Blog – Page 2 – Space Renaissance

Aug

2023

IS THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STILL IMPORTANT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS? (ARE WE CLOSE TO A PSYCHOHISTORY CUSP?)

There have been rumors in recent weeks, that the United Nations Secretariat was now looking beyond 2030, and that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was somewhat outdated. We don’t know if that is true, or just a speculation. If true, what does it mean? Have the United Nations realized that the 17 SDGs were an unattainable utopia, and are they preparing to move on? What we knew, before hearing such voices, was that some kind of review of the 2030 Agenda was scheduled in 2024 / 2025, to measure the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and possibly to update it, according to some relevant developments, which occurred after 2015. The need for an overhaul of the 2030 Agenda was easy to be seen, even for the most blind bureaucrat. Several historical milestones have been achieved, in 2015 and subsequent years. First of all, the new space economy revolution, boosted by the rockets’ reusability, developed by SpaceX. The space economy is nowadays the most progressive industrial segment, trying to balance, alone, the profound global crisis, which grips the world economy. Notwithstanding that, space is still stubbornly out of the 2030 Agenda. That’s the main reason motivating the Space 18^th SDG initiative, supported now by 47 space advocacy organizations^[1]. Such a proposal was already presented at COPUOS 66^th session in Vienna, last 5 of June, in a historical discourse^[2] pronounced by Karlton Johnson, on behalf of NSS, SRI, and the whole coalition of the co-promoters. The Space 18^th SDG will be presented at United Nations General Assembly 78, the 15 of September, in a hybrid panel at United Nations in New York^[[3]. There will be other announcements and news about this significant event.What we want to reflect on, today, is the actual social relevance of the 17 SDGs, and if it makes sense to maintain 2030 as a deadline for the achievement of such key socially relevant goals.Looking back some decades, the National Security Agency (US) had foreseen a very critical period from 2025 to 2030, possibly an irreversible civilization-implosive crash (I am sorry that I cannot provide any link to proper articles, yet I had commented on such a forecast in some of my newsletters). While we are approaching 2025, have those concerns lowered or increased? Considering the many symptoms that we are witnessing – pandemics, extreme climate events, enduring economic crises, and wars in the “advanced” world countries – it is easy to reply to the question. That devastating crisis is already here, some years in advance, with respect to the NSA’s prediction. Should we use Hari Seldon’s psychohistory^[4] terms, even if we don’t own his “Radiant” tools, we could say that we are very close to a “cusp”. No doubt that several crazy events are occurring, in reaction to the multiple crises. No doubt that it makes sense to interpret the current age with the tools of psychohistory, at least from a conceptual point of view. Thus, is 2030 still an important date, or should we forget the 17 SDGs and start looking beyond? My first answer is yes, definitely: 2030 is even more important than it was in 2015 when the UN 2030 Agenda was approved. Since most of the 17 SDGs are social goals, it is of paramount importance to fight for their sustainability and to underline that the only way to achieve them is to kick off a new, strong, development strategy, i.e. to accelerate civilian space development.

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Jun

2023

WHO WANTS TO LIVE ON PLANET TRANTOR? (WHY WE ARE AGAINST SPACE COLONIALISM)

Historically, colonialism was initially predicated on a simple “rob and take home” concept. During the first colonialist age, the superpowers of that era (primarily England and France) used to send their agents overseas to obtain precious goods at very low prices, and to bring those goods back to their home countries, selling them at very high prices (today, such practices are far from being obsolete!). Such policies were often socially detrimental, especially when they boosted the use of drugs (e.g., stimulating opium dependence in several Chinese provinces). In many cases, colonialist policies lead to conflicts and wars (in order to ensure control over certain regions). In most cases, nothing positive remained for the colonized populations, since the colonialist behaviors primarily engaged populations with a culture based on robbery and exploitation – not to advance civil rights. Regarding the “new world” (America’s two continents), colonialists have also invaded these territories, stealing the land and natural resources from native inhabitants, and exterminating these inhabitants by any means. During the last age of colonialism (up to the 20th Century), the practice of depredation continued, in many cases retarding or preventing the development of colonized countries, notwithstanding the abundance of natural riches, from which native peoples could never benefit.

Ok, I am listening now to your classical objections. I, for one, have noted this several times while discussing space colonization: in the solar system there are no native intelligent beings, therefore we would not steal anything from anyone, by colonizing territories on the Moon, Mars, Jupiter Moons and beyond. Of course, I am talking about the very essential part of colonialism: to take resources and bring them home. In our cases, to take asteroid and exo-planetary resources from the Moon, asteroids, Mars and beyond, and bring them on Earth surface – why would this be harmful?

Space colonialism would be both a dangerous and harmful undertaking for several reasons.

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Jun

2023

EXPANDING HUMANITY INTO OUTER SPACE, AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SPACE AGENCIES

We are witnessing a revolution in the space industry. For the first time we are seeing representatives from US, Russia, Europe, China, Japan and all major space agencies, committed for a sustainable human presence on the Moon. We are also witnessing a dramatic reduction on the launching cost and increased capabilities on space transportation. The reduction of launching cost is promising new markets, like space tourism, manufacturing in space, space based solar power and many more. This new space industry paradigm will trigger the upcoming revolution. Expanding humanity into outer space is therefore a destiny, not a choice. In fact, millions living and working in space is the only way for humanity as a species to survive. Unfortunately, most of the world population don’t realize the new paradigm and how humanity’s survival as a species is in danger, and fully depends upon expanding into outer space.

Unlike the terminology “Space Exploration”, the terminology “Expanding Humanity into Outer Space” involves all human activities, including culture, arts and everything else that we can’t even imagine, nowadays. Space Exploration is only concerned with science and engineering. The upcoming growth of the space domain in the future will have social, economic, and political impacts. Humanity should prepare itself for this upcoming revolution by conducting research on the implications of expanding humanity into outer space. Space Ethics is seen today as an independent field concerned with the study of the implications of expanding humanity into outer space. I add my voice to those who are seeking reformations for major space agencies to consider space ethics. But also, I would like to add that I see an opportunity for developing countries, which have not yet established a space agency. The establishment of space agencies with strong ethical foundations will have positive impacts both locally and on the whole global society.

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Jun

2023

PRESS RELEASE: NSS and SRI urge COPUOS State Parties for an 18th Sustainable Development Goal, SDG18 Space4All focused on Space Development

Vienna (Austria), June 7^th 2023

NSS and SRI urge COPUOS State Parties for an 18th Sustainable Development Goal, SDG18 Space4All focused on Space Development

In an historical UN COPUOS session, the 5^th of June 2023, Karlton Johnson from NSS gave a speech on behalf of the National Space Society (NSS), Space Renaissance International (SRI) and many other space advocacy organizations. The speech proposed an 18^th Sustainable Development Goal to be added to the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The #Space18SDG fosters Universal and Sustainable Space Development, Space for All, on Earth and Beyond. From the Johnson’s discourse: “We need sustainable initiatives to reclaim our planet from destruction. And we need to emphasize sustainability as part of our space activities. Therefore, in partnership with SRI, the National Space Society places a proposal on the table urging COPUOS State Parties to develop and introduce a resolution for an 18th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). This proposed 18th SDG aims to accelerate humanity’s expansion into space with a focus on creating sustainable capabilities for living and working human communities in LEO and beyond, harnessing the lessons learned there to benefit both Earth and other space-related activities.”

SRI, together with NSS, has already obtained large support from 31 organizations (and counting) to promote this resolution. Such noteworthy alliance includes, but is not limited to, Beyond Earth Institute, The Human Space Program, The Mars Society, The Lifeboat Foundation, Expanding Frontiers, The Space Tourism Society, Gen Space, The International Moon-base Alliance, and many others. Says Adriano Autino (SRI founder): “We will have a first event, June 12 to follow up, and a special session at Science Summit U.N. General Assembly 78, on 18^th September”.

“Our space4all SDG initiatives builds on decades of activity in research, capacity building, and development of new space society and economy,” says Bernard Foing (SRI President), “it is now the right moment for the Space Renaissance to go further for the benefit of all on Earth and beyond.“

The SRI president will also give a presentation on Space4all on 7 June afternoon for UN COPUOS Assembly.

In his closing remarks, Karlton Johnson underlined the uniting character of space activities for many decades so far: “Humankind’s further expansion into space to establish a permanent presence there can garner the same effect in the near future.” And more “Solving our global challenges, encouraging innovation, expanding and sharing what we learn, and planting the seeds for humanity’s continuance for eons to come; this can be one of humanity’s greatest and enduring achievements.”

Join the alliance of the 31 Co-promoters: https://spacerenaissance.space/sign-the-18th-sdg/

Sign the petition for #Space18SDG on Change.org: https://www.change.org/space18sdg

Follow the live event “Space for All, on Earth and beyond” https://youtube.com/live/A5CAyaNl7GI

Jun

2023

The 18th SDG proposal was announced at COPUOS 66th session, in Wien, the 5 June 2023

In an historical session, Karlton Johnson (NSS) gave this speech on behalf of NSS, SRI and 30 space advocacy organizations.

The 18th SDG proposal was announced at COPUOS 66th session, in Wien, the 5 June 2023

May

2023

THE SPACE GREEN REVOLUTION

On the 5th of June, 2023, the proposal for an 18^th Sustainable Development Goal will be presented at U.N. COPUOS, in Vienna, by representatives of the National Space Society, on behalf of 25 organizations who joined the alliance of the co-promoters of the #Space18SDG proposal.Why are we proposing that an 18^th SDG should be added to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development? It would be difficult to summarize all of the reasons in a short newsletter, but we will do our best to present these in upcoming newsletters . First of all, none of the 17 SDGs even mention space as a possible key factor supporting development sustainability. Yet, development was nominally the main goal of the U.N. 2030 Agenda, and it also was recognized as a civil right in a resolution adopted by U.N. General Assembly in 1986. Space has been increasingly confirmed as a key sector of the global economy – and perhaps the only sector experiencing spectacular growth in an age characterized by several crises.

Space technologies are already substantially contributing to all of the SDGs, and represent the main contribution to a true inclusivity of all the peoples of planet Earth. A civilian-led space development may substantially contribute to the three pillar SDGs essential for development: the 7^th SDG (Affordable and Clean Energy), the 8^th SDG (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and the 9^th SDG (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Thanks to reusable rockets, the cost to orbit is continuously downsizing, and both orbital and lunar industrial development are becoming increasingly affordable – not only for big corporations, but also for small and medium enterprises. The one trillion dollar threshold will likely be overcome by space economy before 2030, while financial forecasts had anticipated this occurrence in 2040. Surfing the many space news channels on YouTube, we learn that NASA and SpaceX plan to build a $3.7 Trillion Lunar Economy by 2040! This is even more optimistic than our forecast of $3.5 trillion, proposed in 2021 by the 3^rd SRI World Congress Thesis.

So, why didn’t U.N. experts reference space when they designed their 2030 Agenda? In partial exoneration of this omission, we could posit that financial experts still didn’t believe (just one year ago) that space was truly rising to such heights (and many of them still don’t believe this!). It was much harder to foresee this before 2015 (when the 2030 Agenda was conceived).

Now, however, it’s time to address these mistakes! Space resources will be key to help sustain development, both on Earth and in space. Even more important, human direct experience in space will be key to help universally improve sustainability in our solar system that, of course, includes Earth in a much broader environment. Dr. Thomas Matula Ph.D, (Sul Ross University, Texas) gave a most inspiring lecture (one week ago) addressing how experiences by communities living in space habitats may be essential to enable human sustainability – not only in space, but also on Earth’s surface. Ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture (as defined by SDG 2) will clearly require the development of new technologies and methodologies. And (what a surprise!) the best environment where humanity can experiment with and apply such technologies and methodologies is in space – inside closed artificial ecosystems, where all the operational variables are predetermined, continuously monitored and controlled. Increasing crops yield will be essential, as well as improving the cycles of water and oxygen, to help reduce water waste, as well as to assure high sanitation standards (SDG 6). An entirely new culture of recyclable elements and a circular economy will be designed and implemented. And where will such innovations be mandatory? In space habitats – both on planetary surfaces and in orbital (spinning) infrastructures. Sustainable space habitats will require high yield agriculture, and near 100% water and materials recycling. They also will need to extract resources from very “low-grade” sources. The lessons learned by space farmers communities will subsequently benefit terrestrial farmers, forest planners and ecologists – providing sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, enabling sustainably managed forests, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation, and halting biodiversity loss (SDG 15). It has been estimated that a combined use of Ultra High Yield Agriculture technologies and methodologies may help overcome (by several orders of magnitude) the results achieved by the 1970’s green revolution. Climate-controlled buildings isolated from natural environments (with optimized conditions regarding light, water, nutrients, atmosphere, temperature, humidity, and the spacing of plants) will help eliminate threats from insects, weeds, and plant diseases. The space green revolution will help increase yields 10 to 50 times more than traditional agriculture systems, enhance the potential for harvests year round, promote a 90% reduction in needed land, and enable a 95% reduction in the use of water. Taken together, this will definitely be worth the investment!

[English language editing by: Jim Crisafulli]
[Contributions by: Tom Matula, Al Anzaldua]

12 June 2023: An 18th SDG: Space for All, on Earth and Beyond

During the 1^st #Space18SDG virtual event, all of the promoters will provide their “why” humanity needs an 18^th SDG. Follow the livestream on the Space Renaissance Youtube channel

Click ‘going’ to the Facebook event

Sign the #Space18SDG pledge: https://www.change.org/space18sdg

Add your organization to the promoters group

Please don’t forget to support the Space Renaissance:

Join the SRI Crew: https://spacerenaissance.space/membership/international-membership-registration/

Donate some money: https://spacerenaissance.space/donate-to-space-renaissance/

Watch and subscribe the Space Renaissance YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@spacerenaissance

Also download a pdf copy of this article

Want to comment and discuss? Join the SRI Open Forum (WARNING: you declare to be fully tolerant to receive emails and discussions).

Also subscribe to the SRI Newsetter.

May

2023

Space for All, on Earth and Beyond

Space Renaissance International has recently launched a world-wide campaign for adding an 18^th SDG to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Our initiative suddenly resulted to be in tune with similar initiatives, undertaken by other space advocacy organizations, e.g. the National Space Society of USA, and many others. All of these promoter organizations are now working to a joined campaign. Two initial milestones will be the presentation, by the NSS, of the #Space18SDG to the COPUOS (the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space) the first week of June, and a panel organized by SRI at the UN General Assembly in New York, for the 18 of September.

“Space for All, on Earth and Beyond, a civilian-led space development, with human communities living and working in outer space to expand and multiply benefits to all the peoples of Earth.

The above is the main concept supporting our proposal, trying to make it evident, in few words, that, though we praise and consider very important the huge contribution so far given by space technologies to the achievement of the Earthly 17 SDGs, we think that they will not be enough to overcome the global crisis of human development on our mother planet, should humanity remain closed and confined inside its limits.

We know that it will not be easy to make a space 18^th SDG to be added to the U.N. 2030 Agenda. Since its very first steps, our initiative raised criticisms and objections. Yet we believe that our initiative is very opportune and timely, while the U.N. are going to a review of the SDGs, likely within 2025, a kind of mid term milestone, on the 2030 road-map. Furthermore, the #Space18SDG initiative will offer to the space movement a perfect opportunity to explain a simple concept still hidden and mystified in the public opinion at large: that 8 billion terrestrials can any longer make it on one only planet, and that we urgently need to start expanding, moving our development outside.The New Space Economy is gaining momentum, and each year it exceeds and contradicts expert predictions made by the experts: the dimension of $1 trillion will likely be achieved not in 2040, but before 2030 already.

The New Space Economy is confirming itself as the most dynamic sector, de facto leading the global economy to grow up, giving a chance to SDGs 7, 8 and 9 (energy, industrial development and jobs) to make their essential job, sustaining all of the social SDGs (no poverty, no hunger, etc…). All of the social SDGs need growth. The environmental SDGs, as well, need energy and technological growth, to be implemented. Yet industrial and economic growth, if closed inside the Earth’s boundaries, dramatically conflict with the environmental SDGs. In fact, the web society needs more energy, not less. The electrical mobility increases the demand of electric energy as well. The electronic society, in general terms, needs some materials, that can be mined in few places on Earth: resource wars just changed their subject, from oil to rare earths… conflicts and violent confrontations are increasing, not decreasing.

A civilian-led space development will solve, in perspective, both the above issues, and many others. Firstly, abundant resources, including rare earths and many other precious materials, can be found on the Moon and on many asteroids, ending the shortage on raw materials for the production of electronic components. That will contribute to peace on Earth, to increase jobs and to restart economic growth. On a second consideration, progressively moving industries into the geo-lunar space, we will relieve planet Earth’s environment from the burden of industrial development, allowing mother Earth to take a breath and possibly recover from climate crisis and pollution. Third, moving industries outside will halve the energy demand on Earth’s surface, since industries will take energy supply in space, directly from the Sun, and the energy demand on Earth will be just the private citizens demand.Last, but not least, expanding civilization into outer space will re-ignite creativity in all the peoples of planet Earth. The young generations suffered too much, during the last years, due to the covid19 pandemics and now for the raising wars and violent confrontations. The education systems were jeopardized everywhere. Though new distant learning techniques were developed, many students lost their interest, and school dropout raised, as well as psychological issues, in a general sentiment of fear and distrust of the future.

The launch of big projects, building on the Moon, in the Lagrange points and beyond will rekindle the hope and the enthusiasm of the young generations, motivating new waves of engineers, humanist philosophers, scientists, technicians.

Will our children tomorrow be astronauts? That was the Apollo age, when kids watched Buzz Aldrin walking on the Moon and dreamed of being astronauts… The vast majority will now be space citizen, and space workers. Space citizens will need civil rights to be extended into outer space. Space workers will claim their rights too. Living and working in space, will we be protected from cosmic radiations? Will we have simulated gravity, to avoid decay of our bones and muscles? Will we have green environments in the space habitats?

The 18^th SDG demands all of the above, to give more priority to the related scientific research. And more, we also propose the history of space and of the scientific research to be added to all of the educational programs, from Primary to University. We need to teach the history of love, not just of aggressions, colonizations, empires and wars. Our children have to learn the history of the people who dedicated their life to humanity, for the progress of civilization. The 18th Sustainable Development Goal shall bring onboard this great educational value too.

This campaign “Space4all on Earth and beyond” can develop the action plan we agreed at 2021 SRI Congress, fostering space science, technology, economy and jobs, international collaboration, peace, resources, inspiration, education training, and de facto a space renaissance.

Bernard Foing, SRI, President

Adriano V. Autino, SRI, Founder and former President

12 June 2023: Follow the livestream on the Space Renaissance Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/live/A5CAyaNl7GI

Click ‘going’ to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/768080504967832/

Sign the #Space18SDG pledge: https://www.change.org/space18sdg

Add your organization to the promoters group: https://spacerenaissance.space/sign-the-18th-sdg/

Please don’t forget to support the Space Renaissance:

Join the SRI Crew: https://spacerenaissance.space/membership/international-membership-registration/

Donate some money: https://spacerenaissance.space/donate-to-space-renaissance/

Watch and subscribe the Space Renaissance YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@spacerenaissance

also download this newsletter in pdf format