Reclaiming Space

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 asks: 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.

Author Biography

James S.J. Schwartz is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Wichita State University. They are a leading researcher of the philosophy and ethics of space exploration. Their most recent book is The Value of Science in Space Exploration (Oxford University Press, April 2020).

Linda Billings is a consultant to NASA’s astrobiology and planetary defense programs in the Planetary Science Division of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. She is also Director of Communications for the Center for Integrative STEM Education at the National Institute of Aerospace in Hampton, Virginia.

Erika Nesvold is an astrophysicist and developer for the Universe Sandbox, a gravity simulation. She is the creator and producer of a thirteen-part podcast series called Making New Worlds, which discusses ethical issues in space settlement. In 2018, she co-founded the JustSpace Alliance, a non-profit organization with a mission to create a more inclusive and ethical future in space.