The National Space Society is sponsoring an art contest in which artists are to create visions of a spacefaring future--a future of space settlement, be they on the Moon, on Mars, on asteroids, or orbiting independently in space. Twelve winning entries will be chosen to illustrate the NSS 2008 Space Settlement Calendar. Judges include world-renowned space artists David A. Hardy and Pat Rawlings. Artists may submit multiple works and submissions will be accepted until January 31, 2007. A total of 58 prizes will be awarded with a total value of over $9,400.00.

The Grand Prize winner will have their artwork featured on the calendar cover and as one of the monthly images. This winner will receive a Beyond-Earth Enterprises 8 ounce Flight Container for sub-orbital rocket launch and return (valued at $1,500.00); a physical copy of Mojoworld 3 Professional 3D software (valued at $480.00); a $300.00 cash prize; a one year Gold Membership from Artnow Online (valued at $100.00); a 1 year complimentary membership in the National Space Society, which includes a subscription to Ad Astra magazine; and a complimentary copy of the calendar.

There will be four First Prize winners in the categories of Best Lunar Settlement, Best Mars Settlement, Best Asteroid Settlement, and Best Orbiting Settlement. In addition to being published in the calendar, each of the four First Prizes winners will receive a physical copy of Mojoworld 3 Professional 3D software (valued at $480.00); a $150.00 cash prize; a Beyond-Earth Enterprises Large Photo Kit for sub-orbital rocket launch and return (valued at $74.95); a one year Premium Membership from Artnow Online (valued at $50.00); a 1 year complimentary membership in the National Space Society, which includes a subscription to Ad Astra magazine; and a complimentary copy of the calendar.

The remaining seven winning entries will each appear in the calendar and the artists will each receive an electronic download copy of Mojoworld 3 Professional 3D software (valued at $480.00); a Beyond-Earth Enterprises DNA Flight Kit for sub-orbital rocket launch and return (valued at $34.95); a 1 year complimentary membership in the National Space Society, which includes a subscription to Ad Astra magazine; and a complimentary copy of the calendar.

The NSS Space Settlement Art Contest is sponsored by the National Space Society; Pandromeda Inc.--makers of Mojoworld 3D graphics software; Beyond-Earth Enterprises--providing suborbital launch services; Artnow Online; the Moon Society; Huntsville Alabama L5 Society; Chicago Society for Space Studies; and the Oklahoma Space Alliance.

For all the contest details go to: http://www.nss.org/settlement/calendar/

The National Space Society (NSS) is an independent, educational, grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization. For US tax purposes, NSS is a tax exempt 501(c)3 educational nonprofit corporation. NSS is widely acknowledged as the preeminent citizen's voice on space. The society also publishes Ad Astra magazine, an award-winning periodical chronicling the most important developments in space.

Jim Plaxco is the Chair of the National Space Society Space Settlement Calendar Committee

NOTE: The views of this article are the author's and do not reflect the policies of the National Space Society.

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