turned a very good profit - something that the station was touted to be capable of doing. Nation W has likewise seen a very good return on investment in semiconductor manufacturing, and has suggested to Nation Z that sharing a power/life support module more modern and better suited to their needs, and splitting from the ISS would be a good business decision.
Some efforts don\rquote t see obvious financial returns. Will the remaining
Nations wish to continue to repair, upgrade and supply a station that is only developing zero G tomatoes, and mapping sunspots? Will the other Nations choose to drop science and make manufacturing their sole effort? Will the ISS become an albatross to one or two nations, and eventually fall into disrepair? Could Nations W and Z fly off leaving the station to flounder with the intent of then buying the pieces of value at a discounted price? It happens to businesses here on Earth.
Nation X and Nation Q have never gotten along well. Nation X cares greatly about the cleanliness of the station, and Nation Q prefers that lived in look. Nation X is anal, and Nation Q is slovenly. Who makes the call? Who and how is the issue forced? Disagreements of this type have caused Nations to develop individual settlements in Antarctica.
As occurred in the book 2010. Nation Y and Nation Z decide to throw a war. Do they stay or do they go? Do they both go or do we choose sides? Who's side will we and the others choose - the same side? What if China had a person onboard, and then attacked Taiwan? Though they insist that Taiwan is theirs, the US might get involved. Would the Chinese astronaut be forced to go home? Would the US astronauts leave?
In Silicon Valley during the 1980's, honor to one's employer was as rare as a pig roast at a bar mitzvah. It is quite possible that the ISS will become such a hotbed of development.
Nation Z and Nation W are both researching some common issues. Those working for Nation Z get a double helping of pudding for their family for each patentable discovery they make. Those working for Nation W get the patent rights. Nation Z researchers might want to pass a few things through the hatch for a cut of the cash. This doesn't only apply to Nations, but to the companies represented within. Will the bond developed between astronauts be more meaningful than the relationship between employer and employee?
Success runs rampant. Not only are a the big companies back home getting rich, but a few hackers have found gold in zero G. Somebody gets the cash together to buy a module or two, and a new station starts to develop. A new station that charges rent, but has declared itself a sovereign nation that doesn't have an income tax-or it's registered in Iberia. Will other businesses jump ship? Might the original station \endash tired of being a colony that is getting taxed out of existence-revolt?
Russia goes back to communism and takes their rockets with them, or a Shuttle crashes and we ground the fleet for a few more years, or some of the countries run out of cash and pull out, or something else happens and it just doesn't get built.
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