I can tell you without equivocation, as I fly home in this airliner 40000 feet above the earth surface, that I have just had one of the most fascinating, captivating, revelatory and fulfilling months of my life, and it’s all due to my life as an Asgardian, and specifically ...
I can tell you without equivocation, as I fly home in this airliner 40000 feet above the earth surface, that I have just had one of the most fascinating, captivating, revelatory and fulfilling months of my life, and it’s all due to my life as an Asgardian, and specifically as a member of Asgardia’s parliament. I marvel at all the adventures I’ve had since I left my home over a month ago, starting with attending the Asgardia Space Science and Investment Conference in Darmstadt, Germany, followed closely by participating in the first ever World Space Forum sponsored by the United Nations in Vienna Austria, then to report immediately to the Second Physical Sitting of the Parliament of Asgardia in Tallinn, Estonia. My dear Asgardian friends, can you imagine spending three straight days, listening to the most interesting cutting edge space technologies and research, then being able to approach those very scientists and astronauts and ask any questions you’d like, discuss their theories, and even brainstorm about possible solutions to current challenges right there with them? That is how the meeting in Darmstadt was and I was in “seventh heaven” the whole time! Actually, I must admit that I learned A LOT, and some of the challenges regarding life in space are subtle, complex and difficult to manage at this moment of time...but I do know we will tackle any and all of the challenges we face, as our human race always seems to do, it’s just a matter of time. Several presenters spoke about aspects of the topic of birth in space...Did you know that baby mice do not develop several important mammalian reflexes when they are gestated and born in space? Why? Naturally this might happen, because our biological and neurological functions are designed from conception to interact with gravity. Dr Sayaka Wakayama of the University of Yamanashi, Japan, presented her “Space Pup” program, showed us her uniquely designed ISS mouse habitat, with descriptions of her experiments, including critical aspects of habitat module design. She described how essential the ability to load and off-load the mouse experiment module from the launch capsule very quickly is critical, because every moment in gravity affects the results of the gravity-free studies being done. So many factors must be taken into account when designing experiments for the space environment! When collected upon return to earth, one by one, the tiny “Space Pups” were delicately lowered into perfect baby mouse temperature water on their backs with their feet up, to test the in-born mammalian reflex of first orienting itself in relation to gravity (feet downward toward the earth) and making “swimming” type movements when immersed in water. The new Space Pups did neither, floating all the way to the bottom of the tank on their backs, motionless. Were their baby brains damaged? Apparently not, after a few days of life in a gravity environment, they all flipped themselves over and swam nicely, no different than the baby mouse controls. (For more information about this project: https://history.nasa.gov/PDFs/effects_of_space_environment_on_mammalian_reproduction.pdf) Dr. Egbert Edelbroek of SpaceBorn United, presented on their LEO (low earth orbit) human birth project. SpaceBorn United (www.spacebornunited.com ) is preparing to launch a manned space vehicle into orbit with a pregnant woman on board that is within a few days of delivery. The experiments are designed around the childbirth itself, and as scary and unsafe as that may sound, the space vehicle’s delivery room would be equipped with everything the mother and child might need, with all the appropriate support equipment and optimally trained staff. Likewise, the birth mother would be fully trained and prepared for the unusual delivery setting and circumstances. Pools of 50 women each at similar stages of gestation would be available, (in case the actual launch is a delayed or rescheduled) and the lucky mother chosen is required to have met a number of important health and fitness criteria, including her age and having given birth twice successfully with no complications recorded for mother or baby. Believe it or not, many women would love to birth the first baby in space. Hundreds of women have already volunteered for consideration for the birth mother pool , participate in preliminary research and are even willing to time their pregnancies to accommodate a potential launch date of the SpaceBorn United space vehicle. What implications do experiments and projects like these have on developing human embryos and infants, both physiologically and neurologically, as we prepare to establish our space nation, including propagation of human life ? This was brought up in one of the panel discussion following Dr. Edelbroek’s presentation. Dr. Joseph Parker of Advanced Research Concepts Ltd. and Prof. Jeffrey Alberts of Indiana University, also participated in presentations and panels with their gestational research. Naturally, since one of Asgardia’s stated goals is to secure safe childbirth and human propagation in the outer space environment, (after all we will not survive in space in the long term, or at far distances, without mastering this vital function) Asgardia will be actively watching developments in this sector of space research. Other topics of research described in the Space and Investment Conference with our theme “Paving the Way into Space” were Space Habitation Design, Artificial Gravity production, Low Gravity effects on Astronauts along with Countermeasures research, studies on the dreaded “Coriolis Effect” research (Extreme vertigo manifesting in the Low Gravity Environment), Cosmic Radiation Protection, Space Societal development and Space Investment Perspectives. Astronauts Frank DeWinne and Chris Schiff gave personal accounts of life on the ISS, as well as research and other activities related to life in Space. Awards for Scientific Achievement and Student participation were also presented. While at the Asgardia Science Conference, I received a formal invitation to participate at the first annual World Space Forum, co-hosted by the United Nations, Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Austrian Federal (look it up) in Vienna Austria. I have attended United Nations events in NYC, most recently in March of this year, but this was my first official invitation to attend a UN event of this scope in my role as an Asgardian member of parliament. Vienna is also a founding headquarters of Asgardia, a lovely setting for this World Space Forum event in so many ways. As I entered the lavish reception room in the Vienna City Hall for the World Space Forum Opening Reception, I walked up to a small group of people at random and introduced myself as a representative of the Space Nation Asgardia. Immediately, a young woman raised her hand in pleasant surprise and said, “Oh, Asgardia? I’m an Asgardian!” Her name was Kim Macharia, representing ConsenSYS, (www.ConsenSys.net) who was presenting at WSF about a Space Sustainability phone application under development and youth programs associated that people can use to help identify and track space satellites and space debris. [ConsenSys link here] The dynamic of introducing myself as Asgardian in various settings at this meeting during the World Space Forum with someone in the group also identifying themselves as Asgardian was very gratifying and happened at least half a dozen times over the week. I also noted a general atmosphere of acceptance, support and openness to the Asgardian project of establishing the nation in Low Earth Orbit and beyond, which really helped put me at ease. The sheer number of Asgardians present at the World Space Forum in their various capacities proved our active and relevant participation at the first meeting of this kind under the United Nations umbrella. This year’s World Space Forum topics were based heavily on presentations that demonstrated one or more attributes of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in developing the international space environment. I met many dedicated and highly professional experts from a number of Space-related fields, a dynamic and energetic group of individuals deeply committed to the responsible, sustainable and peaceful settlement of space. The Low Earth Orbit over our planet Earth represents a new frontier of accelerated development and pioneering, and seems a bit like America’s “Wild West” in some respects. The lack of internationally agreed governance of the space above our earth adds elements both of high risk to space structures without liability and extremely hazardous conditions due to irresponsible disposal of space debris, and lack of respect for conditions up there, as well as respect for boundaries reflect conditions similar to some areas of Earth itself... The United Nations does not write or legislate international laws, but it does set policies that nations and international legislative bodies then use to write their laws, and the UN takes that role quite seriuosly. It was gratifying to be with my fellow Asgardians at the Space Forum, discussing and debating with other NGO’s and Space Agencies, helping influence the many and varied issues of peaceful sustainable space development at hand. One other important and influential Asgardian in attendance at this year’s World Space Forum was former Romanian Cosmonaut and mission commander Dimitru-Dorin Prunariu, who was in attendance at the Space Forum representing the Romanian Space Agency. He is also a prominent, respected and valued member of our Asgardian parliament, and his deep knowledge and understanding of both the space environment directly and his years of involvement with the United Nations and the Commission for the Peaceful Uses of Space (COPUS) as well as many such space related organizations makes Mr. (Dr.?) Prunariu a vital and highly valued member of our Asgardian community with respect to governance, foreign affairs in general and the UN in particular. I am honored to be collaborating with him now in developing Asgardia’s United Nations relationships going forward. It was fantastic to transition from this successful participation in the World Space Forum straight into the VI Sitting of Parliament and Executive Congress in Tallinn, Estonia. The benefits of physically being with my colleagues was immediately apparent, besides all the warm welcomes of this Asgardian family of colleagues, I was able to immediately collaborate and discuss my various findings with all my colleagues at once. Lively deliberation among colleagues on legislative proposals presented on the parliamentary agenda started immediately upon arrival to the hotel in Tallinn, before the official sitting even convened. No need to wait, we all got right to work! Also, I was able give pertinent important contacts and messages to my colleagues and to government for action and consideration without delay. I was privileged to meet personally during the physical sitting with our Head of Nation Dr. Igor Ashurbeyli, who informed me that he is promoting Ms. Irina Nikitina to a new position in his administration, and offered me promotion to Chair of the Culture Committee, an offer I graciously and gratefully accepted. After giving him my full report of my activities at the UN World Space Forum, Dr. Ashurbeyli gave his recommendations for further action and also connected me with the proper knowledgeable authorities within government, like Mr. Prunariu, and the legal persons working on United Nations and other statehood matters, to form an effective and efficient action team going forward. It was my privilege to join my fellow chairs at the executive table, in order to debate, contribute my report on my committee’s achievements last year, as well as plans for next year, and announce and describe our Asgardian Parliamentary Space Art Competition, (www.APSAC.space) now in progress. It is interesting to experience the feeling of meeting my parliamentary colleagues in person for only the second time, and some in government for only the first time, but already knowing everyone so well within the framework of our digital platform and after a year of interactive collaboration. This physical sitting was as much an atmosphere of family reunion, with warm hugs and friendly camaraderie all around, as efficient and effective legislative meeting and associated actions, creating a very intense and focused three days. We accomplished a lot in this session, and we have a clear direction for the future, as delineated by our Head of Nation, our Chairs of Parliament and Government, our Supreme Court, and all our leadership. I had a splendid time in Tallinn, and it was a perfect and triumphant finish to a month of space-related activities with and progress on behalf of Asgardia, our Space Nation. I’m very grateful to all involved in contributing to this abundance of success, and look forward with optimism to the next year of progress building our Space Nation. Considering how much progress has occurred in just a very few years , I’m excited about the possibilities to come over the next year, knowing from direct experience, the watchful respect and building support of so many others in the UN and elsewhere, as we continue to grow our unique, extraordinary, and indeed other-worldly, Space Nation, Asgardia. Please subscribe to the Asgardia Official YouTube channel to experience the physical meeting, and watch more recorded presentations, interviews and discussions of this conference [www.asgardia.space] along all our other fascinating Asgardian activities. Feel free to share this article if you like, using the #AsgardiaSpaceNation hashtag.
I'm not sure where the nation is...hahah
Pretty sure we'll need forklift operators also.
Most or all the jobs will need someone to handle the books, do the calculations and the interpretations of the financial statements. But I think Accountancy will never die but accountants will be made up of a human and an AI.