The post title is an acronym for "Yet Another Space Society," a running joke back in my space activist days in the eighties.

Here it is: Americans For Space.

There's no explanation of who they are, what they propose to do (other than "educate legislators"), of whether or not they're aware that there are other groups, many of which have been around for decades, purporting to do the same thing, or what unmet need they think they're filling with this new organization (if it indeed is that, and not just a website).

Sigh...

If you follow the link at the bottom of the page, it refers to the NADC, or National Aerospace Development Center in Anniston, AL. Directors are listed as Tim Huddleston, Cmdr Joe Edwards, and Ken Martin.

Oh, I saw that. But it doesnt't explain what that is, or who they are. All it provides is name, rank (in one case, anyway), and no serial number. It doesn't address my questions at all.

Tim Huddleston used to be executive director of the Aerospace States Association and, I believe, was one of the founders of the Space Exploration Alliance. So, he should be aware that there are other groups. As for how this group will distinguish itself from others, that's a bit unclear. Most of the stuff on the website seems rather boilerplate and generic, suggesting that they may not have developed many positions yet. On the other hand, it does say that the role of government is to be "a primary enabler, not a primary developer, of frontiers and industries." That, in itself, is enough to distinguish them from some groups.

They say there are a 501(C) non-profit, and they say they are trying to educate legislators.

If they take in $500K per annum and send one e-mail to each senator and congressman, they can spend the other $499,998.50 any way they want. I subtract $1.50 to cover the gas driving to the bank for a withdrawl and then to the library to send the e-mails from a free computer port.

Cynical? Not ME!!

I simply wonder how many more non-profits, of any stripe mind you, can we have and still ensure they actually are doing something worthwhile and NEEDED.

Why should they be needed and worthwhile? Because fellow tax payer, they get tax exempt status on those donations and government grants. They only have to pay taxes on money "taken" as income. From the non income money they can have tax exempt offices, cars, computers, phones, office supplies etc. Some of it will even go to the homes of the workers so they can work from home. Being a button holer requires long hours. With all of that for free they can spend their actual income on other things.

I know this happens because of someone I used to work with in the auto emmission testing industry. The guy was a minor player here in NC, He has worked himself into an "industry support center" for garages and emmission checking business. He rakes in a fortune, works about 2 months out of the year and has been "investigated" a half dozen times.

The IRS and other investigators say he skates pretty thin ice, but he has the rules on his side.

The money he gets for his supporters is his, until someone who gave complains.

That reminds me. I should set up a non-profit to educate those legislators on my need for $50 million or so. It's the least they can do for me since I'm such a sterling role model for our children. And we all know role models need to be properly funded by the federal government. I probably will have to kickback maybe 10% so I'll ask for $60 million to adequately cover those educational costs.

Sure, there are a lot of groups around promoting space access but .. where are they?

I've received not one advertisement, flyer, or seen a mass media commercial promoting their agenda. Ever. It might easy to conclude that either they don't exists of they are stuck in a rut somehow.

Sounds like the Mars Society:
http://www.marssociety.org/

My question: Where does the money go? The members probably get together for a keg party at the end of each month...

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