The popularity of Space Front and “The Frontier Files” grows the Foundation’s membership and support to an unprecedented level.

The Foundation moves their fifth annual conference, “Space Frontier Conference IV,” to Los Angeles, taking the space advocacy to the world’s “media capital.” This year’s awards ceremony recognized the Clementine lunar probe team for their work on frontier-enabling technology and the frontier-inspiring producers of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for their episode on solar sails. This fourth conference also initiated another tradition of the television culture: an experts-plus-audience talk show called “Star Council” sponsored by the Sci/Fi Channel’s Inside Space program.

SFF’s President Rick Tumlinson testifies on NASA restructuring before the House Space and Aeronautics Committee. During the testimony, criticized the nation’s space program as merely maintaining the status quo and failing to push any boundaries. Tumlinson made a bold call for a “New American Dream,” where space exploration can be the source of American prosperity and ingenuity. Read a copy of his testimony here.

Also in March, the Foundation organizes the first-ever public seminar on “A 21st Century Space Policy from the People.” The seminar attracted bipartisan support and participation from members of both the House and Senate. The then- Speaker of the House, uses this venue to highlight the vision of the Foundation and publicly announces support for the idea of privatizing the Space Shuttle.