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March 31, 2007
BANNER REDESIGN CONTEST $$$ PRIZES
The National Space Society (NSS) is looking for designs that create visions of space exploration and settlement. Designs that bring attention to our goal of creating a space-faring civilization. The National Space Society and NSS Chapters are sponsoring a contest for such designs to be included in our next printing of Banners/Signs for use during NSS Chapter and National projects and events.
The NSS Banner Redesign Contest has been extended past it’s original submission deadline date of April 30th. A new submission deadline date will be posted on the Contest website when available.
Click here to go to the NSS Banner Redesign Contest Home Page for more information
Posted by Candace Pankanin at 09:12 PM
March 12, 2007
Mars Desert- MDRS
MARS DESERT RESEARCH CENTER
Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto, our National Space Society Projects and Events Coordinator for Chapters is on a mission. A mission to Mars that is. Veronica Ann, along with her children are manning the MDRS, Mars Desert Research Station. You can visit with the team LIVE via their MDRS Web Cam . Veronica Ann, who is also the founder and current President of the Phoenix Chapter of NSS, has taken time from her busy schedule on Mars to send reports to other Spacers around the globe. A few days ago NSS members received an invitation from the station's Commander to participate in their mission. As per Veronica Ann:
"If any NSS Members have a strong desire to participate in our Family Living Analysis on Mars Expeditions [F.L.A.M.E.] at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), please do not hesitate to contact me."
CDR Zabala wanted to share with us one of her CDR Reports from the Mars Desert Research Station which she recently sent to Mission Support. This report, along with others can also be found at The Mars Society - MDRS: Daily Field Reports page.
Log Book for March 8, 2007
Commander's Journal
Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto Reporting
"I demolish my bridges behind me - then there is no choice but forward." Fridtjof Nansen
We are on Mars. We are here to stay. Everything left behind..our families and friends, our employment, schools, things that make us feel like we belong. We are now moving forward, leaving what we know
behind....
Our first couple of days have been "normal". A shortage of water and our generator not charging its batteries in order to keep our systems up and running. Our children keep busy with their school work and are acclimating themselves to the longer Martian Sol. They e-mail their teachers, family and friends back on Earth when they have their free time. The Crew are a little fatigued with the longer days and the technical difficulties but they are adapting quite well.
I am impressed with the level of skill this Crew has exhibited and how well they get along with each other, especially with the younger Crew Members. This is our voyage of discovery...discovering not only our new home but discovering ourselves on how much we are able to contribute to our mission as well as how much we are able to handle ourselves in a restrictive regime. The Family Living Analysis on Mars Expedition Crew is currently on its third major mission of discovery. Even though we have new faces on each and every mission we all are appointed certain tasks to ensure that we lead a productive and safe mission.
Our younger Crew Members, four in all, are being apprenticed in geology, chemistry, biology, history, engineering and much more. They are learning the protocols of Martian life. Discipline is something that should be instilled in all Crew Members; young and old alike. We all share in the work. Even as the Skipper, today I spent close to two hours washing the dishes that we could not do because of the lack of water until we resolved the problem with the water tank. Pyscho-social factors test techniques, in order to maintain an effective mission. F.L.A.M.E. is the first in analogue missions to do just that which
include children under the age of fourteen. We have an international crew unto which there are no issues with them speaking in their own languages amongst themselves. Respect is another key to a successful mission. We each respect each other's culture, religion and privacy. Dependencies on everyday tasks are crucial in order to keep morale up and the Hab in order.
Some behavioral markers have been noticed when dealing with the F.L.A.M.E. students. Once adjustment to an already recognizable environment is achieved the children feel relaxed and mark their respective territories with their personal belongings such as toys, clothes and sleeping equipment. The children's perception of tension, cohesion and leadership is different than that of the adult Crew Members. The parents and the Educator are the main role models in this sort of environment.
They learn to implement new procedures and conduct special projects that are not offered in classes back on Earth. This is an excellent way for children to actively participate and contribute to their environment.
Our typical day consists of everyone waking up early and having breakfast and our morning briefing sometimes at the same time. The children then prepare for their classes which are conducted in the galley. The adults get to work either by going on EVA to scout out for possible building materials, ground water to add to the already existing supply the Hab has, and possible features that can be used for shelter from the harsh environment. The Engineers work on the Hab's systems to ensure the Crew has power to communicate to Mission Support and electricity to conduct experiments in the science laboratory. Other Crew Members go to the GreenHab to plant seeds so they will have fresh food to eat in the coming weeks. We try to get together for lunch but sometimes a few of the Crew eat later because of the tasks they are working on or because they are on EVA longer. One thing that is constant is that everyone comes to the galley for dinner. Here we can talk about our day to keep everyone informed, share our stories from the past, or share some visions for the future. After dinner the children help clean up and the adults sit at the Communications Console and write their reports for Mission Support and for the people back on Earth to read. Sometimes we have "Movie Night" and everyone camps out on the floor to watch a movie and eat popcorn. Then we all go to bed. Our days are long but productive.
By the F.L.A.M.E. Crew's efforts we hope to give a renewed enthusiasm for human exploration. With a predetermined destination we embark on a voyage in which we hope to inspire our children and others to reach as far as they can, for exploration is the act of searching for the purpose of discovery. Exploration challenges us. Have you felt challenged lately? If not, what can you do to be a part of the wonders
of space exploration?
Veronica Ann Zabala-Aliberto
Commander, MDRS Crew 59
Posted by Candace Pankanin at 10:04 AM | Comments (0)
March 07, 2007
KSC Picnic
The Florida Space Coast Chapter has been drumming up publicity down south. They will be attending the Kennedy Space Center annual picnic this Saturday, March 10, 2007. National Space Society brochures and Ad Astra Magazines will be handed out to picnic goers by chapter members while keeping cool under their own tent.
They are listed, along with other community groups, on the Kennedy Space Center site. Click here to view.
Any follow up reports will appear on the Projects and Events page
To the Stars,
Candace Pankanin
VP for Chapters
Posted by Candace Pankanin at 12:48 PM
March 03, 2007
Lunar Library
Ken Murphy of the National Space Society of North Texas chapter, NSSNT, wrote an article for Ad Astra Online.
His article "Browsing The Stacks At The Lunar Library" on Space.com in Ad Astra online was a joy to read. One would think that hosting this years ISDC 2007 in Dallas along with Carol Johnson would fill his time. Each day something new is learned about one of our many talented NSS Chapter Members and Leaders.
To the Stars,
Candace
NSS VP for Chapters
Posted by Candace Pankanin at 11:40 AM
March 01, 2007
BLITZ Feb. 2007
Powerful Chapter Member Participation
Immediately following the Board of Directors Meeting held in Washington, DC February 9-11, George T. Whitesides and Mark Hopkins set the wheels of space activism into motion.
We said our good-byes to those of us who were not lucky enough to be able to stay to participate in BLITZ 2007 and began our introductory training of definitions, protocol and “Congressional Meeting Etiquette”. We were about to walk our talk once again. Time to put into action all of the knowledge that we had acquired over our years of being earth bound space explorers. And walk we did, through connecting halls and underground passages to where our continuous appointments to speak with legislative representatives were scheduled thanks to the hard work of Chris Carberry and team....Read More...CLick here
Posted by Candace Pankanin at 05:13 PM | Comments (0)