Here’s the obit at the WaPo for Len Cormier.

As a staffer with the Academy in 1957, Mr. Cormier was in attendance at the International Geophysical Year proceedings when the Soviets surprised the world with the launch of Sputnik.

The event made a tremendous impression on him, his family said. He decided then to pursue better access to space through affordable, reusable space vehicles.

He was an early visionary. Others will have to pick up his torch now.

Fortunately, a lot of other people now recognize the need:

The National Coalition for CATS, working with leading figures across the space community, will collaborate over the next twelve weeks to develop a “National Declaration for Cheap and reliable Access to Space (CATS).” The CEOs of non-profit and for-profit companies will be invited to sign the Declaration, and will deliver this declaration to the next President of the U.S. after the November election.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend NewSpace, which starts tomorrow in Washington, and where this will be announced, due to financial constraints. It will be the first conference I’ve missed in a while.