Asgardia, Or The Satellite That Will House A Nation

Earth receive find a new protector as Russian scientist dreams and plans to set up a nation on his new satellite, Asgardia.

Russian scientist Dr. Igor Ashurbeyli, who is also Chairman of the UNESCO Science of Space committee is planning on launching a new satellite, named Asgardia, that will protect Earth. Asgardia would not only act as a shield against asteroids, space debris, and other outer space dangers, it would also house a new nation.

As anyone interested can sign up, those wishing to participate in the program would receive dual citizenship, as inhabitants of both Asgardia and Earth. Sounds confusing?

The visionary idea will have to face many roadblocks, one of which is building a satellite not only big enough to transport but also house a large number of people. As this still appears to be a mission worthy of science-fiction novels, the first leg of the new nation would resume to a sole satellite.

This would serve as a prototype, and although it would sport a national flag and anthem, its citizens would still continue to inhabit Earth. The shape and size of the satellite are still unknown, but Ashurbeyli intends to launch it sometimes in late 2017 so as to mark the 60 years anniversary of the satelitte Sputnik.

Although the digital state will reside in outer space, once it reaches its targeted 100,000 citizens number, Ashurbeyli plans to have it registered as an official, United Nations recognized state.

Besides the as yet impossible physical existence of such a state, the satelitte dream would have to face and respect international law rules, so that the space nation will not come to inhabit a lawless, free-governing territory.

As the International Law declares, a state has to have both a permanent territory and population. Ashurbeyli argues that no size or Earth-bound obligation is mentioned, so his idea could actually come to pass.

But as Christopher Newman, space specialist at the University of Sunderland goes to remind, Space is not lawless either as the Space Treaty includes an article which declares that space cannot be owned, and this would be just one other problem besides the already pilling Earth laws.

Ashurbeyli is not at his first controversial, if dreamy declaration. He also announced, somewhat earlier this same year, the need for an international space platform that would serve and protect the planet, and proposed a URBOCOP, or Universal Robotic Battle Cosmic Platform.

As both ideas seem to lie on the fine line between dream and possibility, only time will tell if Asgardia will come to actually exists, or if it will follow its name and remain one of the Nine Worlds inhabited by ancient gods in Norse mythology or in other words, a myth.

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