Post-Detection SETI Protocols and METI: The Time Has Come To Regulate Them Both
There is an ongoing debate pertaining to the question of whether Earth should initiate intentional and powerful radio transmissions to putative extra-terrestrial (ET) civilizations in the hope of attracting ET's attention. This practice is known as METI (Messaging to...
Archeology, Anthropology, and Interstellar Communication
On 8 April 1960, astronomer Frank Drake inaugurated a new era in the search for civilizations beyond Earth. Pointing the 85-foot telescope of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Green Bank, West Virginia, toward two Sun-like stars in the galactic...
The Cathedral and the Starship: Learning from the Middle Ages for Future Long-Duration Projects
A popular analogue used in the space domain is that of historical building projects, notably cathedrals that took decades and in some cases centuries to complete Cathedrals are often taken as archetypes for long-term projects. Author Andreas M. Nein explores the...
Nuclear Propulsion for Manned Mars Missions
Illustration of a Mars transit habitat and nuclear propulsion system that could one day take astronauts to Mars. Credit: NASA Planning for a manned mission to Mars is on hold due to concerns regarding the health impacts of radiation exposure. Using conventional...
SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Space Tourism: A World Space Week Webinar
What impact will SpaceX and Blue Origin have on the space tourism industry? What is the state of the space tourism industry? To address the various issues associated with space tourism, the chapters of the National Space Society will be hosting the webinar SpaceX,...
Chicago Society for Space Studies Receives Speaker Outreach Award
At the National Space Society's Virtual Town Hall meeting of Thursday, July 30 2020, Chicago Society for Space Studies (CSSS)received the National Space Society's Excellence in Speaker Outreach Chapter Award. CSSS was presented with this award based on the strength...
What Horticulture and Space Exploration Can Learn from Each Other
The Netherlands is the second largest exporter of vegetables in the world, and more than half of its land area is used for agriculture with some greenhouse complexes covering 175 acres. However, to retain this leading position, the sector has acknowledged that it needs to keep innovating.
The Five Lagrange Points: L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5
When the Chicago Society for Space Studies was started 43 years ago (then known as the Chicago Society for Space Settlement), there was much talk about using the Lagrange points for space development.
Water and Air Consumption Aboard Interstellar Arks
The architecture of a large interstellar spaceship, which is capable of serving as a living environment for a population over many generations, is mainly dictated by the needs of said population in terms of food, water and breathable gases
World Ships: Feasibility and Rationale
World ships are hypothetical, large, self-contained spacecraft for crewed interstellar travel, taking centuries to reach other stars. Due to their crewed nature, size, and long trip times, the feasibility of world ships faces an additional set of challenges compared to interstellar probes.