Defenders of the Earth: 'Asgardia' is the First Space Nation

A group of scientists are preparing for the launch of first SPACE NATION named "Asgardia" that will soon be flying in a low-orbit satellite on Earth next year. "Asgardia" will be independent from laws of Earth and anyone in the world can be its first citizens.

"Asgardia" came from the Norse mythology's city of skies ruled by Odin. This space nation will live up its name -- as its website said, it is the first time in the history that a nation state is found not on Earth "but in heavens above." This straight out-of-science fiction move is led by Russian scientist Dr. Igor Ashurbeyli, founder of Aerospace International Research Center (AIRC) in Vienna. Ashurbeyli is also the UNESCO's 'Science of Space' committee chairman.

The group will launch a satellite next year and from there, developments will kick off - if the plans will push through. One of the developments that the Asgardia project will do is to create a protective shield on Earth from space junks, comets, and asteriods to avoid incidents such as Chelyabinsk meteorite's impact in a Russian town in 2013 that injured 1,100 people and damaged 4,000 buildings. Anyone can register to the Asgardia website to be part of the first 100,00 citizens. Members of the public are also encouraged to participate in creation of Asgardia's flag and insigna.

"'Asgardia is a fully-fledged and independent nation, and a future member of the United Nations - with all the attributes this status entails.'Dr Ashurbeyli said. "'The essence of Asgardia is Peace in Space, and the prevention of Earth's conflicts being transferred into space." he added. The experts in the project hope that through creation of a new space nation, there will be a development in future space technology that are free from limitations and restrictions of state control.

As of press time, there are already 99,070 who registered to the Asgardia's website.