The Houston Space Institute will be a place where those interested in learning more about space come together to
share their knowledge, carry out research, and establish relationships for the opening of the space frontier. It will provide
training and teaching in a variety of subjects and disciplines for people ages 16 and older. It will offer specialized education
in subjects not offered elsewhere. The Houston Space Institute will serve the role comparable to that which Prince Henry’s
School for Navigators served in the Fifteenth Century, training a generation of spacefarers. As part of its role in education
and research, the Institute will be a think tank where advanced research into subjects relating to policy, commercial
activities, and space resource utilization is conducted. Wherever possible, the work of the Institute will be applied to
private sector activities, and an industrial park will be established adjacent to the Institute as soon as possible. The
long-term goal of permanent human settlements in space will be preserved, researched, and advanced by the Institute.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Houston Space Institute is to provide facilities for training and research, faculty and staff
for the advancement of knowledge, graduates to lead the industrialization and settlement of space, and an
enclave where those interested in space can congregate. The Houston Space Institute will ensure the existence
of at least one institution dedicated to the opening of the space frontier to human settlement and economic development.
Operations
The three major operational aspects of the Houston Space Institute are education and training, research and
development, and facilities and administration.
B. College Level Education
The Houston Space Institute will provide college level courses and may choose to have certain courses certified or
accredited for transfer credit to other colleges and universities. Primary emphasis will be placed on fields related to
business and the media, with secondary emphasis placed on fields in science, engineering, mathematics, and
computers. Communications skills will be emphasized across the curriculum. Associates Degree and Bachelor’s
Degree programs will be established by the Houston Space Institute within four years of its founding.
C. Graduate Level Education
The Houston Space Institute will provide graduate level courses and may choose to have certain courses certified
or accredited for transfer credit to other colleges and universities. Primary emphasis will be placed on fields related
to business and the media, with secondary emphasis placed on fields in science, engineering, mathematics, and
computers. Master’s Degree and Doctorate programs will be established by the Houston Space Institute within ten
years of its founding.
D. Adult or Continuing Education
The Houston Space Institute will provide adult or continuing education courses beginning within six months of its founding.
Primary emphasis will be placed on fields related to business and the media, with secondary emphasis placed on fields in
science, engineering, mathematics, and computers. Courses will initially be offered in areas where expertise is readily
available to the Institute.
Research and Development will be made consistently part of the mission of the faculty and staff of the Houston Space Institute.
A primary research mission is to characterize the lunar surface for prospective human settlement. To further this research mission,
the Institute will develop experiments, facilities, and equipment for orbital and surface operations. Another primary research mission
is to identify features of previous frontier-opening ventures that are applicable to the space frontier. To further this research mission,
the Institute will accumulate research materials, sponsor research papers, and publish the results of research.
Research and Development will necessarily require substantial funding. To obtain funding, the Institute will enter into cooperative relationships with other institutions of higher learning and selected public schools, support research grant proposals, apply for foundation and corporate support, and establish a research fund with a budget independent from all other Institute budgets.
B. Labs & Classrooms
The Houston Space Institute will establish a permanent campus in or near Houston within four years of its founding.
The campus will include facilities for labs and classrooms, and be adjacent to land appropriate for an industrial park.
Prior to establishing the permanent campus, the Institute will borrow classroom facilities and lab space from other institutions,
from private foundations and corporations, and from individuals as available.
C. Fundraising
The Houston Space Institute will raise funds by direct solicitation, grant applications to private corporations and
foundations, and grant applications to local, state, and Federal agencies. The initial budget for the Houston Space Institute
will be spent entirely on direct solicitation fundraising from individuals. The Founding Documents of the Houston Space Institute
will be published in a form suitable for direct mail solicitations. Research papers and other publications will be developed for
sale under a Houston Space Institute Press.
D. Administration
Accounting, management, and maintenance services will be provided, whenever possible, by volunteers or through
donated resources. The Houston Space Institute will make every effort to keep accounting, management, and
maintenance functions from expending more than 10% of the total annual budget of the Institute.
The initial activity for fund raising should be to conduct a series of mailings to available lists of space-interested people. These should describe the need for the Institute, its mission, the vision of what it can become, and solicit contributions for specific purposes.
Supporters
Supporters are those who provide support either through volunteering time or through donating money. Supporters need
to be identified by frequent mailings and other forms of direct solicitation (grant applications, etc.). Supporters need to be
rewarded with information, events to attend, and special forms of recognition.
Adherents
Adherents are those who agree with the mission of the Institute and support it indirectly through favorable comments, written
praise, or other actions. Adherents need to be identified by monitoring the media and business environment. Adherents
need to be rewarded with thank you letters, invitations to events, and special forms of recognition.
Founders
Founders are those who agree with the mission of the Institute, see the vision of what it can become, and work to make
that vision a reality. Founders are the initial supporters together with those who make early contributions of a magnitude to
ensure the success of the Institute. Like supporters, they need to be identified and rewarded.
Trustees
Trustees are those who accept responsibility for the long-term care and growth of the Institute. They are named by the
officers of the Houston Space Society initially, and are self- perpetuating. Trustees of the Institute may be reimbursed f
or their expenses, but may not be remunerated by the Institute. Trustees may not serve simultaneously as advisors,
faculty, or staff of the Institute under any circumstances. Trustees are appointed for a one-year term, and may be
re-appointed indefinitely.
Advisors
Advisors are those who agree to share their wisdom and experience to help the Institute grow and develop rapidly and
successfully. Advisors may be volunteers or they may be paid by the Institute for their expertise.
Note to Contributors:
The Houston Space Society, a 501c3, non-profit corporation organized for educational and charitable purposes in the
State of Texas, has obtained an assumed name ("doing business as" or DBA) styled "Houston Space Institute," and
has the exclusive rights to that name in Harris County, Texas.
All contributions to the Houston Space Society or its DBA the Houston Space Institute, are tax deductible as charitable contributions. Information about the Houston Space Society, including such trivia as our tax identification number, is available in writing. We may be contacted at:
