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<The Future of Nations: Space Colonization's Impact on Sovereignty>

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Will the advent of space colonization signal the decline of national boundaries? This shift may occur sooner than anticipated.

On July 17, 1975, at 3:17 PM EDT, a historic moment unfolded above the Atlantic Ocean as two spacecraft unlocked their docking hatches, marking the beginning of a new era. The Apollo/Soyuz mission represented the first collaborative effort in space exploration between former Cold War adversaries.

In a 1984 State of the Union address, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the United States' intention to create a fully American space station, Freedom. However, after encountering numerous technological and political challenges over the next nine years, the project evolved into the International Space Station (ISS) with Russian collaboration, integrating their Mir-2 project into this international initiative.

For over two decades, the ISS has been a hub for human activity in low-Earth orbit, maintained by the cooperation of the United States, Russia, Japan, Europe, and Canada.

Initially, only countries possessed the capabilities to send humans into space. However, on May 30 and 31, 2020, SpaceX became the first private company to launch astronauts into orbit, ferrying them to the ISS.

The growing presence of various nations and private entities in space could soon lead to a transformation in our understanding of national identity.

A New Generation Beyond Earth

One significant challenge facing human settlements on Mars, the Moon, and other celestial bodies is the potential for these locations to become battlegrounds of international competition and commercial interests. Yet, the necessity of survival in space may foster unity among these pioneers.

For instance, lunar settlers utilizing an American-built Gateway, residing in a colony constructed by Chinese and Russian teams, and relying on European filtration systems for air and water, may find little reason to pledge allegiance to any single nation.

As time progresses, new generations may be born and raised in space, potentially never stepping foot on Earth. The concept of nationhood could become obsolete, shifting towards a more cohesive interplanetary community, where the idea of distant nations fades away.

The Challenge of Habitability

Humanity has long been bound to Earth, but we now stand on the brink of expanding our reach to other worlds.

For a colony to thrive over the long term, it must possess three essential features: a self-sustaining ecological system that requires minimal outside resources; adequate radiation protection akin to Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere; and a robust transportation network connecting it to Earth.

No single nation is likely to provide all these necessities, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in establishing and maintaining off-Earth colonies.

Transporting all required materials from Earth for a lunar or Martian settlement is both impractical and prohibitively expensive. Thus, resource extraction from local environments will be crucial as we venture further into the Solar System.

The Moon holds abundant titanium, aluminum, and oxygen, with vital water resources primarily located in its polar regions and scattered elsewhere.

The distribution of natural resources necessitates accessibility for all space settlers, regardless of their national affiliations, reminiscent of ancient communal gathering spots.

Recently, Russia's space agency Roscosmos and China's National Space Administration announced a partnership to create an international space colony, either on or orbiting the Moon, pooling their resources to advance lunar exploration.

The closest parallel to how lunar or Martian colonies might function can be found in Antarctica—Earth’s most isolated region.

“Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent in terms of area, larger than both Oceania and Europe. It uniquely lacks an indigenous population, with claims from seven nations: New Zealand, Australia, France, Norway, the United Kingdom, Chile, and Argentina,” states National Geographic.

Even Antarctica's harsh climate is significantly more forgiving than that of other worlds, which lack even the entertainment of penguins.

The Emergence of Cooperative Communities

While initial colonies on other planets may be established by nations and NGOs, the physical, social, and economic pressures are likely to unify these groups, contributing to the dissolution of traditional national boundaries.

> “The time was fast approaching when Earth, like all mothers, must say farewell to her children.” — Arthur C. Clarke

The 1967 Space Treaty currently regulates many aspects of national interactions in space; however, this agreement was created in a vastly different context from today's burgeoning exploration. As humanity ventures toward the Moon, Mars, and beyond, the demand for new regulations and perspectives will intensify, possibly fostering the end of nations.

“[W]ith new land available for acquisition for the first time since the nineteenth century — land with no claims of sovereignty — it is natural that questions will arise regarding how this extraterrestrial land and its valuable resources will be appropriated among the nations of Earth,” Brandon Gruner notes in the Seton Hall Law Review.

The saying "Space is hard" rings true, and much like our ancestors on the Serengeti Plain, who overcame challenges through social cooperation, future life in space will likely become more rewarding and sustainable as nations and NGOs collaborate to meet the challenges of extraterrestrial living.

Emergency situations will inevitably arise in future space colonies, necessitating cooperation among different outposts for survival. Even the staunchest nationalist would find it difficult to refuse air during a crisis simply because it originated from another nation’s technology.

As humanity extends its reach to other worlds, the most effective, safest, and economical approach will be through collective effort. Over generations, this collaborative spirit may bring about the decline of nations—one of the most significant shifts for our species since we learned to unite with others beyond our immediate surroundings.

Written by James Maynard and Chukwuemeka Aloysius Anigbogu.

James Maynard is the founder and publisher of The Cosmic Companion. He is a New England native now residing in Tucson with his wife, Nicole, and their cat, Max.

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