NationStates Jolt Archive

I realize there is another thread with a draft proposal for space. This is an alternative proposal to the other thread, and I encourage you, if you're interested, to compare the two drafts so that we may come to an even better final proposal.

Description: RECOGNIZING that there are physical limitations to the number of artificial man-made satellites that can be maintained in the orbit around our planet.
RECOGNIZING that universal access to space-based platforms and systems would allow for accelerated technological and economic advances for all WA member nations.
REALIZING that a space race of privately and/or nationally owned satellites would result in extreme overcrowding of orbital and near orbital space traffic.
REALIZING FURTHER that overcrowding of our planet’s orbits would make space travel and utilization far more costly and dangerous due to a greatly increased chance of space collisions between satellites, probes, shuttles and launch vehicles.
REALIZING FURTHER that such space collisions would result in the spread of space debris throughout our planet’s orbit, making future orbital collisions increasingly likely, the overall cost of space launches far more costly, and risks damage to lives and infrastructure on the surface.
UNDERSTANDING that international governance and organization of satellite technologies would result in the cheapest space-based technological services (such as GPS) through the minimization of orbital collisions.

SECTION 1-The World Assembly Space Administration

The World Assembly hereby creates the The World Assembly Space Organization (WASA) as a neutral organization to monitor and regulate space traffic and weather for the benefit of safe space travel and cheap, reliable space based services and technologies.

SECTION 2-The Aims and Activities of the WASA

a) The WASA shall first provide a world-wide GPS satellite system universally accessible to all WA member nations. If necessary due to orbital overcrowding, WASA shall be authorized to buy up private and state owned satellites at market price to make room for the GPS satellite network. It shall also attempt to purchase and dismantle any satellites that are deemed to present a danger for space travel or those living on our planet.

b) The WASA shall further maintain and update this GPS network with the latest technologies using its own funds, although it may choose to contract out to private or state enterprises to effect these results.

c) The WASA shall provide and maintain a Space Traffic Control (STC) system to monitor and regulate the flow of all space traffic and provide essential space weather information for spacecraft. These STC centers shall be both space and planetary based for redundancy and movement in and out of our planet’s atmosphere. The WASA will make a standardized code regarding how spacecraft are to operate within its jurisdiction in order to maintain safe, collision-free operation. STC may charge fines and/or deny access to WA space resources to those that violate its codex. STC shall operate strictly in English, the language of the WA.

d) The WASA shall also provide for the establishment of a number of public WA Space Stations for the use of WA member nations. These Space Stations shall include scientific research facilities, cosmic threat monitoring systems, refueling stations for spacecraft looking to travel into deep space, and the aforementioned space-based STC centers.

e) WASA and STC’s regulatory authority shall limited to areas of space extending no closer to our planet than the Kármán Line (100 km above our planet’s surface) and no farther than our planet’s lunar orbits. STC shall monitor, but not regulate space traffic and weather down to 50 km above our planet’s surface.

f) Nations are encouraged to coordinate their respective Air Traffic Control systems with those of STC for increased safety.

SECTION 3- Funding of the WASA

a) Funding for the WASA shall come from the WA General Fund (ref. WA Resolution #17) and from the sale and/or lease of the services WASA provides to customers that seek to utilize them. WASA shall not intentionally run a profit and keep prices low to maintain this result without sacrificing necessary safety and quality standards.

b) Any unintended profits WASA may accumulate over a fiscal year shall be redirected into the WA General Fund to be redistributed IAW WA Resolution #17.

Category and Strength?

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

As to what category and strength, I find the decision a bit tricky and would appreciate input. I'm leaning toward Political Stability (Significant).

Reasoning: There is some loss of freedom, as there would now be international regulations to follow while operating in space (i.e. law & order) but I don't really view these as a loss of political freedoms per se. It'd be equivalent to saying laws that make you stop at a red light restrict your political freedom. Despite that, I lean here because it does help protect law & order in space, and none of the other categories seem to make as much sense in my mind.

Although I will be moving this proposal to a separate thread, I'll answer here.

To your first concern, unrestricted orbital overcrowding are already happening as these systems are being deployed by state and private entities. The STC is designed to regulate the deployment of such satellites and platforms so as to maintain safe avenues for space traffic and minimize space collisions. WASA's authorization to buy up and/or dismantle existing satellites and platforms allows alleviation of existing overcrowding issues. STC approval will be required for the deployment of future systems. But space is vast, and there will always be room for new platforms.

As for the second issue, there is no provision stating that owners of such satellites should be forced to sell these assets. However, WASA and STC reserve the right to refuse services to those who do not comply with safety standards. If the owner is insistent on maintaining their existing satellites regardless of any sale price offered, WASA and STC shall work with them to come to an acceptable compromise to maintain space safety.

To be honest, it sounds to me a bit like you're confusing a real-world problem with a Nationstates problem. I know I haven't been on here long, but I've already found six different threads involving nations with space empires. My own nation (If I ever get that introduction post properly editted and posted...) is an example of this.

In real life, the problem isn't the satellites. It's the trash leftover from from 50 years of space missions. This stuff is bad enough I remember reading a news story about Earth having a ring of it now. It's that stuff which poses most of the hazards and creates most of the problems. Unfortunately, at this time, there are no solutions to this problem and it'll only get worse for now.

Maybe what you should consider is tackling it not from the idea of buying up satellites (most of which will be argued as necessary for some reason or another), but focusing on ways to clean up the trash already up there and limiting future pollution. And a way in which to write it so that it is not obviously just a real life concern brought into the game.

sounds good.

OOC: Isn't WASA the name of that space program on Sesame Street?

Isn't WASA the name of that space program on Sesame Street?

Dammit, our WA members keep getting younger. :)

As to what category and strength, I find the decision a bit tricky and would appreciate input. I'm leaning toward Political Stability (Significant).
We are not surprised that the honoured ambassador is uncertain as to the category and strength of the proposal. It attempts to perform three essentially unrelated functions -- provision of a GPS satellite network, space traffic control, and the building of space stations for member nations -- none of which sit easily in a category and each of which lean in different directions. Were the ambassador to deal with such matters one at a time, he might find the choice of category simpler.

Would this be a environmental proposal? It is clearing the Environment of Space at the expense of the industry?