Catacombs Reference Library
National Space Institute

The following letter was sent to Abe Mandell of ITC in New York by Wernher von Braun, president of the National Space Institute on 5 September 1975, as Space 1999 premiered. Many of the board would not have seen the series at this date.

The National Space Institute was created to advocate for space exploration by rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun. When formed in 1974 it was named the National Space Association, becoming the National Space Institute in April 1975. It would eventually merge with another advocacy group to become the National Space Society in 1987.

It was established, and first chaired, by Wernher von Braun (1912-1977), a German rocket pioneer who designed the V-2 rocket for Nazi Germany, and later was chief architect of the Saturn V rocket for NASA. He retired from NASA in 1972, frustrated over budget cuts. His background as a Nazi was well known and made him a controversial figure (notably satirized in Kubrick's Dr Strangelove, 1964), but he was a popular and familiar media figure, writing articles and working with Walt Disney on several TV films about space exploration.

The National Space Institute board of directors included scientists, politicians and media personalities.

• Dr Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) prolific science fiction writer, wrote two critical articles about Space: 1999
• Amb. Shirley Temple Black (1928-2014) former child actress and at the time ambassador to Ghana; she would have later diplomatic roles.
• Arthur C Clarke (1917-2008) science fiction author, worked with Kubrick on 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Hugh Downs (1921-2020) radio and TV broadcaster, later the resident of the National Space Institute
• Bob Hope (1903-2003) comedian and film star
• Sen. Barry Goldwater (1909-1998) politician and presidential nominee in 1964
• Dr Robert Jastrow (1925-2008) astronomer, chairman of NASA's Lunar Exploration Committee and promoting science on TV
• Oskar Morgenstern (1902-1977) economist who founded game theory
• Rev. Jeannette Piccard (1895-1981) balloonist with a claim to be the first woman in space, and priest. Gene Roddenberry named a Star Trek character after her husband.
• Dr. Frederick Seitz (1911-2008) physicist who became controversial for his views denying the impact of smoking and climate change while working for tobacco and oil companies.
• Rep. Olin E. Teague (1910-1981) politician who chaired the committee overseeing manned space flight
• James Van Allen (1914-2006) scientist after whom the radiation belts around Earth are named

Later members included Gene Roddenberry, producer of Star Trek, oceanographer Jacques Cousteau and astronauts John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

The recommendation was promoted by ITC in their 24 September Variety advert, and noted in several press reports. It was mentioned in several UK newspapers (Scotsman, 12 September p4; Birmingham Mail, 18 September p14; Daily Record, 18 September p18; Leicester Chronicle, 19 September p17; Wolverhampton Express and Star, 27 September p7). It was also mentioned on the Power records story album.