National Space Society

The National Space Society (NSS) is an American international nonprofit organization. It works to teach people and support the idea of exploring and using space. The NSS hopes for a future where people can live and work in space, using space’s resources to improve life for everyone.

The society believes in people traveling to space and sending robots to explore. It supports these efforts whether they are done by governments, like NASA, the Russian Federal Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or by private companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic. Their goal is to help make space travel and exploration possible for everyone.

History

The National Space Society started in the United States on March 28, 1987, when two groups joined together. These groups were the National Space Institute, started in 1974 by Wernher von Braun, and the L5 Society, started in 1975 by Gerard K. O’Neill.

For many years, the National Space Society has helped teach people about space and supported space projects. In 2014, it started a program called Enterprise In Space to encourage interest in space and subjects like science and math. In 2023, Isaac Arthur was chosen to be President for two years. In 2025, the society and other space groups planned a special Day of Action for October 5 and 6.

Ad Astra

The Society publishes a magazine called Ad Astra. It is released four times a year, and you can read it in printed copies or online.

International Space Development Conference

The society has a yearly event called the International Space Development Conference. This conference is held in big cities in the United States, often around the Memorial Day weekend.

NSS Chapters network

NSS has chapters all around the world. These chapters can be in schools, cities, or towns. Some chapters focus on topics like rocketry, astronomy, or education. They work together to share ideas about space exploration and teach others about it.

National Space Society of Australia

There are many chapters in Australia. Three chapters were started in Sydney, Adelaide, and Brisbane. Later, they joined together to form the National Space Society of Australia to help connect all these groups. Similar groups have also started in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Awards

The National Space Society gives out awards each year at its big space meeting. These awards honor people and teams that do great work in space.

One important award is the Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award. It is given every two years to people who help humans live and work in space. Some past winners are William Shatner, Elon Musk, and Stephen Hawking.

Another award is the NSS Von Braun Award. This is given in the years between the Heinlein Awards to teams and leaders who do excellent work on space projects. Winners include the team behind the James Webb Space Telescope and Gwynne Shotwell.

There are also Space Pioneer Awards given each year to people and teams that make big steps in exploring space. Recent winners include Rod Pyle and the team behind the Mars Curiosity Rover.

The society also helps with other awards and contests for students, like the Gerard K. O'Neill Space Settlement Contest, where students design ideas for future space communities.

Affiliations

The National Space Society helps lead the Alliance for Space Development.