Guest:  Dr. Doug Plata;  Topics:  Dr. Doug shares his congressional lobbying experience on lunar policy & his recent conf. presentations.  Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com.  Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.   

We welcomed back Dr. Doug Plata to discuss his recent lobbying experiences with members of the House regarding his cislunar transportation development ideas along with his Lunar COTS concept.  During the first long segment of our 2 hour 10 minute program, Doug explained the background to his meeting with several staff members of congressional representatives serving on space subcommittees in the House of Representatives.  He did not meet with anyone on the senate side of things. 

For purposes of this summary, I only address his comments about his meeting with the staffer in Rep. Rohrabacher's office.  Doug characterized the staffer's comments as negative though I thought they were instructive.  This discussion expanded when I referenced comments made by the recent Space Show guest, Casey Dreier regarding congress needing a political reason to make the mission happen.  SLS was a big part of this discussion which involved listener emails and phone calls.  Don't miss it. 

In the second segment, I read several emails that had arrived for Doug.  One wanted to know more about the unfunded Lunar Resource Prospector and lunar ice at the polls. Doug had much to say about lunar polar ice possibilities but he was clear he was not basing his lunar mission plans on there be large quantities of lunar polar ice available for fuel.  Again, don't miss his comments.  Another email came in from Marshall about US space leadership with possible challenges by China and their lunar plans. 

John from Ft. Worth called to reiterate his SLS position given SLS was and is the NASA Program of Record.  Doug found that staffers referred to the Program of Record and challenged Doug to show them how his program fit the Program of Record plans and did not need additional funding.  Much was said in this program about the NASA Program of Record, Mars plans and returning to the Moon.  As you will hear, Doug and listteners did not think the Mars plans were real nor as pointed out by Michael Listner, was there an official policy for going to Mars.  Returning to the Moon did not seem to be part of an official NASA policy either.

Doug spent time in the second segment describing his two talks at the Mars Society and his presentation at Space 2016 which I heard.  He has presented most of what he talked about at both events on his recent Space Show programs, especially his comments about the social issues which were part of his presentation on lowering mission costs by extending crew time on the Moon or Mars.  Before the program ended, Burton sent in a note about the possibility of upcoming heavy lift launcher competition.  Doug also commented on the recent Mars plans as announced by Elon Musk.

Please post your comments/questions on The Space Show blog for this program which is part of the archived program on our website.  You can reach Doug through me.