Article

Humans in Outer Space - Interdisciplinary Odyseys

Dhirendra Sharma

There is the US-led International Space Station up in heavens awaiting arrival
of an advanced Columbus Space Laboratory (CSL) assembled by European Union. The Columbus, as part of International Space Station (ISS), is launched into orbit aboard the US space shuttle Atlantis. But the most important module is supplied by the European Space Agency (ESA).

As far as techno-scientific problems are concerned they can be solved but digitally. But what happens if astronauts from different cultural traditions and countries get into a fight in Space? Whose law should govern the affairs of Space Affairs in the Borderless Space Regime? Should there be exclusive rights - as distinct from inclusive of all human life- irrespective of gender, race, region, or religion? Should there be halal or kosher? Or Should food, dress, and daily routine be determined by scientific requirements essential for life in Space?

These questions were recently posed at a conference on Humans in Outer Space - Interdisciplinary Odysseys held in Vienna on October 11-12. This was the first comprehensive trans-disciplinary dialogue on humans in outer space. At the conference for the first time space scientists were brought face to face with scholars from Humanities and Social Sciences, including experts in Space Law. It was organised jointly by the European Science Foundation (ESF), European Science Agency and the Vienna-based European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).

It is interesting to note that The Outer Space Treaty of 1967, described as "the Magna Carta of Space Age", had been ratified by 98 states. But the treaty recognises legal jurisdiction of the state within the spacecraft registered with it.

Thus, the space station has posed new legal problems. Because, it is being assembled from modules supplied by the United States, Russia and Japan as well as European Science Agency.

The Space Treaty partners have rejected the proposal of Washington that the US law should prevail throughout the space station.
It was agreed, however, that each state can register its own separate elements, which means that you now have a piece of the US annexed to a piece of Europe annexed to a piece of Japan and a piece of India in outer space. But the Columbus Space Laboratory assembled at the International Space Station with collective International scientific efforts cannot be registered to any one entity which can exercise legal jurisdiction in Space.

Search for Space Age solutions:

Admittedly, entire Space Age Science is rooted in Knowledge Gene of humans.

Concern scientists and philosophers, therefore, believe that since the citizens of Planet Earth are all there together, we all have the same purpose to make the International Space Station into a big success - to explore the Universe and Cosmos beyond. Therefore, liability shall also be common to all nations/ humanity. There can be no exclusive rights or liability specific to any one state, nation, race, region or religion in the Space Age regime.

According to the Outer Space Treaty no nation can lay claim to the Moon, and other celestial bodies are not subject to national appropriation by any ones sovereignty. Neither by means of space-land use or occupation, nor by any other means of force. The Moon or Mars are not subject to appropriation, nor can they be settled on or purchased or sold. A base on the Moon can never qualify as the territory of any Earthling /country. It is also not clear what Passport, legal identity or nationality a child born on the Moon would have.

With many nations now active in space, the likelihood of further international agreements on space laws are urgently called for. In the present political climate, however, the UN Moon Agreement of 1979, had set out how states should behave when exploring the Moon and other planets. But the 1979 agreement had only been ratified by 13 countries that have no means to go to the Moon.

Until recently, Social Sciences and Humanities had paid little attention to Space Age issues. The activities in Space had been dominated by major military - industrial powers that had mainly concerned with engineering and War - physical - science issues. The conference 'Vienna Vision on Humans in Outer Space' aims to provide an authentic voice for a broader interdisciplinary perspective to formulation of cultural norms for human beings in space.


(Contact: Dr. Jean-Claude Worms, Head, Unit for Space Sciences, European Science Foundation. Email: jcworms@esf.org)

The Space Age War Science :

When discussing the Sustainability of our Planet Earth post-modern advancements in Science (Knowledge) and Engineering cannot be ignored. Besides,
Nanotechnology and Space Age developments can also prove to be of great advantage in achieving management and sustainability of Earth resources. Development of nano-science and engineering, e.g., would radically transform nature of industrial productions including battery -storage capacity, and size and capacity of computer chip, medical and health services.

The United States spend an estimated US$4 billion on nanoscience and technology (2008), Japan US$3 billion, European Commission US$7.5 billion in its Seventh Framework Programme (20072013). According to Dr. Mohamad H.A. Hassan,

Nanoscience and nanotechnology may prove to be the first cutting-edge field to reflect the new realities of global science in the 21st century . The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) estimates that nanotechnology will represent a US$1 trillion global market by the end of this decade. The developing worlds interest in nanoscience and nanotechnology parallels a trend in global science that has been unfolding over the past 20 years. (Science, Vol. 309, 1 July 2005)
Nanoscience and nanotechnology, however, raise many intriguing questions from the sustainability policy perspective.
But it has many potentially valuable societal applications including the creation of more efficient filtering systems for producing clean drinking water. The nano- filters will be very effective and low-cost cells that prevent viruses and toxins from entering the water supply system.

Similarly, the nano-engineering can manufacture efficient solar cells cheaply which will also be easy to handle and transport and provide us eco-friendly industrial savvy energy.
According to the United Nations University studies political, social and cultural factors do play significant role in determining benefits of high-technology. Since the frontier areas of research demand high investment and basic infrastructure supported by highly qualified human resources, in the field of Nano evidently the advanced countries would have lead, just as in the space age research. Most Third World states would be bogged down with their traditional belief systems preoccupied with internal conflicts - sectarian violence. At best they would resist the challenges posed by new scientific knowledge. Acquisition of Nano-sciences and competence of nano-technology for new generation of manufacturing facilities certainly would call for new socio-political regime appropriate for the 21st century Space Age governance.
The US government is reported to spend $ 4-5 billions secretly on developing advanced space age weapons to control and fight out- space wars in 2050.
The Secret Weapons programme remains beyond the purview of the US Senate and Congress. But many research projects had already been engaged on National Security and Nano Sciences. Meanwhile, other governments are not far behind in the dark games of global human destruction of life and liberty on this planet. Russians have, e.g., recently tested the most advanced Succession Bomb that when released can create Vacuum by destroy life giving Oxygen but without damaging properties.

Advancement in life-sciences had provided upgraded medical and health services. Paradoxically, the post-modern bio-sciences have, thus, created population explosion in the 20th century. The science offered illness free genetically created biological existence that have resulted in longevity, and thus today the life span is unprecedented high globally. People are now living longer and the death-rate at birth is almost reduced to nothing. Population of the planet has risen from 2 billion ( in 20th century) to 6 billion. And the health sciences had almost protected humanity from the Gods curses by eradicating epidemics that have become history of by gone days.

But the conflicting ideologies - the neo-cons of all colours and faiths, though using the techno-scientific tools of post-modern civilisation are inspired by non-scientific cultural belief that God was on their side and that they were following some infallible Divine Mission.
There is ever widening gap between the ever advancing Scientific Knowledge of Universe and the neo-cons aspiration for exclusive cultural identity. If it is a conflict it is in the nature of historical process (or progress) that is the Conflict between the Scientific Knowledge and the Socio-Cultural - Belief system.
In the post-Atomic Age, the Russell-Einstein Manifesto (1955), had established the paradigm that

Nuclear War could not be fought, nor could it be won. Because it would lead to Nuclear Nights and Nuclear Winter.

Admittedly, the paradigm posed a direct threat to the military-industrial interests of established super- powers that had come into conflict with international (global) interest of Global humanity.
In the 1970-80s, activism in Science and Technology began with the Club of Rome, and the Limits to Growth. Governments and the U.N. established Science Policy agencies and pro-environment campaigns which led to Sustainable Development paradigm. Today, as the United Nations are in existence, credit goes to the Concerned Scientists who led International Peace Movement.
In the 21st Century, Science (Power) Knowledge had decisively undermined the authority of the belief-systems. Today, we have begun to know how the universe, the galaxies, the Suns, and the stars are being born and destroyed. Therefore, the Concerned Scientists in the 21st Century Space Age Manifesto for Global Peace observed:
No race, religion, or country, caste, class or creed is free from wrong doings and there are no innocent followers of any Faith or culture that have not violated human rights of meek and the weak . Nonetheless, there is nothing so precious as human life, and peace and security is necessary for the survival of our civilization. Our commitment is to Life and Liberty. Not destruction of Humankind.
The Manifesto signed by the Concerned Scientists and Philosophers, including Noam Chomsky and Tony Benn, called upon the leaders and preachers of all faiths and religions, and Heads of all sovereign states to abide by the Declaration of Human Rights as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. It reads:
That advances in Life Sciences have given us the mantra of matching the Blood Group necessary for saving life: not your exclusive cultural identity of race, region or religion. We, therefore, call upon Religious Heads of all Faiths to declare that killing of the other human being is not sanctioned by any divine Commandment.

The Alexandria Conference, therefore, may consider following Resolutions:

1. Installing any War system anywhere around the globe would lead to the Cold War. Therefore, We call upon the Space Age Weapons States: To strengthen the United Nations by Placing all International Military Bases under the United Nations Command;
2. In order to stop civil wars and community conflicts in Africa and Arab countries: Stop sale of small and big arms - tanks, guns, fighter jets., and missiles. No arms sale to Asian, Arab and African states;
3. Place all Space Research under the UN Research and Development Agencies.
4. Space Exploration should be free from Military Activities and to be carried out under the United Nations;
5. Nano Research and engineering should not be utilised for war science activities.

Dr. Dhirendra Sharma, Convenor: Concerned Scientists & Philosophers.

Director, Centre for Science Policy, Dehradun 248009. www.psaindia.org
Email: psand@vsnl.net