National Space Institute

The National Space Institute was a space advocacy group established by the late Dr.Wernher von Braun (1912-1977) to help maintain the public's support for the United States space program.

Related Topics:
Space advocacy - Wernher von Braun - United States - Space program

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In its earliest stages of formation in June of 1974, NSI was first known as the National Space Association, but was renamed from ?Association? to ?Institute? in April of 1975. It later changed its name to the National Space Society shortly before its 1987 merger with the L5 Society, another space advocacy group started by the late Dr. Gerard K. O'Neill (1927-1992).

Related Topics:
National Space Society - 1987 - L5 Society - Gerard K. O'Neill

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The merged organization (see NSS wikipage) has continued to use the NSS name and logo after a joint membership vote was taken in 1987 to determine whether or not to change it to the Space Frontier Society.

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Dr. von Braun was the NSI's first president, but quickly became chairman with journalist and former ABC-TV "20/20" host Hugh Downs as president. Charles C. Hewitt was the first executive director.

Related Topics:
ABC-TV - 20/20 - Hugh Downs - Charles C. Hewitt

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Initial members serving on the NSI board of directors and governors were a veritable "Who's Who" list that included comedian and entertainer Bob Hope, singer/songwriter John Denver, oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, "Original 7" Project Mercury astronaut and Senator John H. Glenn, Jr., Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman, Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, Dr. Michael DeBakey, "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry and actress Nichelle Nichols.

Related Topics:
Bob Hope - John Denver - Jacques-Yves Cousteau - Project Mercury - John H. Glenn, Jr. - Apollo 8 - Frank Borman - Apollo 11 - Buzz Aldrin - Michael Collins - Dr. Michael DeBakey - Star Trek - Gene Roddenberry - Nichelle Nichols

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After some years of publishing a newsletter that became known as INSIght, the Institute entered into an arrangement with the publishers of Omni magazine whereby all members except life members would receive that magazine as part of their membership. Omni editor Ben Bova joined the NSI board, then became vice president and finally succeeded Downs as president. He continued as president after the Omni arrangement was discontinued and an agreement was made with Palmer Publications to make their monthly general space interest magazine Space World the official NSI member magazine.

Related Topics:
Omni - Ben Bova

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Under Bova and executive director Glen P. Wilson, the arrangements for merger with the L5 Society were concluded, and the name change to NSS was announced in advance of the merger, with vague explanations to the members that the name had to be changed because the name had to be changed. Since the merger, it has been claimed that the name change took place upon the merger, but the historical record to the contrary is clear.

Related Topics:
Glen P. Wilson - L5 Society

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A more complete history of the National Space Institute is contained in a series of articles published in the November/December 1994 issue of Ad Astra, the magazine of the NSS. Extracts from some of these articles are reprinted below:

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