A team from the Aerospace International Research Center (AIRC) has announced the plan to send up a satellite in 2017 and build a new country called Asgardia, named after a city in Norse mythology.
This project aims at creating a protective shield for humankind by defending the Earth from asteroids, dangerous meteorites, space debris, and other threats.
Their core concept is to set up an everlasting space station where people can live, work, and have their own rules and regulations. Asgardia will operate as its own country, independent of any Earthly nation state.
Project leader Dr. Igor Ashurbeyli, said, “It is the realization of man’s eternal dream to leave his cradle on Earth and expand into the Universe. Asgardia’s philosophical envelope is to ‘digitalize’ the Noosphere, creating a mirror of humanity in space but without Earthly division into states, religions, and nations. In Asgardia we are all just Earthlings!”
Asgardia would be an independent nation, and a future member of the U.N. People who are interested in becoming the first citizens of this space nation can apply on the Asgardia website
Professor Ram Jakhu, director of the Institute of Air and Space Law, explained, “The (Asgardia) vision is very, very clear. This nation will do things to help protect the Earth and, secondly, it will be for exclusively peaceful purposes and also allowing access to developing countries that don’t have that (space access). So, if that is done, recognition will not be a major problem. If these four elements (territory, people, government, and recognition) are achieved it will become a state and can apply for its membership in the United Nations.”
