If humans fail the test of survival, we will have no future in this universe.

 

Cosmic survival is not handed out to those waiting around for a free ride.

 

In the evolution of life, survival is won by those who will run and fight for survival.

 

Humans have drifted into a false sense of security, forgetting that evolution is still at work.

 

To be counted among the fittest that survive, we must prove ourselves to be fit for survival.

 

To improve our survival options, we need to secure a sustainable presence in space.

 

On Earth alone, our survival options are limited.

 

 

After reaching the Moon in 1969, plans were drafted for space settlement. [1]

 

The key step was to harvest the power of the Sun in space for factories, and build space habitats that would have generated an Earth gravity by rotating.

 

The power of the Sun harvested in space could have been beamed to Earth, launching energy transition out of fossil fuel, including coal and oil.

 

Instead of running with cosmic survival when the opportunity arrived, too much fossil fuel was burnt for too long, leading to global warming, sea level rise, climate change, increasing ocean acidification, and changes in plant biology due to rising levels of carbon dioxide in the air.

 

There is a growing body of scientific opinion that human survival on Earth is now at risk, which is explored in the document by Kim Peart ~ The Message. [2]

 

We may now need to act swiftly, to secure our cosmic survival, or take the greater risk of waiting to see what happens on Earth.

 

It would be by far better to be safe in space and able to fight to win back a safe Earth, than being trapped on Earth with diminishing survival options.

 

 

The golden key to improving our cosmic survival, is to secure a sustainable industrial presence in space, as soon as possible.

 

Sustainable industry in space will be powered by the Sun, which is a virtually infinite energy well, with so much fuel in reserve, our star will burn fiercely over the next 5 billion years, until expanding to the orbit of the Earth as a red giant.

 

This is the fate of a star like our Sun, explored in an article by Matt Williams ~ "At this point, the Sun’s expansion will either encompass the Earth, or leave it entirely inhospitable to life.” [3]

 

Resources for sustainable industry in space will be supplied from near Earth Asteroids, the Moon, Mars, the Asteroid Belt, and even from Venus, where carbon may be mined from the air.

 

Industries in space can produce robots to do any work needed, such as building human habitats, and arks for life that can be scattered across the Solar System.

 

Once there is a sustainable industrial presence in space, there will be no further real cost to Earth for space development, and with an infinite return on the investment.

 

In this future, it will be possible to build emergency living space in space for all Earth’s people, and the shuttlecraft needed for transport, should any catastrophe overwhelm the home planet.

 

From space we can win back a safe Earth for future generations.

 

If we become trapped on Earth, we will not be able to win space.

 

The vision of the Space Pioneers Foundation is to secure our cosmic survival as soon as humanly possible.

 

If survival is on our bucket list, and is our hope for future generations, we need to run like the wind to achieve this.

 

When we have secured our cosmic survival, then we can rest on the high ground, and celebrate.

 

 

Mini-robots will be cheaper to send into space than human scale machines, and human workers, who need bulk resources for staying alive.

 

Mini-robots can be set to work with mining and establishing factories in space, where larger robots can be built, human scale space habitats constructed, and the shuttlecraft made for transport.

 

Using remote-control systems, it will be possible to work with robots in space, even from Earth, as well as from space stations and Moon bases.

 

How remote control robot systems would work is described in an article by Kathy Pretz ~ "“Whatever the robot touches with its ‘hands,’ the operator sitting in the boat feels in his hands via the joysticks,” Khatib says. “This haptics interface connects the human with the machine. The robot can feel the environment—which allows the human to interact with it. Problems can be handled that only a human’s intuition can solve.”” [4]

 

The space worker may be using a virtual reality headset, to see through the camera eyes of the robot, and gloves that transfer sensation to work with the robot hands.

 

Once a sustainable industrial presence in space is established, any work will be possible, and any dream made that can be imagined.

 

 

The Space Pioneers Foundation is inviting determined individuals to collaborate globally to secure our cosmic survival.

 

We look to ten million and more space pioneers engaging in the mission.

 

Age is no barrier in this mission.

 

The virtual worlds can be used, including Second Life, to meet, plan, build models, set up exhibitions, and work with robots, which may in time become real robots working in space.

 

The virtual worlds are now being used as a low-cost nursery to train robots, a matter explored in an by Andréa Morris ~ "They’ve hit the ground running using Virtual Reality (VR) to maneuver robots. The human commandeers the robot like an avatar, so the movements of the human are mirrored by the robot. Human moves, robot moves, robot learns by experience.” [5]

 

Space pioneers can work with robots in the virtual world, as well as in real life, and be preparing to work with robots in space.

 

Space pioneers will also be taking an interest in all aspects of space, from rocketry, to astronomy, and growing food as if in space.

 

The way the virtual worlds work, the best approach is for teams of a dozen space pioneers to form to work on selected projects.

 

A dozen is a good size for a team in a virtual world region.

 

Team members could be from anywhere on Earth, and work with a shared vision for our cosmic survival.

 

Team members can elect the head and the second to represent the team.

 

Team member can also have personal space in the virtual world, such as an apartment just like the home they plan to have in space.

 

As more teams form, sixteen teams can form a village of 200 space pioneers, which is the average size of a successful community in the military or civilian life. [6]

 

Sixteen teams could occupy a set of 4 by 4 regions in the virtual world.

 

A village can have a committee comprised of team heads, which can elect a village head and second.

 

Sixteen villages could form a town, with an elected mayor and a council comprised of village heads.

 

Alternatively, the mayor and councillors could be elected by the whole town.

 

In this way, a fully democratic organisation can be built, with strong lines of communication from the grass roots to the leaders of the Space Pioneers Foundation.

 

How many space pioneers will be needed to secure our cosmic survival?

 

A thumbnail figure is ten million, working with a shared vision.

 

Ten million and more space pioneers may prove to be a critical number when it comes to winning government support, and keeping the gates to space open.

 

A crisis on Earth may see governments close down space development, to focus on the terrestrial crisis.

 

When it comes to securing our cosmic survival in the real world, numbers in support could prove to be quite critical.

 

 

Space pioneers can do much in their local community, such as arranging a display in the local library.

 

Where there are a few space pioneers in an area, they could consider setting up a space centre, which could include a space shop, cafe, gallery and workshop to work with robots, rocketry, astronomy, growing food as if in space, and providing access to the virtual world projects.

 

 

A stepping-stone project can be the construction of a mini space station, in which mini-robots can be accessed with remote-control systems.

 

In this way, space pioneers can gain access to space much sooner, and also use space to train to work in space.

 

The mini space station could be a working model of the space city planned for construction.

 

 

All going well, the Space Pioneers Foundation mission can be launched at the International Astronautical Congress in Washington, 21-25 October 2019. [7]

 

The Space Pioneers Foundation mission is to secure a sustainable industrial presence in space, and create living space in space for ten million and more space pioneers.

 

Can this mission be achieved by 2029?

 

Space settlement proponent Gerard K. O’Neill once suggested that ~ "Almost anything can be done in a ten year period, when we set our minds to it.” [8]

 

Considering how Britain and the United States mobilised during the Second World War to defeat the German and Japanese empires, how half a million workers were engaged to create the first atomic bomb with the Manhattan Project, launching the nuclear age in a couple of years, and how half a million people were employed to win the race to the Moon within a decade, O’Neill had solid historic evidence in mind when making that suggestion.

 

 

To get the vision to Washington in 2019, space pioneers are invited to contribute $5 per month via PayPal.

 

We can look toward a trade table in Washington, as well as presentations, if accepted.

 

We can also look toward holding larger meetings and conferences in the virtual world, where special arrangements can be made with Second Life for larger events.

 

We could also have a presence at other space events around the calendar year.

 

 

Considering how all space development will be essentially free, once we have secured a sustainable industrial presence in space, how much value do we need to place on getting there, especially when our cosmic survival may depend on the success of the mission.

 

Over the coming year the cost will need to be worked out by the Space Pioneers Foundation.

 

We seek determined individuals who would like to assist with this work.

 

We cannot expect governments to be handing over the funding.

 

We need to raise the funds.

 

We can each ask what value we place on our cosmic survival, and all the creative opportunities that would follow among the stars.

 

What value do we place on life?

 

If it works out that we could achieve the mission for a trillion dollars, and we inspire ten million space pioneers to rise to the challenge, that would translate into $100,000 per space pioneer.

 

If the calculation is higher, then we need to face that and put the facts on the table.

 

The stakes are very high in terms of cosmic survival.

 

For some people $100,000 could be an up-front investment in survival, while for others the sum may be raised over ten years, if the mission can be achieved for a trillion dollars, and ten million space pioneers rise to the challenge.

 

Part of the action with the Space Pioneers Foundation, will be raising the funds to secure our cosmic survival.

 

Individual space pioneers may be making a direct investment in an apartment in an orbital space city.

 

What would the value of such an apartment be?

 

By securing a sustainable industrial presence in space, it will become possible to build living space in space for ten million and more space pioneers.

 

Space pioneers will be helping to open the way to the stars.

 

 

In this future, we will be creating a stellar economy that will completely reshape Earth economics.

 

Being in position to generate unlimited wealth, we can design a society where there is no poverty, in space or on Earth.

 

Look at wealthy nations like the United States and Australia, and unemployment, poverty and homelessness can be found.

 

Poverty is a political choice, and will happen in space, unless systems are in place to ensure fairness for all citizens.

 

One simple way to end poverty, is to provide work that pays a minimum wage.

 

Persons with a disability can be cared for, and provided home and income.

 

All citizens able to work can have a career path and a home, with a universal employment guarantee.

 

In this way, all citizens will live with respect, one for another, as members of our human family.

 

Those able to compete in free enterprise could do so, where at least the minimum wage will be paid, so companies will be able to attract and keep workers.

 

Space pioneers can work toward this future on Earth now, which will contribute to peace on the home planet.

 

The Space Pioneers Foundation will be seeking determined individuals who wish to work on the design of a stellar economy free of poverty.

 

 

With the arrival of nuclear weapons in 1945, the end of war had arrived, if humankind is to survive.

 

With enough nuclear weapons available to end all life on Earth, it is no longer possible for a superpower to fight total war and hope to win.

 

In an all-out nuclear war, everyone loses, including the Earth.

 

Human habitats in space are fragile bubbles in a vacuum.

 

The best defence in space, is peace.

 

Kinetic weapons could be mass-produced in space factories to threaten cities on Earth.

 

A kinetic weapon is simply a metal rod the size of a telegraph pole, which upon impact has the force of a small nuclear weapon, and with no radiation. [9]

 

The fear of kinetic weapons may lead to space development being blocked, and even lead to conflict in space.

 

The kinetic weapons problem may be overcome, if all nations work toward peace in space, and transparency in operations.

 

All nations could then see what all other nations were doing.

 

Considering how much wealth can be generated in space, there is a win-win in this arrangement for all nations.

 

The first orbital city created in space could be a city of peace, open to the citizens of all nations.

 

The end of war began in 1945, and if a city in space is built by 2029, war could be declared history in that city in 2030, which is the planned year of peace in space.

 

In space, survival and peace may turn out to be the two wings of the bird of life.

 

In a new era of celestial peace, we will be able to look toward a new age of creativity among the stars.

 

The Space Pioneers Foundation will be seeking determined individuals to help build peace.

 

 

Much harm will be done to the Earth, before the tide of death can be turned.

 

So many species of life will be lost, which did not need to be lost, if we had run with cosmic survival in the 1970s, when this first became possible.

 

We are late to the starting gun, but as we run, we can also fight to win back a safe Earth, and save as much of the old Earth as we can.

 

Having burnt too much fossil fuel for too long, the key environmental action is to extract excess carbon dioxide from the air.

 

This will require a huge amount of energy, which can be supplied from solar power stations in space.

 

With the power of the Sun to draw on, extracted carbon dioxide can be broken into carbon and oxygen, with the carbon being processed into a useful resource for Earth and space industries.

 

To help cool the planet as carbon dioxide is being extracted from the air, an adjustable sunshade can be located in space.

 

The plastics that now fill the oceans, killing fish and birds, can be cleaned up using robots built in space factories. 

 

That we have a space plan for a safe Earth, could inspire the citizens of Earth to work toward achieving a sustainable human presence on the home planet.

 

With much human activity moved into space, along with heavy industry, it will be possible to plan for a sustainable human future on Earth.

 

The Space Pioneers Foundation will be seeking determined individuals to work on the design of a sustainable human presence on Earth.

 

 

With a view to peace in space, and also a safe Earth, what values will shine for future generations?

 

To accept that we are still subject to evolutionary forces, calls for honesty.

 

We need to step beyond the illusions that kill life, and engage in the honest that gives life.

 

Science works, because honesty is critical to finding out the truth about the Universe.

 

Scientific discoveries cannot be made through illusions and denial.

 

To maintain peace and security in space, we need honesty as a guiding star.

 

To build a society that allows a life-path for all citizens, calls for honesty, and also compassion.

 

As we approach the end of war, we can begin to view all Earth’s citizens as members of our family.

 

In space we will discover a new way of evolution, beginning with peace, and blooming with creativity.

 

If we continue in our old bad ways, we may not have a future in this universe.

 

To secure our cosmic survival among the stars, we need to shift our mental gears to honesty and compassion.

 

What price survival?

 

Honesty.

 

 

 

[1] The High Frontier

Gerard K. O’Neill

William Morrow & Company, Inc., 1976

 

Space Colonisation

 

Orbital Space Settlements

National Space Society

 

[2] The Message

 

[4] Haptically Controlled Robots Will Take On Tasks Too Dangerous for Humans

 

[9] Kinetic Bombardment