Suffolk Challengers for Space, chapter of National Space Society

Suffolk Challengers for Space is a chapter of the National Space Society which is a space lobbying and advocacy group which lobbies Congress for additional funding for NASA and other space programmes. They also are involved in increasing public awareness about the benefits of space research to society. For more information on the National Space Society, click here.

As a college teacher I also use a great deal of educational material provided by NASA on the website for the Space Shuttle Team Online. Click here for the

Space Shuttle Team Online.

Another mission of Suffolk Challengers is to educate more on the international space programmes such as the International Space Station and the role that France plays with ESA and the relationship of France with NASA and space and science in general.

This summer STS-93 flew succesfully with Ellen Collins, the first woman shuttle commander and this mission had an astronaut from France. The president of Suffolk Challengers had the pleasure of meeting Ellen Collins at SUNY Stonybrook.Suffolk Challengers for Space,also wishes to salute the first woman shuttle commander on a successful mission!
There is also a joint Franco-American joint education venture for American and French students in the sciences in Silicon Valley . Here students from France get to communicate with NASA astronauts.

Suffolk Challengers for Space was founded in 1987 in order to increase Long Island and NY area awareness of the benefits of space and carry out the mission of NSS. Our chapter conducts resarch and lectures on space spinoffs, space commercialization, space/aviation business, and how microgravity makes space accessible to people with varying mobility disabilities.
Here is an article that I wrote and had published on spinoffs for people with disabilities..

Also I have written an article about the use of all female shuttle crews for NASA. The article is somewhat controversial but is in no way meant to discriminate against males or to discredit all male shuttle crews. It is only meant as an illustration of a different perspective and as food for thought. If you wish to view the article, click their site here and conduct a search .The article was written in the summer. I believe this is a daily journal. Also this site has many current articles on international space programmes including ESA and the programme in France.

Here is a great site for additional information on space exploration and shuttle news.. This site also gives space advocates addresses, phones and emails to contact their elected representatives on space issues as well as give history of monumental space events. One of the things that Suffolk Challengers also does is to lobby our elected officials for NASA funds.

The current membership of Suffolk Challengers includes the President/Founder and Treasurer Professor L Lavorata,MBA (pursuing doctorate), secretary and president's assistant, Mr. Al Meyer, MSEE, MBA, and members Mr. Chris Mastelli, Ms. Sharon Zotara-Claps, M.Ed, Mr. Edward Bart, Mr. Charles Hannabeul,MA and from a distance, Mr. Scott Senate, MSEE. We are currently revising our newsletter which will be a semiannual newsletter called the The Challengers Log .

If you would like to submit any space-related articles,or if you wish to join NSS and Suffolk Challengers for Space please contact Suffolk Challengers for Space by snail mail at 182 Millard Ave West Babylon, NY 11704, email at lavoral@sunysuffolk.edu, or phone at 516-321-0964 weekdays before 9:15am Eastern time or weekends before 11am Eastern time. To join Suffolk Challengers for Space, you must be an NSS member. With your NSS membership you receive a subscription to the magazine Ad Astra and discounts on space merchandise.

The annual membership for NSS is $35 for a regular membership and $20 for students/seniors/disabled. The annual fee for Suffolk Challengers is $5. All fees can be paid directly through the chapter or via NSS. We accept checks, money orders and all major credit cards.

© Copyright 1999 Reagan-Lorraine Lavorata
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