The Alliance for Space Development is a
space advocacy
Space advocacy is supporting or advocating for a human use of outer space. Purposes advocated can reach from space exploration, or commercial use of space to even space settlement. There are many different individuals and organizations dedicat ...
organization dedicated to influencing
space policy
Space policy is the political decision-making process for, and application of, public policy of a state (or association of states) regarding spaceflight and uses of outer space, both for civilian (scientific and commercial) and military purposes. I ...
towards the goal of permanent human
settlements in space.
The founding executive members of the Alliance are the
National Space Society
The National Space Society (NSS) is an American international nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and scientific organization specializing in space advocacy. It is a member of the Independent Charities of America and an annual participant in the Combi ...
and the
Space Frontier Foundation
The Space Frontier Foundation is an American space advocacy nonprofit corporation organized to promote the interests of increased involvement of the private sector, in collaboration with government, in the exploration and development of space. I ...
.
Member organizations of the Alliance are the
Lifeboat Foundation
The Lifeboat Foundation is a nonprofit organization in Reno, Nevada, dedicated to the prevention of global catastrophic risk. Technology journalist Ashlee Vance describes Lifeboat as "a nonprofit that seeks to protect people from some seriously c ...
, Mars Foundation,
Mars Society
The Mars Society is a nonprofit organization that advocates for human Mars exploration and colonization, founded by Robert Zubrin in 1998. It is based on Zubrin's Mars Direct plan, which aims to make human mission to Mars as lightweight and fe ...
, The Moon Society, Space Development Foundation, Space Development Steering Committee, Space For Humanity, Space Renaissance USA,
Space Tourism Society
The Space Tourism Society (STS) is a California 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1996 by John Spencer, a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Space Society, with the goal of promoting space tourism.
Their stated goal, ...
,
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) is a non-profit international student organization whose purpose is to drive space advocacy of space exploration and development through educational and engineering projects.
Histo ...
, Students on Capitol Hill, Tea Party in Space, and Waypaver Foundation. The primary goals of the Alliance are to elevate the growth of the space industry, reduce the cost of accessing space, and to clearly define space settlement as the reason for sending humans to space.
Objectives
The 2015 objectives of the Alliance are to amend the NASA Space Act to make the development and settlement of space a national purpose, reduce the cost of access to space, complete support for the
Commercial Crew Transportation program, and ensuring a gapless transition from the International Space Station to future space stations.
The Alliance is also proposing a “Cheap Access to Space Act” to offer $3.5 billion in government prizes for the development of
reusable launch vehicles.
Activities
The Alliance participates in the March Storm, a grassroots action to lobby Congress in Washington D.C., and the August Home District Blitz.
Reception
Paul Brower wrote that what was missing from the Alliance's goals is the objective of
colonizing the moon. In response, Al Globus, an Alliance board member, wrote that the Alliance is focused on the technological development that must precede a successful space settlement regardless of where that settlement is located.
References
External links
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Space advocacy organizations
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