Just got a letter from the NSS to which I'm supposed to answer immediately!
Asking 7 questions about the US priorities in space (multiple choice) ; for instance: should the US focus on developing a next generation launch system or should it complete the ISS or should it develop a long term plan for space exploration or abandon everything in favor of the Moon and Mars ASAP?
There is a sense of urgency, because of Columbia. They want me to make a contribution with my reply ($250).

Frankly, knowing that the space program mainly depends on political decisions and the main decider is busy with other things that don't involve humans in space, I'm not enthusiastic about answering. The NSS people are evidently interesting folks (I don't know who Brian Chase is). I became member when Charles Walker was executuve director and I met with Lori Garver, once.
But I'm not sure the NSS of then (1990 to 1995) was the same as today's NSS.
And over the years, I receiveded countless letters signed by Buzz Aldrin, urging me this or that (knowing full well that he doesn't know me as personally as the letters implied).

Well, anyway, Ad Astra is an interesting magazine (though I get with months of delay the last issue is the nov-dec 2002 one).

Raoul