Asgardia' Is More Likely to Be a Pie in the Sky Than a Nation in Space 14 October 2016, by Monica Grady

Why 'Asgardia' is more likely to be a pie in the sky than a nation in space 14 October 2016, by Monica Grady

organisation can officially apply to the UN for the status of state. The claims are visionary – but could they be something of a mirage?

In Norse mythology, Asgard is one of the Nine Worlds of the ancient gods, ruled over by Odin. Set in the skies, it is connected to Earth by the rainbow bridge, Bifrost. In taking the name Asgardia for the new "nation state", the founders call upon its potential citizens to create an independent world of peaceful scientific cooperation. I am not sure the mythological world of Asgard is the best model for such an aspiration: after all, the largest hall in Asgard is Valhalla, where warriors killed in battle spend their time feasting or fighting.

Artist’s impression. Credit: James Vaughan More fitting perhaps are the descriptions of Asgard in the fictional Marvel universe, where it's a world that "exists in another dimensional plane and is about the size of the United States". According to I have become citizen number 62 of Asgardia, a Marvel's history, Asgard was created by the god new space nation dedicated to expanding peaceful Thor on Earth, where he had bought a huge piece exploration of space for the benefit of humanity. It of property. But Iron Man confronted Thor about his is led by Igor Ashurbeyli, chairman of UNESCO's construction, "and after a short but heated debate, Science of Space Committee and founder of the [Iron Man] proposed to Thor that Asgard would be Aerospace International Research Centre in considered a separate nation just like a foreign Vienna. At first glance, it's an amazing concept and embassy". I enjoyed the phrase "short but heated surely one that every space scientist should debate" – surely code for a punch-up. But a welcome. "separate nation just like a foreign embassy" is pretty much what the Asgardia of today is According to its website, Asgardia will offer an proposing. "independent platformfree from the constraint of a land-based country's laws. It will become a place in The need to stay grounded orbit which is truly 'no man's land'". Its first aim is to launch a satellite in October 2017, on the 60th But when you turn your attention from the world of anniversary of the launch of Sputnik. Another goal mythology and super heroes back to reality, things is to create a "protective shield" from threats to life are a little less exciting. What, exactly, is Asgardia? on Earth, such as space debris, coronal mass What is it for? What will it do? How will it operate? ejections and asteroids. What is its governance? How is it funded? The organisation has failed to disclose any such The project, announced at a press conference in information. Paris on October 12, is urging people to sign up to become citizens. Ashurbeyli has said that when the number of applications goes above 100,000, the

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country's laws". History has given us too many examples where unrestricted research has resulted in unacceptable consequences – the Nazis, for example, did a lot of unethical and unscientific research.

We currently have laws and treaties that govern the peaceful use of space, acknowledged by all space- faring nations and operated through the UN. They may not be perfect, and may be in need of revision, given the accelerating pace of space technologies and the increasing influence and role of private companies in space exploration. But at least they are a framework within which nations must operate.

Artist’s impression of the first Asgardia satellite. Credit: Importantly, these laws state that the nation James Vaughan launching a satellite – or procures the launch of one – is liable for any damage caused by it. The office in charge of these laws also oversees the international register of all objects launched into We already have the International Space Station as space, and co-ordinates efforts to monitor space an example of international collaboration in space, debris. including both governments and private organisations. Although the ISS works well, it is If Asgardia is serious in its desire to be an regulated by international space agencies and independent player in space exploration, then it wrapped in the associated bureaucracy. If must consider its duties relative to the UN treaties – Asgardia's vision is to make space and any attempt to become a "launching state" or experimentation in space more accessible, then procure a launch for a satellite leaves Asgardia that is laudable, but cannot be completely divorced liable if something goes wrong. It is difficult to from the necessity of some regulation. reconcile this with Asgardia's declared aim of being "free from the constraint of a land-based country's When it comes to plans to defend the Earth from laws". No nation should be free to act completely space debris we need a bit more substance than an independently of its neighbours – and by basing the aim to launch a satellite. Maybe I am cynical, but I'd idea of Asgardia in space, every nation on Earth is like to know who is doing the work. Where is this Asgardia's neighbour. There is no doubt that space satellite being built? How will Asgardia achieve law is in need of an urgent update – but I don't something that no other nation, or consortium of believe that acting completely independently of land- nations, has come close to achieving? based laws is a useful way forward.

I also have some worries about the wording in the I hope that my doubts and concerns are Concept. In particular, it complains about the fact groundless, and that Asgardia will indeed fulfil its that "economical and political considerations often promise to act for the benefit of humanity. take precedence over purely scientific ones and Especially as by the time I had finished this article, ethical boundaries are considered necessary to the number of citizens of Asgardia had climbed to sustain safety". To combat this, it says "Asgardia almost 20,000. will demonstrate … that independent, private and unrestricted research is possible". To me, ethical This article was originally published on The boundaries are necessary – especially if Conversation. Read the original article. unrestricted research is on the agenda and it is to be "free from the constraint of a land-based

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Source: The Conversation APA citation: Why 'Asgardia' is more likely to be a pie in the sky than a nation in space (2016, October 14) retrieved 28 September 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2016-10-asgardia-pie-sky-nation- space.html

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