Join the Democrats for Space Exploration Dkos group for news and discussion of Space Exploration. There are many issues that go beyond mere “gee wiz” lookit that neato pictures.
Humanity is moving into space, and it is NOT only the USA. China has a Mars lander in Mars orbit set to land soon as well as a couple of robots on the moon NOW. The United Arab Emirates and India have orbiters around Mars too. India and China are both in the development phase of building their own space stations.
The days of the USA sitting back as the sole force in space are over. If we as Americans sit back, we will be left-back.
There are real human issues. Imagine a government on the Moon run according to the whims of Jeff Bezos? What about a Mars colony where Elon Musk was the effective undisputed King of Mars. In either or both cases imagine their ability to decide people's fates where even the very right to breath might be taken away without due process.
What are the issues involved in making parts of the Moon, Mars, or other places in space into future USA states? How would they send delegates from the state of Tranquility to congress and the senate? What about the state of Utopia from Mars, where the very radio signal of a Zoom call might take 30 minutes, each way?
How might a future nation be declared? Could it join the United Nations?
On the down to Earth points, what about the labor rights of space workers, both those who are on Earth getting the rockets ready to fly as well as people living and working in space, perhaps millions of miles away from the nearest court?
It’s not all about the gee wiz. That’s what I hope to discuss in the Democrats for Space Exploration Dkos Group.
#jtg