Posted by Jesse Clark in Emporium, News on December 18, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2011
Contact:
Jesse Clark
San Diego Space Society
(619) 512-3592
info@sdspace.com
The San Diego Space Society is proud to announce two new additions to the Space Travelers Emporium. Jess Sanders will be joining as Emporium Manager focusing on store operations and facilities management while Rick Nichols will be joining as Emporium Marketing Manager focusing on space travel related experiences and industry relations.
The new appointments follow a year and a half of storefront operations in the South Park area of San Diego. Seeing the increased interest in commercial space operations and the many opportunities developing in and around space travel, the Directors of SD Space agreed to bring additional management on-board dedicated to facilitating and expanding the offerings of the Space Travelers Emporium.
Jess brings a strong focus in science and education and an interest in telling the space story.
Jess enjoys learning about all areas of science. Presently, he is focused on exploring concepts in quantum physics and cosmology. An avid reader of science fiction, Jess believes in the inspirational value of writers dreaming up possible futures for humanity, especially those that involve space exploration. He hopes to share his passion for science fantasy and fact with the public as a volunteer with Space Travelers Emporium.
Rick brings many years of “big ticket” item sales and marketing as well as a strong enthusiasm for space travel and related experiences.
Rick came to San Diego through the U.S. Navy, and made his home here working in sales and marketing in both the wireless communications and recreational boating industries. His lifelong enthusiasm for space exploration (Rick grew up fifteen minutes away from the childhood home of Neil Armstrong) and SCUBA diving has led to a keen interest in neutral buoyancy for both training and recreational purposes.
Look for new and exciting changes to the Emporium coming in 2012, including new space travel related products as well as activities and programs hosted at the Emporium.
About the SD Space
The San Diego Space Society (“SD Space”) was founded in 2008 with the purpose of raising awareness and educating the general public to the benefits of human exploration of space and San Diego’s role in space development, as well as to the idea of creating a spacefaring civilization within our lifetimes.
SD Space is headquartered at the Space Travelers Emporium, a storefront and workshop in the South Park neighborhood.
Posted by Jesse Clark in News on November 26, 2011
NASA has successfully launched the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft, including the new SUV sized rover, Curiosity! 
The MSL rover will assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life. In other words, its mission is to determine the planet’s “habitability.”
After a 60 million mile flight, the spacecraft is due to arrive at Mars on Aug. 6, 2012.
For more information on MSL and it’s Mission, check out the JPL website.
Safe journey Curiosity!
Posted by Jesse Clark in News on July 22, 2011
SDSpace submitted this op-ed about the end of the space shuttle program for publication in an upcoming edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper.
On July 21st in the early morning, Space Shuttle Atlantis touched down at Kennedy Space Center, capping NASA’s 135th and final shuttle mission after 30 years of flight. It also marked the end of an era for the American manned space program.
There are two ways to look at this historic event. Some see the retirement of the space shuttle fleet as bad for America, because it leaves NASA unable to send American astronauts into orbit, giving up our technical lead in space and bringing an end to the manned space program. Others, including many of us at the San Diego Space Society, believe instead that the end of the shuttle program opens up a new beginning for NASA and human space exploration.
Click here for the full text.
Also posted on SignOn San Diego.
Posted by Jesse Clark in News on March 6, 2011
Local space historian Francis French wrote an article about Gargarin’s visit to Manchester England that was published in the British Interplanetary Society in Spaceflight in July 1998.
In the rush of publicity that followed Gagarin’s extraordinary transformation from an unknown pilot to one of the world’s most famous names, the Soviet press was quick to highlight Gagarin’s working roots. Indeed, this useful publicity aspect was a consideration in his selection as a cosmonaut. In 1951, Yuri Gagarin had been a foundry worker. He completed a course at a vocational school in Lyubertsy, outside Moscow, with distinction, qualifying as a moulder. A few years later, while still studying, he joined an aero club, which set him on the road to becoming the first person in space on 12 April 1961.
Check out the full article republished on the yurigagarin50.org website for upcoming 50th anniversary celebration.
Posted by Jesse Clark in Chapter Updates, Events, News on January 29, 2011
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.
Jess brings a strong focus in science and education and an interest in telling the space story. 
Rick brings many years of “big ticket” item sales and marketing as well as a strong enthusiasm for space travel and related experiences.
