Exactly 50 years ago in July, humans walked on the surface of the Moon for the very first time. Next year in November, the International Space Station (ISS) will celebrate 20 years since humans first began to live in orbit. However, in the next 25 years, a group of visionaries believes humans will celebrate even bigger milestones.
Chairman of Parliament for the micro-nation of Asgardia Lembit Öpik told Express.co.uk as many as 20,000 people will move into space in the next 25 years.
The former British MP, 54, is a member of the world’s first space-based micro-nation, established off the back of a satellite launch in 2017.
Asgardia, or the Space Kingdom of Asgardia, believes the continued existence of the human race relies on our transition off-planet.
Towards this unusual goal, Asgardia has vowed to conceive the first human child in orbit in the next 23 years.
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Mr Öpik said: “I’m 54, so statistically speaking I’ve got a quarter of a century to see all this happen and I think it’s realistic to see 20,000 inhabit space.
“More will probably go there in that time, possibly millions.
“The ways to get into space right now are to make friends with a superpower and go through astronaut school or to be a billionaire and build your own rocket that will take you there.
“Or you can become an Asgardian and while there are other initiatives such as Blue Origin – the brainchild of Jeff Bezos who clearly sees the same logical imperatives as Asgardia does – Asgardia is the only properly developed society with its own governance system and cohesive proto-society.”
Mr Öpik previously told Express.co.uk space colonisation is coming and it is simply a matter of time.
The Asgardian politician also argued a significant portion of humanity will need to leave the planet to survive dangerous cosmic threats.
I think it’s realistic to see 20,000 inhabit space
Lembit Öpik, Chairman of Parliament for Asgardia
Asgardia was officially created on October 12, 2016, by Russian billionaire and founder of the Aerospace International Research Center Igor Ashurbeyli.
Then in November 2017, Asgardia launched a tiny satellite into orbit, dubbed Asgardia-1, using it to claim territory in space.
Today, Asgardia boasts more than one million members or Asgardians who support the space nation’s mission statement.
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The space nation has envisioned moving humans onto giant orbital space stations or Space Arks.
On October 14, the micro-nation hosted its first Space Science and Investment Congress in Darmstadt, Germany.
The conference pooled together scientists, engineers and investment bankers who share Asgardia’s vision of moving to space.
Core topics at the congress involved overcoming the challenges of microgravity, radiation and space industry funding.
One scientist at the congress also explored the possibility of having to abandon Earth due to natural disasters and man-made cataclysms.
Mr Öpik said: “Space isn’t for everybody in the same way sailing isn’t for everybody.
“We’re not trying to convince those who aren’t turned on by the idea of the cosmic adventure to change their view.
“Because among seven billion people we will find enough who share our wanderlust to populate Asgardia.
“So, I think for me the best thing about Asgardia is the narrative is very simple.
“If you think humanity has to live off-planet and if you believe that this ambition should be achieved in a democratic way, then Asgardia is really the only game in town and the only game in space.”
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