Foundation Executive Director Jeff Krukin presents the Foundation's Vision to Reality award to Anousheh Ansari, who recently visited the International Space Statiion.

April 30, 2007 – April 30, 2007 A core mission of the Space Frontier Foundation is to change the conversation about space. Accomplishing this means getting in front of new audiences and helping them understand that the decades-old view of space activity as a "program" is woefully inadequate for appreciating the full potential of human space activity. It's like the Black Knight in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" who, after having an arm cut-off by King Arthur, says, "It's only a flesh wound." He know's something is amiss, but the picture isn't clear.

So like King Arthur, I packed my vision and set-off with not much more than a PowerPoint presentation and two coconuts to bang together (if you don't get the reference, rent the movie... you'll love it!). This is my story... along with a closing tale of a significant accomplishment by several of the Foundation's Advocates... the NewSpace equivalent of the Knights of the Round Table (not to be confused with the Knights Who Until Recently Said "Nee").

Presenting our Vision to Reality award to Anousheh Ansari
Each year we present several different awards at our annual banquet, and "Vision to Reality" is reserved for those with the passion and tenacity to do precisely what the award states. Ms. Ansari did just that with her recent trip to the International Space Station. Since she is unable to attend NewSpace 2007 to receive her award, I traveled to St. Louis (she was there for the National Science Teachers Assoc. conference) to present the award to her at the Planetarium.

Despite an intense and hurried schedule, Ms. Ansari was gracious with her time, telling me: "I truly appreciate receiving the Vision to Reality Award from the Space Frontier Foundation. It is clear we share some common goals around demonstrating to the world that private sector and private citizens have the ability to assist in opening the space frontier to all the citizens of Earth. The reactions I've received from young people around the world tells me that space represents hope for the future, and they are eager to be part of creating a better future. I wish my schedule permitted me to be at your conference. Thank you for traveling to St. Louis to present the award to me." See previous award winners.

Advancing NewSpace in Europe
Did you know the Space Frontier Foundation is an international organization, with members in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia? And while the bulk of our work is in the US, we are focusing more on overseas activity. In late February I traveled to The Netherlands to present The Emerging Commercial Space Industry's Contribution to Sustainable Local Economic Development at the European Space Agency 2nd Space and Society Conference.

Although there are NewSpace entrepreneurs in Europe, and presenters from numerous government entities (ESA, European Space Policy Institute, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, etc.) discussed the need for private space endeavors, it's clear that the leaders of these organizations don't have the desire and/or political muscle to transform how Europe "does" space. Traditional space is even more entrenched on that side of the Atlantic than in the US.

And yet I feel I planted NewSpace seeds, for many people took notes during my presentation and much lively discussion ensued afterward. Sometimes change is brutally quick, other times it is glacially slow. Europe has experienced both, and however NewSpace grows in Europe (and it will!), the Space Frontier Foundation will contribute through the work of its European members and future visits such as mine. More about ESA 2nd Space and Society Conference.

Engaging Students
It's been said that a student has a better chance of becoming an NBA player than a NASA astronaut. As the NewSpace industry matures and grows in the years ahead, there will be many more in-space jobs besides being a government astronaut, and students need to hear this.

I live in Chapel Hill, NC (near Raleigh and Durham) and have presented to students at Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University. Most recently I visited the NC School for Science and Mathematics, where my presentation was video-broadcast to students at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology in Fairfax, VA.

Wherever I go, students absolutely love hearing about a NewSpace future. What really excites them is my suggestion that the three universities buy a Bigelow Aerospace module next decade and operate the world's first orbiting campus.

As I said, students need to hear this, so please visit your local schools and excite them about NewSpace.

National Defense University Spacepower Symposium
On April 26th I spoke on the "Space and the Commonwealth of Mankind" panel, part of the symposium entitled "Towards a Theory of Spacepower" held by the Institute of National Strategic Studies of the National Defense University.

As described at the event, "This symposium will review the progress of a year-long research effort headed by the Institute for National Strategic Studies, commissioned by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, to articulate an overarching spacepower theory. This spacepower theory is designed to provide policy makers and space professionals - whether in the national security, civil, or commercial sectors - with a shared intellectual foundation to address space activities. The goal is a comprehensive, robust, and articulate Spacepower theory that describes, explains, and anticipates principles governing the uses of space."

As this project continues, the Space Frontier Foundation will remain involved. Listen to my speech, read about the symposium (top of page).

Space Investment Summit
Although I've been talking about my recent activities, I'll finish with an event that signifies the power of teamwork (and where my role was quite small).

On April 17 the Space Frontier Foundation and Space Commerce Roundtable (led by Boeing's Paul Eckert) hosted a Space Investment Summit in Manhattan. Angel investors, venture capitalists and financial consultants converged to tell us that they see now as the time to invest in NewSpace. It's one thing to tell ourselves this, as we have been for years, but quite another to hear it from seasoned financial professionals. Several speakers even commented that the financial potential is greater than the heyday of the Internet boom.

This was a superb event, and the following Space Frontier Foundation Advocates deserve our thanks for a tremendous effort: Tom Olson, Rich Pournelle, Rick Tumlinson and Ed Wright. This team is already planning additional events. More about the Space Investment Summit.

And there you have it... a glimpse of how Foundationers work to earn your confidence and support as we advance NewSpace around the globe.

Sincerely,

Jeff Krukin