Reclaiming Space: Progressive and Multicultural Visions of Space Exploration

by James S.J. Schwartz (editor), Linda Billings (Editor), Erika Nesvold (Editor)

Reclaiming Space is an innovative study of space travel's history, legitimacy, and future. The NewSpace movement that presently dominates spaceflight culture is characterized by distinctly Western, free-market capitalist values and associated with the space ambitions of the super-wealthy. This book exists to incubate, illuminate, and illustrate a more diverse and inclusive conversation about space exploration. Reclaiming Space What would space exploration be like if we prioritized, or even simply acknowledged, the perspectives and value systems of individuals who are disabled, aren't white, aren't male, or aren't characteristically Western in their values? What can these perspectives teach us all about space exploration and its value (or even its potential for harm) that cannot be easily recognized or appreciated under the NewSpace status quo? And what should we be doing differently when it comes to space exploration?

The twenty-seven original essays in this volume provide much needed perspective on space exploration by offering counterpoints to mainstream thinking about space. Essays address subjects such as the history and development of spaceflight culture, both within and outside the United States; the impact of science fiction and space art on how we conceptualize space; diverse cultural narratives and responses to space; and the ways space exploration might be leveraged in support of repairing injustices. Reclaiming Space also considers what our responsibilities might be as a spacefaring species in the distant future. Contributors include academics who research space exploration, spaceflight culture, space ethics, and space policy, as well as space artists and authors of award-winning science and speculative fiction. Written for space enthusiasts of all backgrounds, Reclaiming Space is an engaging, provocative volume of essays showcasing the perspectives of women, persons of color, and others who are typically left out of discussions of space exploration.

Genres: Space

389 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2023

Reviews

[Ryan Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reclaiming Space

9/2024.

This book represents important work to make space discussions less “WEIRD” (western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic”) and to include more voices in the debate. A solid goal if ever there was one. It attempts to focus on the methodology for inclusion rather than try to prescribe specific policy outcomes, using art, economics, and ethics as the grounds for discussion. In attempting to bring useful criticism to space policy debates, the book is largely successful. It is stark, but that only highlights how starved we are for diverse views in this field. It has to be the only book in existence that uses Black Feminist poetry as a starting point to inform policy on Space Traffic Management. The book points us to value we can derive from inclusion of African, indigenous American, and Pacific Islander views and histories (see “the lost Pleiade”, as well as the objective ethical value of inclusion in the most unifying of all human endeavors.

Chapter 4 has the essence of a good argument but is muddy in its writing and comes across as a screed, which is a shame.

A few chapters stand out: Chapter 5 is a bright spot- a clear and sharp argument about the need to promote more participation in space and a critique of the use of subsidies by the world’s richest men to claim the moon or mars for their own. (As a taxpayer, you’d hope to at least get some personal return on this forced investment-cum-subsidy). Chapter 21 (written by a friend) as well- it brings clear legal framing to resource extraction in space, especially the moon- we’re headed for lots of billable hours for space lawyers.

The personal tone in chapter 12 is honest and enjoyable. A disappointing trip to space camp allows us to dissociate a love of space from a love for American space culture, which is always helpful to do.

Chapter 17 is probably the most succinct encapsulation of the totality of the book and might be most worthy of the more casual readers’ time.

Chapter 26 introduces Astrobioethics and a host of great questions for a road trip or dinner party.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reclaiming Space was an interesting read, but it wasn't a very entertaining book. I'm easily entertained by learning new things, and the title and description of the book made it seem to be about different people theorizing about the actual logistics of space travel. While there are a couple of chapters about that, the majority of the book is rather a criticism of the fact that the majority of people who are working towards space travel belong to the same group, being white and western males. While I do think that it is important to consider the views of everybody on this planet before expanding humanities reach beyond the earth, it wasn't something that was actually interesting to read, at least as a whole. There were a few chapters that were interesting, such as one that talked about how different civilizations had used space for various purposes like navigation, or a few of the later chapters that actually discussed the ethical issues and potential solutions that would arise when traveling through space. This book would be an interesting read for someone who is both interested in space travel and resolving the various issues that have and will result from it, but I am only giving this book three stars because I am only the first.