It was great to be in pole position to ask the first question on behalf of ROOM Space Journal of Asgardia at the Press Conference for the heads of all the major global space agencies at CyberSpace IAC 2020 this week. This year the annual event would have been held in Dubai but instead was organised fully online for the first time because of Covid-19, with free entry to all interested in space. More than 11,000 people from across the globe registered to attend the three day event.

I am delighted with the latest issue of ROOM Space Journal out now in both print & digital format - the 25th edition of the world’s leading space magazine is one not to be missed! The 116-page magazine is packed with a wealth of informative & attractively presented articles on a range of topical space subjects, all written by experts & experienced commentators in the field. Scientists Oleg Orlov, Anna Kussmaul & Mark Belakovskiy, all from Moscow’s prestigious Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP), take a fascinating look at how space physiology and medicine are spinning off new medical treatments and approaches on Earth. And on a similar theme we are delighted to publish a ground-breaking article by Prof Floris Wuyts and Dr Steven Jillings on the latest results from their studies on microgravity and its effects on the human brain. We include an interview with Pascale Ehrenfreund, the first female president of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), a detailed look at Brazil’s space ambitions and commercial opportunities beyond Earth orbit with articles by Clint Gaumann of TerraMetric and Pavlo Tanasyuk of Spacebit. Plus many more fascinating articles.

So I joined many years out of fun and interest. Now I see theirs "fees" for certain stuff including giving the rights to stand as an MP. So much for democracy! The Constitution of Asgardia declares equality for all yet things are behind paywalls? I would of left Earth for these undemocratic reasons and yet here we are. This is dissapointing.

If the increase in space debris in Earth orbit remains uncontrolled and unregulated, it will eventually render outer space useless for the whole of humanity - a sober warning from Prof Ram Jakhu in the Winter 2019/20 issue of ‘ROOM Space Journal of Asgardia’. In ‘Rule of law vital for humanity’s sustainability and survival’, Prof Jakhu examines the necessary legal frameworks needed to avoid potential doomsday scenarios and proposes that a new international legal order for outer space should also recognise that reckless and intentional creation of space debris is “a crime against humanity”. Prof Jakhu’s article is one of six published in this issue based on presentations at the first Asgardia Space Science & Investment Congress (ASIC) held in Darmstadt, Germany, in October. As its theme ‘Paving the Road to Living in Space’ suggests, ASIC’s goal was to offer a strategic pathway to the future, homing in on the interconnected themes of the extraordinary science and technology required to support permanent space habitats and the first humans born in space. With around 150 specialist attendees from around the globe it was something of a niche congress headed up by Asgardia Science Minister Prof Floris Wuyts, a world-leading human physiology specialist from the University of Antwerp in Belgium. ROOM’s cross-section of Special Reports from ASIC are selected from more than 50 presentations, each of which provided an insight into one of the challenging themes discussed in talks, panel sessions and posters. A core vision of Asgardia the Space Nation is to achieve the first birth of a child in space and, in doing so, progress towards its long term strategy of creating off-world human settlements. To further this goal, challenging issues relating to radiation and artificial gravity need to be addressed and ASIC was the first such event created specifically to allow world-leading scientists already working in these areas to come together to present and discuss their research. Whilst space is both inspirational and motivational, offering immense possibilities for the future, success will depend on the vision and success of entrepreneurs such as Jeff Manber of Nanoracks (‘Commercialising space exploration and development’) and financial experts such as Seraphim Capital’s Mark Boggett, who provides valuable insights into the space funding landscape in ‘Venture capital investment in space’. Advanced technology is another vital part of the mix; Tigran Mkhoyan focuses on the ‘Coriolis effect in rotating space platforms’ whilst Nissem Abdeljelil, of the National Center for Nuclear Science & Technologies in Tunisia, addresses the potential of using ionising radiation to manage biofilm contamination in ‘Surviving bacteria in space’. ASIC discussed everything from creating artificial gravity and combating radiation to a birth in space, as well as considering how to secure the investment and develop the technologies to achieve it all. This issue of ‘ROOM Space Journal of Asgardia’ is available in print delivered direct to your home or in digital format from next week (16 December). To buy this issue or start a great value annual subscription for the world’s leading space magazine, please visit: https://room.eu.com/subscribe

So is Igor our dictator or is he more of a corporate head? Is Asgardia run as an autocracy or a business? Does government have any significant role? I thought it was a space nation for the wellbeing of the people; I don’t see how it can be if Igor is always the top man

This is seeming to be more and more like a pyramid scheme with every passing year. They throw about a few meaningless positions to appease the lower ranks, and extort money for registration and citizenship. For what exactly? Where does it go? To those at the top of the scheme. This is worse than most pyramid schemes because it feeds on the values, hopes and ideals people have for a better existence just to line someone’s pockets. Isn't this just what happens on earth anyway? I want no part of it unless you remove these taxes for nothing; people are paying for a feeling of togetherness which should be free anyway. There is no space station to maintain, there are no workers to pay. There are no gains made by representatives in relation to other nation states. The money you give does nothing to benefit you, but instead benefits the probably already wealthy people who thought this scheme up in the first place. I’m not a fool, don't be one either. Please