I'll repost the quote referred to in the interview with the NSS executive-director.
It's a stinging, even damning indictment, but I believe it's true.

HS:" [QUOTE]In an interview with Paul Blase of TransOrbital, he noted that unlike the ham-radio community, which contributes generously to AMSAT projects, the 'space activist' doesn't
really get behind space-projects & help them financially...[UNQUOTE]".

OUCH!!...Actually, not that I'm boasting, but I actually do voluntarily contribute financially to such private space-projects/corporations as Team-Encounter, TransOrbital, etc...

BUT!...I bet that most of you so-called
'space-enthusiasts', who log-on to HABITABLEZONE.COM, don't voluntarily
contribute either in time, money to space-efforts [i.e., high-altitude rocketry projects; TransOrbital Inc, MirCorp Inc, etc...].

I estimate that out of maybe thirty-to-fifty regular contributors to HABITABLEZONE.COM forums only a handful
"put their money were their mouth is [or typing fingers are]"
Come on, guys & gals! We could do better than that!... that's if we're really serious about being enthusiastic
about private space-projects that NEED...that absolutely NEED private funds [your money] to keep going!"

Jacob