The Universe — or Nothing

  Appendix

  Principles of Governance Among Nations in Space

  An article by the Associate General Counsel for theSmithsonian Institution reported in THE FUTURIST,page 60, May-June 1990 (Common Era) that theSmithsonian Institution's National Air and SpaceMuseum had speculated on a Declaration of FirstPrinciples for the Governance of Outer SpaceSocieties. The project's participants representeda broad array of disciplines and interests,including engineering, biomedicine, law, economics,psychology, bioethics, and philosophy. Rather thanattempting to frame an actual constitution forspace societies, which normally would be reservedfor sovereign governments. The document wouldbe a reference for interested government entitiesresponsible for space policy, and to define thefundamental rights and freedoms of those whomight some day migrate to space.

  I wrote to the article's author, told him I wasworking on this story and included a draft of'core principles' I had drafted. I asked for moreinformation on the Smithsonian's study. Theauthor's reply included a copy of the Declarationand permission to quote from it. It follows:

  Astrolaw: Carrying Human Rights into Outer Space

  On the occasion of the Bicentennial of theConstitution of the United States of America andin commemoration and furtherance of its values,we the undersigned petitioners,

  Bearing witness to the exploration and inevitablesettlement of outer space;

  Recognizing the universal longing for life,liberty, equality, peace and security;

  Expressing our unshakable belief in the dignityof the individual;

  Placing our trust in societies that guarantee theirmembers full protection of the law, due processand equal protection under the law;

  Reaffirm our faith in fundamental freedoms;

  Mindful, as were our nation's founders, of theself-evident truth that we are endowed by ourCreator with certain inalienable rights;

  Recognizing the responsibility of a governmentto protect the rights of the governed to existand evolve;

  Do assert and declare in this petition theintrinsic value of a set of First Principles forthe Governance of Outer Space Societies and,at the beginning of this third century of nationhoodunder our Constitution, resolutely urge all peopleof the United Sates of America to acknowledge,accept and apply such First Principles as hereinafterset forth.

  ARTICLE I

  The rule of law and the fundamental values embodiedin the United States Constitution shall apply toall individuals living in outer space societies underUnited States jurisdiction.

  Appropriate constraints upon and limitations ofauthority shall be defined so as to protect thepersonal freedom of each individual, such asthe right to reasonable privacy, freedom fromself-incrimination, freedom from unreasonableintrusion, search and seizure, and freedom fromcruel and unusual punishment.

  Toward this end, the imperatives of communitysafety and individual survival within the uniqueenvironment of outer space shall be guaranteedin harmony with the exercise of such fundamentalindividual rights of speech, religion, association,assembly, contract, travel to, in and from outerspace, media and communications, as well as therights of petition, informed consent and privateownership of property.

  The principles set forth here should not beconstrued to exclude any other such rightspossessed by individuals.

  ARTICLE II

  Authority in outer space societies, exercised underprinciples of representative government appropriateto the circumstances and degree of communitydevelopment, shall reflect the will of the peopleof those societies.

  All petitions to the United States Government fromouter space societies under its jurisdiction shallbe accepted and receive prompt consideration.

  The United States shall provide for an orderly andpeaceful transition to self-governance by outerspace societies under its jurisdiction at suchtimes as their inhabitants shall manifest clearlya belief that such transition is both necessaryand appropriate.

  In response to aggression, threats of aggressionor hostile actions, outer space societies may providefor their common defense and for the maintenanceof essential public order.

  Outer space societies shall assume all rights andobligations set forth in treaties and internationalagreements, relevant to the activities of suchsocieties, to which the United States is a partyand which further freedom, peace and security.

  The advancement of science and technology shall beencouraged in outer space societies for the benefitof all humanity.

  Outer space societies shall protect from abuse theenvironment and natural resources of Earth andspace.

  End quote.

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  Core Principles drafted at the First SolarConference on the Relationships between the UnitedInner Planetary System (UIPS) and the IndependentNations of the Outer Region (INOR)

  Preamble

  In order to:

  Create and foster political, societal, economic,and cultural environments throughout the SolarSystem which will preclude or minimize actsof international and inter-regional aggression,economic warfare, cultural disruption, and otherforms of active hostility between the UnitedInner Planetary System (UIPS) and, separatelyand collectively, Independent Nations of the OuterRegion (INOR);

  Establish the framework for peaceful coexistencewithin which all Nations respect the sovereignty,territorial integrity, and political independenceof each other;

  Recognize the mutuality of interests among allpeoples and Governments of the Solar System insharing the benefits of The Interstellar Mining andTeleport System; and

  Prepare for and extend the human experienceinto interstellar space and toward the comingInterstellar Era.

  We agree to the following:

  ARTICLE ONE

  We reject and renounce economic, cultural andmilitary warfare, and the threat of warfare toattain national and regional objectives. We willsettle all disagreements and disputes throughpeaceful means.

  ARTICLE TWO

  We affirm that the peoples of all nations, states,colonies, settlements, communities, howsoever theymay be designated now and in the future throughoutthe Solar System and, eventually throughout theInterstellar Realm, have ecological unity. Theirharmony is such that none are truly independentof the others.

  ARTICLE THREE

  We affirm that the Solar System is the commonheritage of humankind, and all the resources of theSolar System, now and in perpetuity, are part ofthat common heritage. We agree that each Governmentrepresenting the people of a planet, satellite,independent space entity or a legally constitutedpart and collective thereof, is entitled to itsfair share of the natural resources originatingwithin the Solar System or acquired from otherstar systems. Such resources will be available,proportionately, from the Common Reserve inconformance with a nation's or government'sverified needs and technological capabilities toutilize the resources for peaceful and beneficialpurposes.

  ARTICLE FOUR

  In furtherance of ARTICLE ONE, we most solemnlydeclare that continuance of organized militaryforces by any Government of the Solar System canserve no useful purpose. We manifestly recognizethat the existence of military mass destructionweapons and their supporting agencies andfacilities increase the likelihood of theirutilization to resolve differences orjurisdictional disputes, with consequent harmto human life, properties, and civilizations. We,independently and collectively, agree, withoutreservations except for the EXCLUSION statedin this ARTICLE, to the phased reduction of allmilitary spacecraft, weapons, facilities, personneltraining and other support systems and technologiesto the point of their complete elimination not morethan five Solar Standard Years from the date affixedto this Declaration of Principles.

  EXCLUSION

  We exclude from this ARTICLE specified accordswhich are, or will be, required by a legallyconstituted Government to exercise normal internalconstabulary powers and authority on, and in spacecontiguous to, their planet, satellite, independentcommunity or zone, and between and amongGovernments, as mutually agreed to among theParties concerned. The UIPS and INOR will be
keptinformed of such constabulary agreements priorto implementation and their views considered.

  ARTICLE FIVE

  We recognize that precise delineation's ofspatial jurisdictions are essential for theorderly processes of government. We agree thatjurisdictions to be defined and delineated include:

  a. the outer limits of any one nation's spatialcontrol and administration. Such delineationshall take into account the irrevocable rightand obligation of any Government whichexercises legitimate influence or control overa non-hazardous natural or artificial planet,satellite, planetoid, space station, outpost,spunnel node, link, net or booster; transitingcomet, asteroid, meteor swarm, planetary orsatellite ring, or other astrophysical body toensure absence of human interference to that body'sor phenomenon's free and unencumbered passagethrough that Government's spatial jurisdiction.

  b. control and operation of space communicationsbooster, relay, and terminal stations and theirsupporting research, development, manufacturing,and logistics systems and technologies. Theintent of this delineation is standardized andeconomically operated and serviced conventionaland hyperspace communications systems throughoutthe Solar System and in interstellar space.

  c. traffic control, flight safety, and managementof UIPS and INOR approved inter-regional,interplanetary, inter-satellite and otherspace-ways. Acceptance of responsibilities shallnot exceed the Party's existing technologies,resources and capabilities.

  ARTICLE SIX

  We commit our Governments to accept financial,fiduciary, material and technological assessmentsfor our utilization of the common space-ways. Weagree that these assessments are for the purposeof defraying the expenditures of any one Governmenttoward maintaining and upgrading those commonspace and traffic management systems that fallwithin their borders, or other mutually agreed uponjurisdictions, and for performing such services forthe common good as:

  a. removal of hazards to innocent passage;

  b. traffic control;

  c. search and rescue;

  d. acquisition, deployment, operation and servicingof communications and navigational aids;

  e. construction, operation and maintenance of spaceand surface ports of entry and departure for thecommon use of all spacecraft;

  f. trained, equipped and ready investigation teamsto assist Governments of Primary Concern indetermining the facts of "incidents-in-space"which occur in proximate international areas, and

  g. emergency logistical support capabilities forperforming urgent essential repairs to damagedspacecraft of other Nations in peaceful transit.Such repairs shall be to internationally acceptedstandards that will permit the craft to continueits flight to a location designated by theGovernment having legal ownership, or authorityto repair or dispose of the spacecraft.

  h. We agree that spacecraft, spacecraft parts,otherwise man-made artificial bodies and partsthereof, wreckage, and human-generated excessmaterials and human waste, will NOT be discarded orabandoned in space. Derelicts and unattached partsthereof, rubbish, waste matter, and all man-madeobjects in space are considered to be hazardsto traffic or are pollutants. They will be collectedor tagged with an active signal and towed ortransported to where they will not be a hazardto traffic or pollute the space environment. TheGovernment of the nearest surface or colony habitatwill be notified immediately and institute actionsfor the objects' reduction to harmless residueor its temporary or permanent removal to a safelocation.

  ARTICLE SEVEN

  We announce the formation of an internationalapparatus, with representation from allGovernments, to assemble within three SolarStandard months from the date affixed hereto. Theprimary purpose of this Assembly is to facilitateimplementation of this Declaration. They shall alsocreate and ensure support for an interplanetarycitizen's volunteer group to review and resolvecomplaints and suggestions from the populace thatmay lead to recommendations toward improvementsto this Declaration that will:

  a. promote the free and unencumbered passage ofvessels, people and commerce between and amongthe Nations of the Solar System;

  b. encourage cultural, economic, and scientificresearch, and exchanges of scholars, students,and information for the benefit and bettermentof humankind;

  c. enhance the understanding of all peoplesregarding the positive values which have evolvedover the millennia since the beginning of the GreatMigration from Planet Earth, and,

  d. organize and begin the planning for humankind'sexploration and migration into the InterstellarRealm.

  ARTICLE EIGHT

  We declare and affirm we act in concert with thespirit and letter of this Declaration of Principlesin the interests of international cooperation,interplanetary peace and security, mutualunderstanding among our far-flung peoples,and the survival of our species.

  ARTICLE NINE

  We encourage all Parties to expand on these accordsthrough their initiatives and agreements for mutualbenefits to themselves and to all Governments andpeoples in the peaceful use of space.