Author
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Topic: Mark Hopkins, space advocate (1949-2023)
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 50578 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-17-2023 09:00 AM
National Space Society release Long-Serving Space Settlement Advocate Mark Hopkins Passes OnFormer National Space Society CEO Had a Long History of Supporting Space Initiatives It is with condolences and appreciation for his past service to the National Space Society that we announce the passing of Mr. Mark Hopkins on Monday, May 8, 2023. Anita Gale, NSS CEO, said, "Mark Hopkins has been a visible part of the space settlement movement from the very beginning. Much of what NSS is and does today is because Mark made it happen. As the torch is passed to a new generation of space settlement advocates, we will remember Mark's many contributions." Hopkins was a long serving member of the National Space Society and one of the key founders from the organization's early days as the L5 Society. He had a BS in Economics from the California Institute of Technology and an MA in economics from Harvard University. When not volunteering for the NSS, he had a long career with the RAND Corporation, and provided economic analyses of space settlement for multiple studies including one that resulted in the publication of NASA SP-413 "Space Settlements: A Design Study" in 1977. Lori Garver, former NSS Executive Director and former Deputy Administrator of NASA, said "Mark Hopkins was one of the early space pirates and among a handful of people who initially recognized the value of expanding the economic sphere beyond Earth and its atmosphere. As a leader in the L5 Society, he was instrumental in negotiating the merger with the National Space Institute, creating the National Space Society. Mark's dedication to establishing a spacefaring civilization was unmatched and his determination advanced the day when this will become a reality." In 1975 Hopkins joined the first Board of Directors of the L5 Society, a citizen group dedicated to making Gerard K. O'Neill's vision of the human settlement of free space a reality. In 1987 he was part of the team that negotiated the merger of the L5 Society with the National Space Institute to form the National Space Society (NSS). He held many positions within the organization over the decades, including most recently CEO Emeritus. Hopkins was especially interested in using the political process to advance the cause of space settlement and founded Spacecause and Spacepac for this purpose. He was also active in the successful fight to prevent the United States from ratifying the so-called "Moon Treaty" which would have created obstacles to space development and settlement. Hopkins also traveled to India and China to discuss challenges facing global space powers. NSS Board of Governors Chairman Karlton Johnson said, "Over the years, Mark shepherded an influx of donations to strengthen the NSS's educational programs and advocated for NSS priorities in Washington, D.C., as well as strengthening the society's international ties in key strategic growth areas. His belief in space settlement has served as a cornerstone for the NSS." More recently Hopkins initiated the NSS annual Space Settlement Summit, an invitation-only gathering focused on bringing together leaders in the field of space settlement. The sixth annual Summit is currently planned for October 27-28 in Phoenix Arizona under the co-chairmanship of Greg Autry and Zaheer Ali, both professors at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. As NSS Secretary David Brandt-Erichsen commented, "It's people like Mark Hopkins who will give humanity the stars." Those wishing to honor Mark Hopkins's work with the NSS may make a donation here. On a personal note, I first met Mark when I joined the National Space Society's staff as a college intern and was assigned a desk opposite his. Mark's dedication to the cause was clear from the start and I learned from his example. |
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2958 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 05-17-2023 10:12 AM
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Kevin T. Randall Member Posts: 1510 From: Chesham, Bucks UK Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 05-17-2023 11:11 AM
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apolloprojeckt Member Posts: 1532 From: Arnhem, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 05-17-2023 11:39 AM
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gareth89 Member Posts: 561 From: Ireland Registered: May 2014
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posted 05-17-2023 11:44 AM
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dss65 Member Posts: 1333 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 05-17-2023 11:47 AM
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AstroCasey Member Posts: 78 From: Registered: Feb 2019
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posted 05-17-2023 01:00 PM
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dom Member Posts: 1037 From: Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 05-17-2023 01:23 PM
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mode1charlie Member Posts: 1411 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 05-17-2023 03:14 PM
He will be very missed.. |
Blackarrow Member Posts: 3604 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-17-2023 04:42 PM
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Kite Member Posts: 1082 From: Northampton UK Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 05-17-2023 05:01 PM
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SpaceCadet1983 Member Posts: 442 From: Pacific NW, United States Registered: May 2012
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posted 05-17-2023 05:54 PM
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SkyMan1958 Member Posts: 1295 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 05-17-2023 06:46 PM
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MartinAir Member Posts: 291 From: Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 05-17-2023 07:32 PM
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rjb1elec Member Posts: 356 From: Merseyside, England Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 05-18-2023 04:16 PM
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star51L Member Posts: 510 From: Vilano Beach, FL, USA Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 05-20-2023 03:09 PM
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David Carey Member Posts: 989 From: Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 05-20-2023 04:42 PM
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Gilbert Member Posts: 1490 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 05-24-2023 02:04 PM
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capoetc Member Posts: 2337 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 05-24-2023 07:20 PM
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cddfspace Member Posts: 631 From: Morris County, NJ, USA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 06-06-2023 09:42 AM
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hlbjr Member Posts: 553 From: Delray Beach Florida USA Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 06-10-2023 03:05 AM
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MartinAir Member Posts: 291 From: Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 06-10-2023 10:26 AM
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