About the Chicago Society for Space Studies

Chicago Society for Space Studies Public Program

The Chicago Society for Space Studies (CSSS) has been actively promoting the exploration of space and educating the public about space exploration and the solar system since 1977.

As a pro-space organization, the CSSS has sponsored the appearance in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs of astronauts, a cosmonaut, and a variety of space industry professionals, as well as producing our own original programming.

To learn about our upcoming events, as well as a number of past programs, visit our Activities page.

As a part of our educational mission, the Chicago Society for Space Studies maintains a Speakers Bureau. Our speakers have provided space exploration related presentations to youth groups, astronomy clubs, libraries, museums, and schools in the Chicago area. If you have a group that would like to learn more about space exploration, please see our Speakers Bureau page for details.

We hope that you identify with and support our organization’s mission. If you do agree with our goals, then please consider joining us. With your support, we can make a difference.

The following documents are provided to help people understand who we, the members and officers of the Chicago Society for Space Studies, are and what we as an organization stand for.

Who We Are

NSS 2014 Award of Special Merit For Speaker Programs

Winner of the following National Space Society awards:

2019 NSS Chapter Excellence in Speaker Outreach
2017 NSS Chapter of the Year Award
2015 NSS Chapter Special Merit Award for Speaker Outreach
2014 NSS Chapter Special Merit Awards for Speaker Outreach
2008 NSS Chapter Excellence Award for Public Outreach and Education
1996 NSS Chapter Meritorious Service Award
1995 NSS Chapter Meritorious Service Award
1994 NSS Chapter Special Merit Award for Spaceweek Activities
1994 NSS Chapter Special Merit Awards for Public Events
1993 NSS Chapter Award For Conducting Spaceweek Events
1993 NSS Chapter Award For conducting Public Events
Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell, Jim Plaxco, and NSS Executive Director George Whitesides and the Heinlein Award
Apollo 13 astronaut Captain James Lovell, CSSS Vice President Jim Plaxco holding the NSS’ Heinlein Award, and NSS Executive Director George Whitesides before the formal award ceremony at the Illinois Institute of Technology on June 12, 2004.

Contacting Us

Visit our Contact page to request additional information or to have a question answered.