Our Space Settlement Advocacy Committee for the National Space Society has been debating a definition of Space Settlement. The following is Kim Peart's contribution. I'm sharing it because he writes it much better than I could.

 

 

Space Settlement: Expanding human civilization on Earth into the Solar
System and toward the stars.

     Because sizable communities must cooperate to create living space in
space, space settlement will be the movement of civilization rather than the
initiative of individuals.

     Unless our Sun is renamed, then it will also be commonly called Sol.
Would the civilization around Sol refer to itself as Earth? We begin to
define the future today. Don't forget Hoyle's joke, when he mockingly named
the beginning of space and time the Big Bang. It seems to have stuck.

     One day in the decades ahead the good folk of Sol beyond Earth, all
using solar energy for their light bulbs and toasters, might well outnumber
Earthlings, contemplating the first migrations to the stars in their orbital
cities, solar petals stretched out toward the Sun, may merrilly sing of
their achievemnets with their Solar civilization. "Sunar" doesn't quite work
in that context.

     I have puzzled long on the Solar economy (using a capital "S"
differentiates the word and the term from "solar" energy) and suggest that
we can think about the matter quite differently.

     The meaning of achieving a sustainable and self-suffient presence in
the Solar System beyond Earth is to be in a position where no further
resources are required from Earth, with unlimited solar energy, with access
to the raw materials around the Solar System, with automated and robot run
factories than can make anything we instruct them to and able to manufacture
as many orbital settlements as required, even enough to hold the whole
population of Earth in an emergency. The establishment cost is huge, but the
subsequent situation is limited only by the energy of our Sun, the resources
of the Solar System and our ability to survive in space. With this potential
at our fingertips, we are able to think differently about our future of
human civilization, how we organise our society and the opportunities we
create for all Earth's children.

     We moved on from the days of the kings into the age of the democracies.
The demands of securing our civilization in the Solar System may open the
way to a new development in governance, in which all citizens play a direct
role in considering the basic rights and responsibilities of all citizens.

     Designing for security in space may the key to the new way, where we
will either decide to protect ourselves with the violence that can create
more violence, or invest in practical compassion toward offering hope for
all Earth's children, thus diminishing the threat at it root.

     The current Chinese missile strike on a satellite is a clear warning of
the danger we face in space, a threat that could easily terminate the space
adventure for all before we even get off the planet properly.

     We may need to decide if the amazing wealth of the Solar System is
sitting there for the benefit of the few, whether that be a corporation, the
Chinese government, or a combination of the two, or whether we start to
build a future in the Solar System that involves the whole Human family.

     If we choose the inclusive way, the good wishes of many will be with
us, especially when we include the needs of our old Earth in our thinking.
Good attracts good. If we choose the the exclusive way, we could be asking
for terminal trouble, as this path generates the exclusion that can create
an environment of resentment and in resentment are the seeds of terrorism
and war.

     I like to look at the Declaration of Independence and the Charter of
the United Nations and wonder, will there be a third great historic
document, drafted in the Solar System to craft the way for the future of
humanity in space.

          Celestially,
                                Kim Peart

No, I'm not going to tell you what's in space for you, because I have no idea what's important to you. Instead, I'm including here a copy of a survey created by Kim Peart of the Tasmanian Space Society (yes, Tasmania as in Australia). His contact info is at the end of the survey. I strongly encourage you to answer his questions honestly and email them to him.

 

Survey Questions

 

Question 1

   Do you like the proposal for an Earth citizen’s campaign for space?

 

Question 2

   What should the carefully crafted message include that will inspire widespread support for space?

 

Question 3

   What activities could an International campaign for space include?

 

   As with Al Gore’s campaign, this could include a seminar presentation and a documentary film on the message, as well as a display and a publication on the Earth citizen’s plan for space.

 

Question 4

   What percentage of Earth’s citizens should such a campaign aim to inspire to participate in a Giant Leap for space, to maximise the prospect for success?

 

   The Chinese government could mobilise twenty per cent of Earth’s population for space, if they had a mind to, as well as drawing in the support of many other nations.

 

Question 5

   What banner name could an International campaign for space be best run under?

 

   One possible name is “Free Space”. No organization of this name is found through Google. The name chosen would need to be clear in it’s meaning and inspire confidence in the campaign. The term “Free Space” could work well, because it can imply freedom from harm for all Earth’s children in a Solar civilization, as well as gaining the freedom of space and the stars.

 

Question 6

   What on-going and effective activities could an Earth citizen’s campaign for space promote around the World?

 

   This could include the concept of a “Space Centre”, which would be run locally and connected Internationally, as a way for people in local communities to participate in the vision for space. A “Space Centre” could include space displays, an education space, a gallery of space related art, a café, a large screen for watching live space events and space programs, a space shop, offer internet services, provide information on space careers and tourism, encourage space related initiatives and offer workshops and seminars on space topics.

 

Question 7

   Would you like to participate in an Earth citizen’s campaign for space?

 

   A campaign for space could include the support of individuals, as well as participation by many organizations around the World, who share the view that space offers hope.

 

 

   A Think Tank may be needed to start crafting the message, planning the campaign and preparing the way for creating our Solar civilization.

 

 

Anything may be possible, if we can imagine it.

We live in a World where the impossible now exists,

that was once only imagined.

 

 

Kim Peart   ~Tasmanian Space Society~

Ph.  61  (0)3  4248 1373

Em.  kimpeart@keypoint.com.au