Interview with the head of the first space of the state of Asgardia: about the hopes and plans for the future

Asgardia – the dream of science fiction becoming reality. The first space society, independent of politics and management of the earth's laws. Since the founding of Asgardia in 2016, its de facto leader was a Russian businessman, scientist and doctor of technical Sciences Igor ashurbeyli. However, on 25 June, he took part in the formal inauguration of its official ruler. The ceremony took place at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.

Currently citizens of Asgardia are more than 200 thousands of inhabitants of the Earth. The state does not have its own territory, however according to ashurbeyli, this is not a problem. Among the tasks of Asgardia – education space companies on the basis of many space stations and satellites, as well as the establishment of a colony on the moon.

Asgardia described as a humanistic attempt to gather the best, brightest and most creative minds for the development and promotion of science, as well as the desire to resist the spread of earthly political and military conflicts in space.

In 2017, Asgardia launched the first orbital satellite, on Board of which contains the State Constitution and the Constitution of the first space of the state. According to the official website of Asgardia, in the next two years in orbit it is planned to bring many of the same satellites, which will play an important role in the organization of space companies. However, as it became known, the government has managed to meet some problems. For example, some asgardia was puzzled by the fact that they can't vote against the new Constitution, which in turn gives ashurbeyli virtually unlimited powers to control.

The Identity of this person is to some extent a mystery. At least for the Western press. Almost all the news about him says that ashurbeyli billionaire, but more specific details about his condition to the public is unknown. We only know that he is a descendant of the famous Azerbaijani kind Ashurbekova (Azerbaijani oil men, aristocrats). At the same time, marks his successes in the scientific community, business, and also in the development of defensive and space technologies.

Portal Futurism was able to communicate with ashurbeyli and find out more about how currently the case with Asgardia, as well as any plans for future builds the first space-faring nation.

Tell us about your past. When did you become interested in space, when the idea of creating Asgardia?

I'm a scientist and a businessman. And now has become a philanthropist. About 20 years actively working in the Russian aerospace industry. Before election on a post of the head of Asgardia founded the Aerospace International Research Center GmbH (Vienna, Austria), and the log Room Space Journal where you are editor-in-chief. 2011-present — Chairman of the Presidium of the nonprofit partnership "non-Departmental expert Council on aerospace defense" (nab ASD). Developed the Concept of creating a Unified system of aerospace defense of Russia (EU SAI).

The Idea of creating independent from all States originated over 10 years ago. The new nation needs its own territory, but at that time, all existing on our planet land assets were distributed among other States. Was that the only way for new Nations to exist on Earth is the establishment and use of artificial Islands or other artificial territorial entities.

In 2016, when I was in Montreal at an international conference to discuss issues on space law, I thought: why not create an independent state in space? To do this, is there any restrictions? After talking with experts in the field of space law from McGill University (Canada) my idea gained a more defined shape.

Who or what inspired you to start Asgardia?

I was inspired by the almost universal human mythology another world somewhere beyond Earth. As at the time people were inspired by the concept of the mythical country of Shambala in Tibet or the legend of the ancient city of Kitezh. The name comes from Asgardia "Asgard" — city in the clouds, described in Norse mythology. I really want to Asgardia became the embodiment of old dream of mankind of a life somewhere beyond the known world.

what are the main tasks of Asgardia and others who support this vision?

Asgardia was based on three principles: world, accessibility and protection. First, Asgardia will strive to maintain peace in space and to ensure that the earthly conflict there does not flow. Second, Asgardia committed to providing equal access to space for people from all over the world. And in the end, Asgardia will seek to ensure equal protection of both individuals and countries (in particular developing) of various potential space threats.

Recently at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna hosted your inauguration as head Asgardia. How was the ceremony? Who attended?

I am very proud of the fact that the inauguration took place in the Hofburg Palace. My candidacy as head of state supported the new elected Parliament of Asgardia, diplomatic representatives from more than a dozen other countries, several representatives of large public organizations related to the UN, members ashaninkaParliament, the astronauts, the heads of several space agencies, scientists and our international legal team.

You recently launched a satellite with the data on Asgardia and its Constitution. It was difficult to choose what to start first? What did you feel after a good run?

We originally made the decision on what to run with the first satellite. What will be important for asgardian. This was our first step on the way of opening space for people from all over the world. Before sending the documents, we made sure that they fully comply with international standards.

I was very happy to personally oversee the launch. To watch the rocket takes off, and with it into orbit in the space displayed the first piece of sovereign territory of Asgardia.

was information that some members ashirbekova companies reported their injustice. For example, saying that they can't vote for the Constitution. This is a correct characterization of what happened?

Every asgardian could vote for the Constitution, or to abstain from voting. 72.5 percent of asgardian voted to adopt the presented document, the Constitution. In Asgardia every voice be heard.

note: Discussion of this situation, the community of Asgardia revealed the fact that 72.5 percent of votes for the adoption of the Constitution of the asgardian may not reflect the true opinion of the people. If you go to the website of Asgardia, which conducted the voting, it becomes clear that people were given the choice either to accept the document as it is, or just navigate to another page, thereby expressing their disagreement. The community did not provide even basic opportunities to discuss the presented document.

How are you going to solve problems and controversial issues within Asgardia? There is a plan for the future?

In the first parliamentary meeting held on 24 June in Vienna was attended by 100 members of Parliament who are representatives of about 40 countries. The discussion was conducted in 8 languages. The debate lasted more than 11 hours instead of the originally planned 8. Any person, without exception, were given the opportunity to speak. There were about 20 open surveys. All decisions on existing issues and concerns have been taken with all the principles of democracy. To reduce the number of disputes in Asgardia was a banned party, as well as the division of citizens on ethnic and religious grounds. At the same time, a full consensus is impossible in any human society.

the ultimate goal of Asgardia, as we understand it, is that people began to live in space. What do you think is the most difficult problem standing in the way of this goal? Whether it is connected with the level of technology?

There are two very big problems: we have to deal with cosmic radiation and lack of gravity. To be able to create a permanent habitat in space, we must solve both of these problems. We plan to build spaceships equipped with artificial gravity, protection from cosmic radiation and other space threats.

in Addition to cosmic radiation and lack of gravity are there still some problems to be faced by asgardia, if you decide to live in space?

Other possible threats, I would highlight seven major categories: space storms and flares, known as coronal mass ejections; changes in the Earth's magnetosphere, which destroy effective protective layer of our planet, potential asteroid and comet threat; space debris; climate change under the influence of technogenic factors and solar activity; cosmic radiation from nuclear reactions in Nova, supernovae and pulsars; and the risk of infectious contamination of Earth by organisms from meteors and other small celestial bodies.

About you write many media. If something that you would like myself to clarify or to add?

Three things:

the

the
• I'm not a billionaire. I am an ordinary person. I earned some money, but I started with $ 20 in 1988;
the
• I don't consider Asgardia as a business project. We are creating a space state;

One of my hopes around Asgardia connected in order to see the birth of the first man in space. I hope that Asgardia can be a starting point for an infinite continuation of the human race in space.

As in your opinion will look of space settlements in the near and more distant future? When humanity is able to escape from the shackles of earth's gravity?

I would hope that in the future space settlement would look the same as the look of our home on Earth. I firmly believe that within the next 25 years people will be able to begin to live outside our planet.

what is a space settlement on the moon or in the same spacecraft will be similar to the earth?

In the possibility of a repetition of the environment in which the people used to live on Earth. It is impossible to do with our current technology on the International space station, where the man remains a "tourist" with limited time of stay, after which can occur irreparable consequences for his health and life. We want to ensure that anyone could live in earth orbit or the moon, while not having the status of a professional astronaut. This involves the development and creation of permanentsettlements in which the environment and conditions are similar to those we have on Earth. I think this can be achieved in the next 25 years.

A Key objective in the establishment of permanent space settlements is the ability to continue the human race beyond our home planet. This step will test the permanence of such dwellings and will open doors to further settlement of humanity in the Universe.

Can at least roughly identify when the spacecraft, about which you spoke earlier, will be built and what should be done to create and place in space?

Asgardia within the next 5-7 years is going to create a lot of satellites on the basis of which will build a network Spacebook (global Internet); space ships for 15 years, and permanent settlement on the moon within 25 years.

note: the Representative ashurbeyli, who organized portal for Futurism interview with the head of Asgardia said that while no technical details about the features of these future space settlements, they can not share.

Jacket it is planned to do in the near future? What izgraditi need to focus right now and later?

The Challenges facing us right now – the mobilization of state apparatus, economic organization and the beginning of diplomatic relations with other States – this is the work we must perform in order to prepare for the future of Asgardia.