Humanity expanding to space – with Jacob Mulder

Homo Sapiens is doing very well, here on the planet we call Earth, but the Sapients also notice that there are limits to growth. As Adriano Autino wrote in his “SRI Open Forum” statement of 17 November 2022, the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals could and should be extended with an 18th one: kick-off civilian space development, before 2030. A large and growing group of space enthusiasts are optimistic: the sky is no limit! But although getting in space is becoming cheaper and easier, remaining there sustainably and safely is far from trivial. When really working together, we can imagine, specify and realize real solutions. That requires real co-creation and also collaboration focused on integration. And it requires a holistic way of working: not just moving to space, but facilitating humanity expanding to space. Lead by science, implemented commercially, supported by education, with sustainable health and safety, nourishing diversity and culture and upholding our humanity. Boldly doing it, now, by creating a Space Nation. Humans have created nations before, we know what to do and what not. This dedicated Space Nation, Asgardia, is about sharing goals and visions and about gathering all aspects of humanity, worldwide – one humanity, one unity. As Minister of Manufacturing of Asgardia, I will show a few examples of necessary activities and their current status.
Worldwide collaboration is crucial, within that nation, but also with groups like SRI, MVA, MPS, UNOOSA, and with commercial and governmental space industries and suppliers, on all levels and all scales. Hesitation is not an option. Our cradle, the Earth, is calling clearly: it’s time to act now. The future is clear – it can be done, we are ready, in all those groups, organizations and companies. And this Space Nation will help facilitate it. Humankind is ready for this giant leap: humanity will expand to space.

Jacob Mulder was born in 1966, living in the North of the Netherlands, is married, with 2 twin daughters and 5 grandchildren. Jacob Studied Astronomy and Information Technology at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. He works as IT Security & Enterprise Architect at CGI, a large multinational in IT business consulting and systems integration. He is Chair of Paletzorg, a partnership of about 70 independent small-scale care companies, and related service providers in the Northern Netherlands. Jacob is quite active in Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion, in various contexts. He is Minister of Manufacturing at Asgardia, the Space Nation. Gravity squeezes his spine and as a result, he is in a reclining electric wheelchair, so he wants to – needs to – emigrate to space, around 2036.