Asgardia Space Nation News & Update: Project Head Wants A UN Recognition As Independent State

A space nation project put forward by a team of researchers, attorneys, philosophers and entrepreneurs is seeking recognition from the United Nations (UN) as the first independent space nation in history. This development was announced yesterday by Russian scientist and innovator Igor Raufovich Ashurbeyli . Named after one of the Nine Worlds of the Norse mythology, Asgard, the Asgardia space nation is scheduled for deployment into orbit in August 2017.

Asgardia will develop its own laws, governance, and regulatory bodies. The project's focus group will file an application to the UN to declare Asgardia as a country. Asgardia's orbiting satellites will be governed by its own systems of community and regulations.

According to the website Tech Times, Ashurbeyli heads the project for the Asgardia space nation. He is the self-proclaimed "Founding Father of Asgardia." He is a co-founder the Aerospace International Research Centre in Vienna, Austria, who is leading the project.

"One month has passed since I announced the creation of the first Space Nation - Asgardia. We thought that the first 100,000 future Asgardians would register by the end of 2016, but we reached our target within the first 40 hours! And over 500,000 during the first 20 days," Ashurbeyli said. The public will be involved in several aspects of the project including the design the space nation's flag, insignia, and other symbols of nationhood. 

"The Sun" reported that the first ever space nation Asgardia will hold talks with "earth countries" to gain UN recognition as a fully-fledged independent state where no Earthly laws apply. A month after it was founded, more than 500,000 people have signed up to be "Asgardians" who will serve as "Earth Guardians" in space. A satellite in space will be launched where "Asgardians" will live.

Ashurbeily explained that Asgardia will consist of satellites where Asgardians will reside to protect the planet Earth. The space nation's goal is to build a protective shield around the planet to prevent future collision with asteroids.