Sovereign state of Asgardia to orbit Earth!

[jeffbert]

It should be obvious that there are some people who want to live in space, but, I thought they would go to Mars. Nope, just into Earth orbit. The founder will, of course be the head of state, at least until a proper government can be formed. The thing will start with a very small item put into orbit, & from that humble beginning, a nation will rise!
http://newatlas.com/asgardia-space-nation-first-satellite/50012/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=fc1a9c793c-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-fc1a9c793c-76704577

[DrFrag]

It's a political power grab by a corporation who wants a seat on the UN, and it's rotten to the core. The guy running it is an arms dealer who has openly said space needs to be militarised. I hope it fails.

[jeffbert]

I suppose it was inevitable that someone would want a new nation, but is is easier to build a nation in orbit, or an artificial island on the sea? I know nothing about the future dictator, so, I will take your word for it, that he is a bad guy.

[DrFrag]

There's a UN convention that declares artificial islands can't be nations. Also the idea of living in space is easier to sell as a utopian dream - the company needed something like 100,000 people to sign up before they could apply for nationhood.

[jeffbert]

Naturally, those who already have nations, want to close the door on those who want their own new nation. But if a captain is sovereign on his ship, anyone who is 'captain' of an oil rig should also be sovereign. Not that I have any hope of buying an old oil rig, or building an island, but it just seems fair, is all. Why should a multi-multi-billionaire be forced to live in someone else's nation, when he can afford to build his own island?

Anyway, The Chinese are building artificial Islands, & claiming the ocean surrounding them as their territorial waters. I do not think they will be hindered by the UN.

[Pushmipullu]

I thought this was a prank at first lol

[fafner]

From a certain point of view, it might

[AstroAllies]

Currently over 290,000 people have registered to become Asgardians.

In the list of the origin countries of Asgardians, Indonesia is on the fourth with about 18,500 people. I'm afraid they will lose their status as Indonesian, as the country does not recognize dual citizenship.

Meanwhile the top three is Turkey, China, and United States, in case you have not seen the list.

I could not imagine what Asgardia would be, but I guess might be similar to Axiom in WALL-E.

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

This reminds me of the ideas originally put forth by Gerald O'Neill
http://www.nss.org/settlement/space/oneillcylinder.htm

[jeffbert]

While it is only a paperweight filled with images, Asgardia must start with something!

https://newatlas.com/space-kingdom-asgardia-first-satellite/52256/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=3785bf7c70-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-3785bf7c70-76704577