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Upcoming Boston NSS Events

Thursday, July 11, 7:30pm

"The Exploration of Venus"
by Larry Klaes

Larry Klaes will discuss the 35-year history of robotic probe exploration of the planet Venus by Soviet and American craft. The lecture details the evolution of our understanding about this mysterious and hellish world and what the human race may one day do with our nearest planetary neighbor. Larry is a member of the Boston NSS Board of Directors and the former Chapter President. [Note that the July meeting will be held on the second Thursday of the month to avoid a conflict with the Independence Day holiday.]

Saturday, August 17

Boston NSS Annual Picnic

Join fellow chapter members for an afternoon of food and fun at the home of the chapter treasurer, Roxanne Warniers. More information to follow!

Philadelphia Area Space Alliance News

by Jay Haines

PASA meets regularly for a business luncheon and formal meeting from 1-3 pm, the third Saturday of every month at Smart Alex Restaurant, Sheraton University City, 35th & Chestnut. 2 hours of free parking with validation.

Scheduled activities: Sat., July 20th, Space Day (see below), no formal meeting; Sat., August 17th, formal meeting; Tues., August 27th, 6:30 pm informal meeting; November 22-24, Philcon. Call Michelle for details.

June 15th meeting: Jim Chestek discussed the recent passage of two asteroids: 1996JA1, 250 m. diameter., 280,000 mi. distant (lunar distance), and 1996JB, 500 m. diameter., 1.8M mi. distant. He also noted the availability of a new book: Hazards Due to Comets and Asteroids.

Earl Bennett discussed the May/June issue of the NASA Space Technologies Innovation magazine. He also discussed a science fact article in the July Analog magazine on amateurs designing a spacecraft using new technologies who want help, and a fiction story on the use of three- propellant fuels.

Hank Smith reported on the Phila. Science Fiction Society's Philcon '96 science programming plans, and on the 1998 Worldcon in Baltimore. Mitch Gordon reported on the May/June Ad Astra magazine, including the "Take Up Space" campaign, and the May Inside NSS magazine.

Michelle Baker, Earl, Jim, and Don Cox attended the ISDC in NYC. All were enthusiastic about the conference, and reported the highlights of their experiences: the Interstellar Conference, the Challenger Center trip, Robert Zubrin's kickoff of the "Take Up Space" campaign, new technology ideas, the popularity of the PASA liquid-mirror optics demonstrator (technical references: call Earl at (610)644-8654), and the X-Prize for the first man-rated launcher capable of repeatable use within one week (X-Prize, 10721 Gloxinia Dr, Rockville MD 20852).

July 20th Space Day event: PASA exhibition at Trenton State Museum, 9am to 4 pm. All welcome to assist at our table. Maps available. Call Michelle for details.

Earl is coordinating the construction of a Slingatron- launcher working demonstrator. Anyone interested in assisting, call him at (610)644-8654.

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