Theresa Holmes' introduction to Tim Roberts white papers:
******************************************************************************
I read with considerable interest the post from Jim Spellman sharing Elliot
Pulham's letter to Final Frontier, followed by Jim Davidson's response.
Between the two, we can see the extremes of attitude and vision within the
space development movement. Both writers have valid concerns and points. I
would like to share what the Colorado Springs Chapter of NSS is doing to
address them.

First, I met Lt Col Tim Roberts last October.  He's long been involved in
space development on the military side, and is, in fact, what might be called
an insider there.  He complained to me that neither the country nor NSS has a
workable strategy for space development and said he could write one in two
pages.  Naturally I challenged him to do so.  I would like to present it to 
the newsgroup for review and comment, along with his proposal for a way for 
NSS to adopt and implement it. 

Please address all comments to Tim at:

     tkroberts@kktv.com

Think about this: Members of NSS Board of Governors and Board of Advisors are
already doing some of the functions listed under the Committee. 

The Chapters' Assembly and/or HQ staff could be doing the work of the
Secretariat in providing the information and ideas gathered by the chapters
and other groups and individuals to the Committee for dissemination. 

And the chapters could be doing what Tim calls "the dogwork" -- the R&D --
much
as HAL5 is for both the Rockoon concept and the Foundry, or Moonbase Oregon is
for construction techniques for Lunar bases in lava tubes, etc. 

We're already doing what Tim is suggesting, but we're not doing it as
effectively as we could because there's been no formally stated, overarching
strategy that still
allows all of us to realize our own, often disparate, dreams within it.

Can we all agree that we want to live, work, and play in places off world? If
so, we're not arguing about ends, but means.  Let's stop arguing about means
and concentrate on developing a way for all the means to this end to be
followed at the same time. 

Our common agenda is the exploration, development, and settlement of space.
That's the agenda we should be presenting to Congress, the President, and
particularly the people of this country and the world. If we can do that, and
present the various means as what they are, channels for people to put their
energy into--or ideas that lead to new channels--then we will succeed in
realizing our common dream of conquering the Solar System.

Ad Astra per Levitas Nostra!
Theresa Holmes
Colorado Springs Chapter of NSS