“The history of capitalism is a history of increased social and economic inequalities. Who would really benefit from using the resource of outer space? And does humanising outer space imply we should simply continue degrading the Earth?” (“Outer Space as Resources”)

“Space tourism is a form of ‘conspicuous consumption’, a way in which some wealthy people assert themselves socially at the same time as living out their childhood dreams. [...] Maybe space tourism is the first signs of elites escaping from economic chaos, continuous war and environmental degradation back on ‘terra firma’.” (“Space Tourism”)

Or our gateway to a better life for all and a long-term sustainable civilisation?

“I would suggest that personal space exploration (“space tourism”) will be a key part of what will come to be seen as the 21st-century Enlightenment: a further unification of humankind based on the transforming experience of viewing our home planet from space. Obviously the first people to pay their own way to space are also those with the most power to inspire and lead in commercial and political spheres back on Earth.” (“Space Tourism” – comments)

“The stresses and strains of human civilisation must be understood as evolutionary growing pains. We are not at a sustainable level, but rather in a period of transition between two such levels: the more primitive level being that of pre-industrial, perhaps even pre-agricultural, tribal society, the more advanced level being that of an interplanetary, ultimately interstellar civilisation.” (“Why is space-humanisation happening?” – comments)

The debate is hosted by sociologists Peter Dickens (Universities of Cambridge and Essex) and James Ormrod (University of Brighton), following the publication of their book Cosmic Society: Towards a Sociology of the Universe (Routledge, 2009).

Join the battle for space on the Sociology of the Universe website.

NB: the authors will be speaking at the British Interplanetary Society at an evening meeting on 8 September 2010. See you there!

My thanks to Duncan L.-G. at Rocketeers for the link!

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(2) Announcing the Wayland starship

Inspired by the launch of the Icarus project, but even more irritated by James Cameron’s infuriating new movie Avatar, I found myself compelled to set down some sketches of a starship design of my own. Wayland looks ahead to ask whether, when and how human beings might voyage to the stars in person. Find full details and a downloadable PDF of the report here.

Feedback is welcome, and I have posted some early second thoughts on a linked page set aside for this purpose.