While some scientists are warning us to prepare and colonize other planets as the earth may soon fail us, a group has decided to form a new country, or nation in space and they call it Asgardia. Although the nation is still operated from the earth and no one has gone there yet, it has its citizens pulled from all over the world, and they have everything that a normal country has.
Here are some facts you need to know about Asgardia, the space nation.
1. What is Asgardia?
This is one interesting question that people have come to always ask. Well, it is designed as a space kingdom, not for aliens but for humans. It is the first Nation that is designed out of the earth.
Because it is a city far from the earth, it is named after the Norse Mythological city of the skies. While it is referred to as the first space nation, it is also referred to as an NGO and any citizen of the earth is also welcome to apply and be a citizen of the kingdom also.
The objectives of Asgardia include ensuring peace in space, protection of planet Earth and humans from outer space threats, equal opportunities in space for all Asgardians residing on Earth, regardless of geographic, financial, and technological background.
2. Who Created the Space Kingdom
Asgardia was started by a Russian Scientist, Dr. Igor Ashurbeyli. The man announced his intention of creating an independent nation in space in October 2016, and he has so far brought it to fruition as he is able to get it running already.
The man was born on 9 September 1963, and he has held very big offices in his home country of Russia. He won Russia’s State Science and Technology Prize in 2010.
3. The Government of the Kingdom of Asgardia
Like every nation on earth, the space nation also has its own government even though it is not officially functional. The leader or head of the nation is also its founder, Igor Ashurbeyli while the Deputy Head of Administration is Lena De Winne.
The government is made of ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Science, Information and Communication, Justice, Citizenship, Trade and Commerce, Youth and Education, Safety and Security, Equity and Resources, and Administrative Affairs.
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Others that form the government are elected. For the members of parliament, people are elected from the 13 districts of the space country. The districts are English (64 seats), Chinese (12 seats), Turkish (14 seats), Spanish (16 seats), Italian (7 seats), French (6 seats), Russian (6 seats), Arabic (3 seats), Portuguese (4 seats), German (3 seats), Farsi (1 Seat), Hindi (3 seats), and District 13 which is the last has (11 seats).
The country is an independent entity and not part of any space agency.
4. Finances
For now, the space nation is working on developing its national bank which will allow them to have their currency and be able to turn it to liquidity it when they want. It is unknown how the nation will source for funds, at the moment, it provides for members to donate.
For now, members have donated almost quarter a million dollars and there are more people that are still donating. The country will later have its own currency and the SOLAR and LUNAR will serve as a unit of the currency. Already, it has been registered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office even though it will come as a cryptocurrency which means that it will be virtual money.
Starting from 1 July 2018, Stocks and shares are going to go on sale in the stock exchange market on the basis of bilateral sale and purchase agreements. For those with businesses, one can easily have that registered with the kingdom.
5. It has requested to be recognized by the UN
The space Kingdom has written to the United Nations and wants it to be recognized liked every other country. Once this is able to be achieved, it will have a seat in the world body. The hopes is that just the same way Israel was recognized by the UN, so also it will come to recognize Asgardia.
6. People all over the world have applied to be citizens of the country
Because citizenship is open to everyone in every part of the world, people from different countries and ages have applied to become citizens of the country. For one to become a citizen, one must accept and abide by the constitution which has been adopted.
7. Date, Flag, Coat of Arm, etc
Like every other nation, the space nation has its national anthem, flag, coat of arm, and so on. All these have been voted for recently and adopted by people who have registered to be part of the nation.
For the date of Asgardia, since it is assumed that it is not a nation on earth, it has adopted its own date which starts from 0000. After five years, it will be 0005. The months, however, are the same with that of the earth.
National holidays would also be available. Asgardia’s Birthday will be celebrated (5 October/12 October), Asgardia’s National Unity Day (1 Asgard/18 June), and New Year Day (31 Dec).
8. There are some people who believe it is nothing but a hoax
These days everything can be a hoax, and with the craziness of this idea, it has gotten many people believing that it is nothing more than a cheap scam. Even though one can go to the site and register towards becoming a member of the country, it is hard to tell if it is all one big scam.
9. Not Part of the world
Already, members of this kingdom do not consider themselves as part of the earth. As many of them have pointed out, they do not want people who would come with their earthly beliefs and all the things that separate humans such as religion. Instead, they want people to come with their values and humanity.
10. Asgardia in Numbers
The nation has 1 humanity and Unity, 115 volunteers to manage the Asgardian community as a part of their civic duties, 2,975 people campaigning for the Asgardian local elections, 13 electoral districts, 13 degrees that have been passed by the space nation’s head of state, close to 12 posts by the Asgardian citizens, close to 19,000 uploaded files to the Asgard 1, and people from more than 220 countries of the world coming together to make the citizens of the country.
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Potential problem
The potential problem that the new nation may face is that of recognition as the international community may find it hard to accept. This is even as it has launched its first satellite into space.
