Space policy roundup – Oct.20.13

A selection of space policy related items:

UpdateA post-shutdown roundup – Space Politics

AMSAT & ISS amateur radio news

Go to AMSAT News for the latest headlines about developments in amateur and student satellites and for updates about amateur radio on the ISS.

ANS 293 Weekly AMSAT Bulletin – October 19, 2013:
* Cutoff Dates for AMSAT Space Symposium Quickly Approaching
* AMSAT Symposium – VUCC/WAS Card Checking
* CAMSAT (AMSAT China) DX Party
* Hams in Space Team Appearing at the ARRL Midwest Division Convention
* New Satellite Operator on an Oil Platform in the Gulf of Mexico
* The ARRL Centennial QSO Party Includes Satellite Operation
* ARRL Reinvents Newsletter for Teachers and Instructors

Space artwork goes for nearly $4M

Christies  just had an auction of Post-War and Contemporary Art and it included the piece Böcklin’s Tomb (copied from ‘Floating Cities’ 1981 by Chris Foss) by Glenn Brown.  Brown is known for taking existing work and embellishing it. This piece is a variation on Floating Cities by well known  illustrator Chris Foss, who has done many space science fiction works.

Böcklin’s Tomb (copied from ‘Floating Cities’ 1981 by Chris Foss) 
It’s not exactly my idea of realistic space art but it definitely is space themed. It made a big impression on the person who purchased it for $3.8M.
Update Jan.9.14: Brown sells another work derived from another sci-fi artist: How a Science Fiction Book Cover Became a $5.7 Million Painting- io9

Kickstarting the Luna Project Medalet Program

Christopher Carson, a fervent advocate of putting humans on the Moon and one of the “stars” of the documentary Lunarcy!, has opened a Kickstarter campaign to fund the Luna Project Medalet Program : Fire This Time — Luna City Mint 2013 by C.D. “publius” Carson — Kickstarter

Photo-main

The Luna Project stands for nothing less than the liberation of humanity, the transformation of mankind from a species tied to one planet, to one free and at home in the vastness and wonder of the Universe.  The first step — one which must and can be taken without further delay — is to establish a foothold on the Moon, as a first center of civilization beyond Earth, and a supply base for steps farther out.  And this step can and must be taken by those people, around the world, who care about it and understand its importance.  Nobody, whether governments, businesses, or millionaire patrons, will do for us what we are not willing to do for ourselves.

This message has to be spread far and wide to be effective.  So much the better if it spreads itself.  This can be helped along with promotional materials of the sort that people will show off to their friends and neighbours — bumper stickers, for example, and badges.

The best part of a thousand medalets, some in packaging
The best part of a thousand medalets, some in packaging

An especially distinctive and popular Luna Project promotion has been the medalet, a coin-like item about the size of a US quarter-dollar, typically put up in an attractive package with an informative insert card.  A thousand of these were made back in 2008, by a private mint which afterwards folded.  The intention was to release new types periodically, soliciting new designs (perhaps by way of contests) so as to engage artists, who are not as well represented in the space movement as they should be.

After many delays and diversions, the Medalet Program is moving forward.  A new pattern of medalets has been designed, but now it has to be committed to metal.  And that is where you come in.

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The means to the end of getting these new medalets struck is the Luna City Mint, and so this campaign has to — well, kickstart it.  Once it is operating, there is a clear way forward for the further development of the Medalet Program.  And, when its capabilities are not otherwise occupied, it can help pay for itself by taking on outside work.  Maybe that will include a project of yours.

Update: Speaking of Lunarcy! here’s a trailer for it: