OMNI February 1981

First Word, by B. O'Leary
     It is up to us...to support a vigorous program of space exploration...  We are on the threshold of mankind's ultimate dream, the expansion of civilization into space.  The vast abundance of resources beyond the earth with generate an explosive renaissance on Earth before the turn of the century.  Mastery of space is tantamount to mastery of our collective future.  Engineering studies show there are many feasible, independent, and economic paths leading to potentially huge industries in space: satellite solar power, orbiting factories, space stations, and asteroid mining, to mention just a few.  But we must start now.  ...we will surely suffer the consequences of our lost leadership sometimes in the late 1980s.  Over the coming months, the Omni staff and I will begin to link up with a broadly based coalition geared toward reinvigorating the national space program.  We will be circulating pamphlets that tell you what you can do as a citizen.  We will be appearing on television...and travelling...throughout the country, giving lectures and showing films.  We will be distributing newsletters...  This is a call to battle.  Last year the 1984 Galileo orbiter mission...was killed in congress.  ...it was restored by a coalition of space activists.  The staff at Omni concocted a letter-and-telegram drive that turned it all around.

Space Activism, by T. E. Bell
     The decision to enter the political arena is a fundamental change of strategy for the space movement.  ...the environmentalist leaders came from the ranks of...civil-rights and...anti-Vietnam War...  They provide a model the space groups must follow if they are to be effective, and the space activists are determined to learn.  The PACs have been supplemented by the Space Coalition, a lobbying organization led by...president of the L-5 society, that intends to speak out...in all legislation involving space development.  ...some groups...are calling on the resources and energy of college students, especially for events such as Space Week.  Student space groups already exist...  Many lump even the most serious promoters of space development together with "trekkies," those who believe in UFOs, and other cultists.