The Space Frontier Foundation Supports the 2003 International Lunar Conference

Hawaii Island, Hawaii, November 1, 2003 – Get ready for another historic and exciting lunar event this month. No, not the lunar eclipse which will be observable in the northern hemisphere this November 8. We are referring to the International Lunar Conference 2003 which is being held in Hawaii the week of November 16-22.

The International Lunar Conference 2003 is a decisive week-long gathering of American and international space program representatives, scientists and engineers, astronomers, business people and entrepreneurs, educators and enthusiasts – all seeking to develop global and inter-global understandings, strategies, initiatives and enterprises leading to a permanent human presence on our Moon within the decade.

It seems that the focus on the Moon is increasing with each passing day and these high profile lunar events are direct evidence of this shift. It couldn't come a minute too soon. We are all painfully aware that America has abandoned and neglected its arduously earned claim to bold leadership in space. It has allowed a once promising vision of adventure and hope in the future to wither on the vine. Rather than play its natural role of bold and daring exploration, NASA has squandered the lives of brave astronauts in pursuit of timid and shortsighted projects without any real vision for our future in space.

Now the Chinese have thrown down the gauntlet. They have openly expressed their ultimate goal of establishing a permanent presence on the Moon. The irony cannot escape us. That a nation that subjugates its own people to a circumscribed life of limited opportunities and freedoms, should embark on such a glorious enterprise, while the United States of America – the very beacon of freedom and opportunity in the world – so far has refused to jettison policies and transform institutions that have become obstacles to expanding that same freedom and opportunity to space. We are not asking for the government to do this. We are merely asking that it allow and encourage its citizens to make it happen through the power of free enterprise and individual ingenuity.

We wish our Chinese friends much success. We would obviously prefer that America once again take a leadership position in settling the Moon. But if it continues to refuse to do it, we are glad that some one will. And we also hold the hope that this grand and noble pursuit will have a transformative effect on Chinese society so that each person shall gain a larger measure of the inalienable freedoms with which they have been endowed.

The International Lunar Conference 2003 will bring together leaders in lunar exploration from all over the world. The ESA team responsible for SMART-1 will be there, American space entrepreneurs, NASA representatives who are working within the culture to bring the once awe inspiring agency back onto its visionary path.

The conference is being organized by Space Age Publishing – a long time friend and supporter of the Space Frontier Foundation and the Return To The Moon project. We share their enthusiasm and dedication to the lunar settlement goal.

We wish Steve Durst and Space Age Publishing a very successful event. What a great excuse to take the wife/husband on that Hawaiian vacation you have been talking about for years!

Space Age Publishing Company
75-5751 Kuakini Highway
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 USA
Phone: 808-326-2014
Fax: 808-326-1825
Web: http://www.spaceagepub.com