It’s taken a while, but we’ve put together a Membership Welcome Packet worthy of SD Space. Since we operate solely on membership dues, gifts and donations, we felt we needed to show appreciation for our sustaining membership accordingly.

Basic and Supporting Members will soon receive their Welcome Letter and this year’s patch. Also included is a subscription to our monthly email newsletter, email updates and notice of events and field trips, and checkout access to the Member Library and Archives. Brand new is our Membership card and badge. It can be used for discounts at the Emporium and check-in capabilities at SD Space events. Participating in these activities allows members to earn points that accumulate throughout the year. High point earners will be rewarded at the Annual Members Night at the end of the year.

Supporting Level Members will also receive an SD Space t-shirt via a gift certificate and our heart-felt appreciation displayed on the Emporium wall.

If you haven’t already, consider joining SD Space, either at the Basic or Supporting Level. And get involved. Help make your space society even better. We all have something we can give.

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Location:

Abundant Sugar (map)
618A Moulton Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90031

The LA Space Salon is a new and unique social event designed to be a reliable outlet within the space community for people to engage with one another, contribute their ideas, pose questions, hear from industry leaders, and coalesce efforts towards a cultural permeation of the values we share about space exploration. Our objective is simple: bring space professionals, enthusiasts and entrepreneurs together in an open discussion about our shared future beyond this world.

Each month, we will have a featured guest who will help us explore humanity’s path forward into space. These events are designed to be deeply engaging and leave time for plenty of mingling. Speakers start their presentations at 8:00 and will be followed up by a round of audience Q&A.

The speaker is followed by LA Space Salon’s open forum. All attendees are encouraged to participate in this months discussion question: “What is the single most important development in the next 5 years for moving the space industry forward? What can we begin to do now to make that a reality?” Come with your thoughts prepared and ready to share!

Please register here

Email events@sdspace.org if you’d like to join SD Space members planning to attend.

Remember July 20th, 1969? Many of you may not, as it’s been 42 years since the Apollo 11 astronauts walked on the Moon. Enjoy this NASA recap of the event.

Then take a moment to remember all of our amazing achievements in space, then and now, and envision our future!

The Space Travelers Emporium opened it’s doors for the summer South Park Walkabout. We celebrated our first year by sharing a special anniversary cake with visitors.

They also shook hands and took photos with our Mars Astronaut who strolled around the neighborhood sidewalk while other visitors took their turn driving one of the Rovers in the Mars Yard.

…what was probably the most amazing part of that night (aside from a group of dedicated people who share a common vision of our civilization and space), was just people… the normal people from all over, coming in to see this place! – Connor T.

We arranged a visit by author Dan Linehan who discussed his new book Burt Rutan’s Race to Space and signed a copy for those wanting one of their own. Didn’t get a copy? The Emporium has a few limited editions for sale, so stop by soon while supplies last.

More photos of the evening will be posted soon. (all photos courtesy of Jen Gilman)

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Location:
Sierra Nevada Corp – Space Systems
13855 Stowe Drive, Poway, CA 92064

It’s time again for the SD Space Summer Field Trips. We’ll start by touring the Sierra Nevada Corp (formerly SpaceDev) facility in Poway California.

Additional summer trips/tours are planned for SpaceX, NASA Dryden and a Mojave Spaceport (think XCOR, Masten Space Systems, Interorbital, etc) tour.

Ever heard of the DreamChaser? Or the hybrid rocket motors that powered SpaceShipOne and will power SpaceShipTwo? Then you’ve heard of the Sierra Nevada Corp – Space Systems division, nearby in Poway.

Formerly SpaceDev (founded in 1997 by Jim Benson), the Space Systems division is prominent for its spaceflight and microsatellite work. It designed and built the hybrid rocket motors for Paul Allen’s Tier One suborbital
SpaceShipOne space program operated by Scaled Composites. It is also developing micro- and nano-satellites, a small expendable launch vehicle, the SpaceDev Streaker, and has designed a piloted suborbital and orbital spaceship of its own, the SpaceDev Dream Chaser, in collaboration with NASA.

Please RSVP, as space is limited.

2:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Location:
Serra Mesa Branch Library (map)
9005 Aero Dr, San Diego, CA

Join us for a special June program meeting of the San Diego Space Society. Please note this is one week later than our regularly scheduled program date. This month’s topic is “Design Concepts for a Manned Artificial Gravity Research Facility” given by noted local researcher Joe Carroll of Tether Applications, Inc.

Joe will discuss what such a facility can do to advance the study of living in space. Topics covered:

* Focus on the overall effects of long-term hypogravity
* Allow realistic planning for Moon & Mars settlements
* Such a facility can address numerous physiology questions
* The facility can also resolve nearer-term issues

Joe will also reference and discuss “Packing for Mars” by Mary Roach, a recent book about human factors engineering in space. A limited number of copies of which will be available from the Space Travelers Emporium.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. RSVP to events@sdspace.org or e-mail if you have any questions.

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Location:
Space Travelers Emporium (map)
1947 30th St. San Diego, CA 92102

Join us for a fascinating look at visions of space travel from the early years. This month’s SD Space Movie Night we’ll show a Disney series on the BIG screen.

Before man ventured into space, Walt Disney took the nation there. This set of the Walt Disney Treasures consists of “Science Factual” shows that aired mostly in the 1950s. Ward Kimball, one of the company’s ace animators, directs three 50-minute segments on space travel dealing with space flight, going to the moon, and going to Mars. A combination of lecture (by the tops in the field, including lead rocket designer Dr. Werner von Braun), animation, live-action segments, and models, the three segments are still relevant as they effortlessly teach such elements as why rockets are in stages, what is gravitational force, orbiting, air pressure, and even the psychological effects on the mind. It is impressive how easily these Tomorrowland features entertain audiences of all ages. Of course, some of the details are wrong, but the wonder is not, and the final segment–a most poetic survey about what life might be like on Mars–illustrates Disney animated magic at its best.

1959 Rated G – 150 minutes

Popcorn provided. You’re welcome to bring any other snacks and [non-alcoholic] drinks to share.

Members and the public are welcome to attend. Email events@sdspace.org to RSVP.

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Location:
Space Travelers Emporium (map)
1947 30th St. San Diego, CA 92102

Continuing with our “science” theme for March, for this month’s SD Space Movie Night feature we’ll be watching “Monsters from the Id: Science is Mankind’s Last Great Hope” on the BIG screen.

The 1950′s was an idealistic time in American History, filled with hope, opportunity, and wonder. It was also, “The Atomic Age” where new technology promised to both save humanity as well as put it in jeopardy. All of these factors gave birth to one of the most prolific genres in film history, 1950′s Science Fiction Cinema.

Through the use of the movies themselves and expert analysis from scientists and educators, Monsters From The Id weaves the intersecting themes of over thirty classic films in order to tell the untold story of the Modern Scientist and his role in inspiring a nation. The film continues to explore the psychological and cultural impact of 1950′s Sci-Fi cinema and asks, “where is science inspiration found today?

More movie info here – 2008 Not Rated-53 minutes

Afterwards, an encore of Forbidden Planet is possible if attendees desire.

Popcorn provided. You’re welcome to bring any other snacks and [non-alcoholic] drinks to share.

Members and the public are welcome to attend. Email events@sdspace.org to RSVP.

On January 29th, members of the San Diego Space Society participated in the RHFleet Science Center’s public Challenger Mission. This two hour mission was in honor of the Challenger disaster of January 28th, 1986.

Dave, Scott, Rylee, Adrian, Gerry and Jesse joined children and adults from the community in a simulated manned mission to Mars. Set in the future where voyages to Mars are routine, each member of our “crew” had to perform specific roles to contribute to mission success.

Our mission included a voyage to Mars, building a probe to send to Phobos and a landing at the Mars Base. There we encountered a Martian sand storm which hastened the crew exchange and departure of the return flight. Flight navigation, remote geology sensing and life support were a few of the other important roles, each with it’s own activities and tasks.

Everyone had a great time and expressed interest in setting up another mission adventure for SD Space members and family in the near future. Sound interesting? Let us know at events@sdspace.org if you’d like to participate in a future SD Space Challenger Mission.

SD Space member and Director Derek Nye is once again posting about a fascinating space topic, this time it’s about the Ad Astra Rocket Company and advanced plasma rocket propulsion.

Sounds like something out of a cool sci-fi book, but it’s very real. It has been in development since the early 1970′s. One company in particular, led by Franklin Chang Diaz, has made significant strides in the development of this new rocket engine. It may give us the ability to travel to any planet in our solar system faster than we ever thought.

In this post, I will be talking about the Ad Astra Rocket Company, and their VASIMR (Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket) Engine. We will also discuss some of the criticism that has fallen on this technology. Lets first get acquainted with the founder, and work our way to the advanced plasma rocket fun…

Check out the blogpost The Ad Astra Rocket Company in it’s entirety.