Space advocacy


Space advocacy is supporting or advocating for space exploration, space colonization and private spaceflight. There are many different individuals and organizations dedicated to space advocacy. They are usually active in educating the public on space related subjects, lobbying governments for increased funding in space-related activities or supporting private space activities. They also recruit members, fund projects, and provide information for their membership and interested visitors. They are sub-divided into three categories depending on their primary work: practice, advocacy, and theory.

History

The idea that space flight was possible and necessary was introduced by groups of thinkers, primarily members of the Russian, American, British, and German science communities. Starting in the 1930s, these groups began to share their individual plans for a future in space to their respective governments and the public.
Influential books and other media began to emerge which included works containing illustrations by Chesley Bonestell such as The Conquest of Space and magazine articles including the "Man Will Conquer Space Soon!" series of article in Colliers magazine between 1952 and 1954. Television shows included Walt Disney's "Man in Space" and "Man and the Moon" in 1955, and "Mars and Beyond" in 1957.

Space movement

The space movement seeks the betterment of humanity and a greater future for everyone. According to Mark Hopkins from the National Space Society, each space organization has a different priority and short-term objective, but all organizations share the ultimate goal of building space settlements. Most of the leading non-profit space organizations joined together to form the Space Exploration Alliance. The Alliance was formed to "advocate for the exploration and development of outer space" to members of Congress. The Alliance organizes the annual Legislative Blitz to lobby members of Congress for space exploration, and every space enthusiast is encouraged to participate in the Legislative Blitz by calling, emailing, or personally visiting their Congressperson's office.

List of organizations

Actively involved

Organizations that are directly involved in space exploration, having their own active projects.
OrganisationFoundedPurpose and goalsPursuitsWebsite
SETI Institute1960, United Statesto search for extraterrestrial intelligent lifeRuns SETI
The Planetary Society1980, United Statesto explore the Solar System, search for near-Earth objects, and search for extraterrestrial lifeLaunched Cosmos 1
Artemis Projectwas a private venture to establish a permanent, self-supporting base on the Moon by 2002
Space Studies Institute1977, United States to organize and implement The Great Enterprise Initiative, a road map outlining the technologies and capabilities necessary for space settlement. Current projects include "G-Lab, a space-based variable or partial gravity laboratory E-Lab, a terrestrial 'systems-of-systems' integration lab that will bring together promising closed environment life support technologies into a comprehensive life support solution for space settlement."Runs Space Manufacturing conferences

Lobbying

Organizations that focus mainly on lobbying government agencies and businesses to step up their efforts.
OrganisationFoundedPurpose and goalsWebsite
British Interplanetary Society1933, United Kingdomto support and promote astronautics and space exploration
American Astronautical Society1954, United Statesdedicated to the advancement of space science and exploration
National Space Institute1974–1987, United Statesto help maintain public support for the US space program
L5 Society1975–1987, United Statesto promote the space colony ideas of Dr. Gerard K. O'Neill
Citizens' Advisory Council on National Space Policy1980, United Stateswas a group of prominent American citizens concerned with US space policy
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space1980, United Statesto promote space exploration and development through educational and engineering projects
Space Frontier Foundation1988, United Statesto promote large-scale settlement of the inner Solar System, under strong free market capitalism
Mars Society1998, Internationalto encouraging the exploration and settlement of Mars
Moon Society2000, Internationalto encouraging the exploration, economic development, and settlement of the Moon
California Space Authority2001, United States"to foster the development of specified activities in California related to space flight."
Space Exploration Alliance2004, United StatesAn alliance of major non-profit space organizations.
Coalition for Deep Space ExplorationUnited States"aerospace industry companies that are collaborating to advance the cause of space exploration."
Penny4NASA2012, United Statesto advocate for the increase of the NASA budget to 1% of the federal budget, or one penny of every tax dollar
SpacePAC2014, United StatesPolitical action committee committed to electing pro-space candidates to office.
Alliance for Space Development2015, United StatesAn alliance of major non-profit space organizations.

Educating and publicizing

Organisations involved in educating the public, to boost their understanding and enthusiasm about space.
OrganisationFoundedPurpose and goalsWebsite
Canadian Space Society1983, Canadato sponsor, promote and engage in activities designed to promote increased knowledge of space
National Space Society1987, United Statesan organization with the vision of "people living and working in thriving communities beyond the Earth," from the merger of L5 Society and National Space Institute
International Space University1987, Francea university dedicated to the discovery, research and development of outer space exploration for peaceful purposes
TMRO2008, United Statesa multimedia, internet based broadcaster dedicated to getting"...the planet excited about living among the stars."
Space Foundation1983, United Statesto advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable and propel humanity.
Tau Zero Foundation2004, United Statesto work together toward practical interstellar flight and to use this quest to teach about science, technology, and our place in the universe
Space for Humanity2018, United StatesAn education-oriented non-profit organization expanding access to space, training the leaders of tomorrow, and cultivating a movement towards a more harmonious world.

Theorizing

Organisations that focus on advocating a theory for space exploration or colonization.
OrganisationFoundedPurpose and goalsWebsite
Alliance to Rescue Civilizationdevoted to the establishment of an off-Earth "backup" of human civilization
Living Universe Foundationhas a detailed plan in which the entire galaxy is colonized.
The Mars Foundationthrough its Mars Homestead Project, is developing a unified plan for building the first habitat on Mars by exploiting local materials.
Build the Enterprisetheorises the possibility of building a spaceship similar in appearance to the USS Enterprise from Star Trek using current technology within the next two decades.

Issues

Critique

Private and state funded advocacy for space colonization, specifically the rationals and politico-legal regimes behind space exploration, like the "New Frontier" slogan, have been criticized for applying settler colonialism and the manifest destiny ideology, perpetuating imperialism and the narrative of colonial exploration as fundamental to the assumed human nature.