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Space advocacy is supporting or advocating human activity in outer space. The advocated purposes range from

orbital flight An orbital spaceflight (or orbital flight) is a spaceflight in which a spacecraft is placed on a trajectory where it could remain in space for at least one orbit. To do this around the Earth, it must be on a free trajectory which has an altitud ...

space exploration Space exploration is the process of utilizing astronomy and space technology to investigate outer space. While the exploration of space is currently carried out mainly by astronomers with telescopes, its physical exploration is conducted bo ...

, commercialization of space and space settlement, to outright

space colonization Space colonization (or extraterrestrial colonization) is the human settlement, settlement or colonization of outer space and astronomical bodies. The concept in its broad sense has been applied to any permanent human presence in space, such ...

. There are many different individuals and

organization An organization or organisation (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English; American and British English spelling differences#-ise, -ize (-isation, -ization), see spelling differences) is an legal entity, entity—such as ...

s dedicated to space advocacy. They are usually active in educating the public on space-related subjects, lobbying governments for increased funding in space-related activities or supporting private space activities. They also recruit members, fund projects, and provide information for their membership and interested visitors. They are sub-divided into three categories depending on their primary work: practice, advocacy, and theory.

History

The idea that space flight was possible and necessary was introduced by groups of thinkers, primarily members of the Russian, American, British, and German science communities, who formed in the 1920s the first advocacy groups. Starting in the 1930s, these groups began to share their plans for a future in space to their respective governments and the public. Influential books and other media began to emerge which included works containing illustrations by Chesley Bonestell (based on

Wernher von Braun Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun ( ; ; 23 March 191216 June 1977) was a German–American aerospace engineer and space architect. He was a member of the Nazi Party and '' Allgemeine SS'', the leading figure in the development of ...

's designs) such as '' The Conquest of Space'' (1949) and magazine articles including the " Man Will Conquer Space Soon!" series of article in '' Colliers'' magazine between 1952 and 1954. Television shows included

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney ( ; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer, voice actor, and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the Golden age of American animation, American animation industry, he introduced several develop ...

's " Man in Space" and " Man and the Moon" in 1955, and " Mars and Beyond" in 1957.

Space movement

In 2004 most of the leading US non-profit space organizations joined together to form the Space Exploration Alliance. The Alliance was formed to "advocate for the exploration and development of outer space" to members of Congress. The Alliance organizes the annual Legislative Blitz to lobby members of Congress for space exploration, and every space enthusiast is encouraged to participate in the Legislative Blitz by calling, emailing, or personally visiting their Congressperson's office. An analysis of space advocacy in ''Dark Skies: Space Expansionism, Planetary Geopolitics, and the Ends of Humanity'' by Daniel Deudney has identified two different paradigms: the

Braun Braun is a surname, originating from the German language, German word for the color brown. In German, ''Braun'' is pronounced – except for the "r", equal to the English word "brown". In English, it is often pronounced like "brawn". Notable p ...

- Tsiolkovsky paradigm (VTP), focusing on migration and militarization of space, and the Clarke- Sagan paradigm (CSP), focusing on

. According to Mark Hopkins from the National Space Society, each space organization has a different priority and short-term objective, but all organizations share the ultimate goal of building space settlements.

Decolonizing space

To reach a more inclusive spaceflight and

space science Space is a three-dimensional continuum containing positions and directions. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions. Modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless ...

some organizations like the ''JustSpace Alliance'' (see Lucianne Walkowicz) and

IAU The International Astronomical Union (IAU; , UAI) is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach, education, and developmen ...

featured ''Inclusive Astronomy'' have been formed in recent years. Holding events like the

unconference An unconference is a participant-driven meeting. The term "unconference" has been applied to a wide range of gatherings that try to avoid hierarchical aspects of a conventional conference, such as sponsored presentations and top-down organizati ...

''Decolonizing Mars'' in 2018. Advocates of this issue see the need for inclusive and democratic participation and implementation of any space exploration, infrastructure or habitation. Questioning the decision making of and reasons for any colonial

space policy Space policy is the political decision-making process for, and application of, public policy of a state (or association of states) regarding spaceflight and uses of outer space, both for civilian (scientific and commercial) and military purposes ...

, labour and land exploitation with

postcolonial Postcolonialism (also post-colonial theory) is the critical academic study of the cultural, political and economic consequences of colonialism and imperialism, focusing on the impact of human control and extractivism, exploitation of colonized pe ...

critique. Private and state funded advocacy for

, specifically the rationales and politico-legal regimes behind

, like the "

New Frontier The term ''New Frontier'' was used by Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy in his acceptance speech, delivered July 15, in the 1960 United States presidential election to the Democratic National Convention at the Los Angeles Memo ...

" slogan, have been criticized for applying

settler colonialism Settler colonialism is a logic and structure of displacement by Settler, settlers, using colonial rule, over an environment for replacing it and its indigenous peoples with settlements and the society of the settlers. Settler colonialism is ...

and the

manifest destiny Manifest destiny was the belief in the 19th century in the United States, 19th-century United States that American pioneer, American settlers were destined to expand westward across North America, and that this belief was both obvious ("''m ...

ideology, perpetuating imperialism and the narrative of colonial exploration as fundamental to the assumed

human nature Human nature comprises the fundamental dispositions and characteristics—including ways of Thought, thinking, feeling, and agency (philosophy), acting—that humans are said to have nature (philosophy), naturally. The term is often used to denote ...

. Participation and representation of humanity in space is an issue of human access to and presence in space ever since the beginning of

spaceflight Spaceflight (or space flight) is an application of astronautics to fly objects, usually spacecraft, into or through outer space, either with or without humans on board. Most spaceflight is uncrewed and conducted mainly with spacecraft such ...

. Even though some rights of non-spacefaring countries to partake in spaceflight have been secured through international

space law Space law is the body of law governing space-related activities, encompassing both international and domestic agreements, rules, and principles. Parameters of space law include space exploration, liability for damage, weapons use, rescue efforts ...

, declaring space the " province of all mankind", understanding spaceflight as its resource, sharing of outer space for all humanity has been criticized as still

imperialist Imperialism is the maintaining and extending of power over foreign nations, particularly through expansionism, employing both hard power (military and economic power) and soft power ( diplomatic power and cultural imperialism). Imperialism fo ...

and lacking. For example arguments for space as a solution to global problems like pollution and related narratives of survival are considered imperialist by Joon Yun. Having a considerate policy towards space is seen as an imperative to allow a thoroughly sustainable human society also on Earth.

List of organizations

Actively involved

Organizations that are directly involved in space exploration, having their own active projects.

Lobbying

Organizations that focus mainly on lobbying government agencies and businesses to step up their efforts.

Educating and publicizing

Organisations involved in educating the public, to boost their understanding and enthusiasm about space.

Theorizing

Organisations that focus on advocating theoretical work.

References

{{Politics of outer space Astropolitics

Advocacy Advocacy is an Action (philosophy), activity by an individual or advocacy group, group that aims to influence decision making, decisions within political, economic, and social institutions. Advocacy includes activities and publications to infl ...