eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder) (12/21/83)
WHAT IS THE L5 SOCIETY?
(reprinted with permission from the L5 Society 1984 Calendar)
The L5 Society is a non-profit, tax exempt organization, formed with
the purpose of promoting space development. Since 1975, the organization
has been active in many areas advocating broader use of the tremendous
amount of resources available throughout the Solar System for the benefit
of all people.
To achieve the goals of this organization, much more is needed
beyond technical achievements. The socio-politico-economic struture
requires reorientation. The expansion of civilization into space is
dependant on social attitudes, political atmosphere, and economic realities.
The L5 Society seeks to favorably alter these conditions toward the goal
of space development.
TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS
Although the L5 Society is not currently engaged in space research,
the organization does issue grants to support ongoing projects. One
of the projects supported is the SpaceWatch Camera Project, which is
managed through the University of Arizona. This project will couple a
computer imaging device to a high power telescope to be placed at Kitt
Peak National Observatory. The telescope will be used to search the
skies for "Earth approaching asteroids", small objects in space that
cross the orbit of the Earth at some point during their orbit about the
Sun. Preliminary identifications of such objects with the SpaceWatch
Camera could lead to a sample return mission from one of these asteroids.
The relative proximity of "Earth approaching asteroids" could translate
into shorter mission times and an earlier utilization of extra-terrestrial
resources than would be possible with the use of "main belt asteroids".
The L5 Society has contributed to other projects, including closed
environment life support systems, and a study considering the building
of satellites to provide energy to Earth. The Society also supports the
work of the Citizen's Advisory Council on National Space Policy, a small
committee of aerospace engineers, lawyers, enterpreneurs, and advocates
working to design a coherent space program plan for the next several
years to come.
POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE
The L5 Society participates in the legislative process to the fullest
extent allowable under Federal law. Both through the Washington
Representation Committee and the growing metwork of individuals around
the country we have lobbied in support of space projects such as the
Space Shuttle fifth Orbiter option, the Galileo mission to Jupiter,
continued funding of space solar power systems research, and, most recently,
the establishment of a permanently-staffed space station in low Earth orbit.
The L5 Society has supported projects for both the sciences and applications,
always with a goal of a balanced space program.
Perhaps the most notable of the L5 Society lobbying efforts was the
fight against the "Moon Treaty of 1979". This agreement would have
effectively prevented the entry of private enterprise into space operations.
Quick action on the part of the L5 Society persuaded influential members
of the Senate, and eventually President Carter, not to sign or ratify the
treaty. Although several countries' leaders have signed the agreement,
none have ratified it. To this day, it remains effectively blocked.
ECONOMIC REALITIES
With the successful flights of the Shuttle, billed as the "space
truck", much emphasis is now being centered on commercial operations.
Experimentation onboard the Shuttle ranging from pharmaceutical manuf-
acturing to semiconductor crystal growth to new metal alloys will begin
to identify the processes that will return a profit on the investment.
As this becomes a reality, the demand for space transportation will
substantially increase.
Combining these alomost-certainties with President Reagan's recently
announced willingness to allow private interest to operate conventional
(i.e. expendable) launch vehicles, we at the L5 Society believe that the
economic feasibilities of space enterprises are nearly defined. We also
believe that many profitable ventures are yet to be discovered; and,
that this increased economic activity in space will manifest itself on
Earth even more profoundly than the establishment of a colony at Plymouth
Rock.
SOCIAL EXPANSION
The societal realities of today's world are at the top of the list
of stumbling blocks to large scale space development. The L5 Society,
through its network of over 100 local chapters, reaches out to people
all over the world to teach them about space. We show them what space
technology has done to change their lives--from improved communications
and weather forecasting, to improved agricultural management techniques.
We show them what space technology could be doing for them.
The L5 Society knows that its biggest job is educating--politicians,
engineers, technicians, doctors, lawyers, mothers, fathers, janitors,
secretaries and accountants, corporation presidents and mailroom
personnel. We go beyond educational exhibits in shopping malls and
presentations to local groups--both of which are worthwhile and important
activities. We go into the schools, to inspire the youth of our nation
to help us succeed. We have sponsored musical performances in New York
City, and we attended the US Festival in California. We assisted the
instrumental group 'The Ventures' in the production of a special
commemorative album for the 25th Anniversary of NASA. We do these things
because we know that social change is affected bymany different factors,
particularly through the arts.
[The origin of the name of the Society is gravitational. A French
mathematician named Lagrange once found some solutions to the still generally
unsolved "three-body problem". This is the problem of how to describe
the motion of three mutually attracting objects gravitationally. The
solutions he discovered were for the special case where one of the
objects was small compared to the other two, and all three objects
maintain the same relative positions.
There are five such postions, called L1 through L5 after Lagrange.
The first three are unstable, meaning if you move a little away from it,
you will tend to move further. This can be thought of as a gravitational
'hill'. The other two, L4 and L5, are stable. They are located in the
same orbit as the Moon, but sixty degrees behind and ahead of it
respectively. At one time it was proposed to build a colony at L5, hence
the name of the Society. It is still a purpose of the Society to disband
at a mass membership meeting held at L5. ]
[If you are interested in more information, there are a number of
sources you can contact. The office of the L5 Society is:
1060 E. Elm Street, Tucson Arizona, 85719 USA
There is a USENET L5 mailing list, which is handled by Don Coleman
at ...!dcdwest!sdccs6!iy120
If you have technical queries, you can contact me via USENET or
directly. I like answering questions.
Dani Eder
Boeing Aerospace
USENET: !uw-beaver!ssc-vax!eder DIRECT: (206)773-2923
Mail Stop 8A-88
POB 3999, Seattle WA 98124]