Quality of Life, on Earth and Beyond

ver. 3.80 16.09.2025

1         CALL FOR PAPERS

Abstract

Human civilization stands at a critical juncture. Global crises—wars, nationalism, cultural decline, and environmental degradation—are worsening our quality of life and blocking pathways for progress, particularly for younger generations. If unchecked, this trajectory could lead to collapse.

Civilian Space Development offers a viable alternative. By expanding into outer space, humanity can open new frontiers for sustainable growth. Space resources and habitats, as envisioned by Gerard K. O’Neill, can provide clean energy, vast living space, and abundant raw materials while protecting Earth’s biosphere. Moving industry off-planet and gradually establishing self-sufficient colonies on and around the Moon, Mars, and asteroids can help preventing resource wars, foster cooperation, and ensure the survival and flourishing of human civilization.

The SRI 2026 IV World Congress will bring together thinkers, innovators, and space humanists to:

• Raise awareness of current risks to civilization and culture
• Promote accelerated civilian space development
• Debate priorities in space policy, philosophy, and strategy
• Build coalitions to advance industrialization and settlement beyond Earth

Call for Papers: We invite contributions that address how humanity can transcend present limits and grow into outer space. While technical and business proposals are welcome, emphasis will be on political, cultural, and philosophical frameworks that can inspire action.

The time has come to shift focus from mere survival to expansion, progress, and a renaissance of human civilization in space.

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Manifesto

Space Renaissance International (SRI) is preparing for the 4th World Congress, scheduled for the first week of July 2026. We recognize the critical juncture in human history at which our congress will occur. A significant portion of the space community is waiting to hear our perspective on the current situation, and we feel the weight of that responsibility.

The present circumstances confirm our worst fears about a potential collapse of civilization and an irreversible global catastrophe^[[1]]. SRI offers a viable alternative: Civilian Space Development. The challenge lies in effectively communicating this vision to the broader public and our decision-makers. Our voice remains insufficient for the task, but we are determined not to yield to criminal warmongers and anti-human sentiments.

Younger generations are particularly affected by the global crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic confined them to their homes, depriving them of vital social interactions and direct emotional experiences. Many students were forced to rely solely on online schooling, severely hindering their education and socialization. Rising nationalism and conflicts worldwide further complicate their ability to explore and develop their paths. Today, human culture often takes a backseat to the necessity of survival, as young people are encouraged to align with the most dominant figures within their national or ethnic groups.

SRI opposes the  trend towards fragmentation. We believe that Human Intelligence (HI) exists across all borders and in all places, and it is the determining factor, far more important than Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our mission is to seek out and support the collective HI intelligence  everywhere.

In our previous congresses, we analyzed civilization’s status regarding its survival and potential for development. However, mere survival isn’t enough. As Dante Alighieri wrote, “You were not made to live like brutes but to follow virtue and knowledge.”^[[2]] A cultural dimension and quality of life are crucial for civilization’s survival. Yet, the ongoing global crisis, highlighted by wars in Ukraine and Gaza, is rapidly diminishing our quality of life, escalating the themes of militarization, and eroding civil rights, leading to a dangerous cultural decline. Honest, open-minded, and humanity-loving people cannot live peacefully and enjoy their lives, regardless of their social status and well-being, when thousands of human beings are being killed every day and their economies are being destroyed worldwide. Such a degraded status of our civilization is heavy depressing and hinders creativity and genuine entrepreneurship. I.e. the current pre-world-war-three status is causing an immanent halt to cultural evolution, if not a deep throw-back of culture tout-court. To summarize current circumstances in a single expression which synthesizes all the social, economic and environmental conditions: our quality of life is worsening, along with our perspectives of progress.

To reverse this trend, we must expand into outer space through collaborative and equitable segues. This shift in outlook could  create new opportunities for sustainable development and eventually make resource wars obsolete. As articulated in our Space Renaissance Philosophical Manifesto^[[3]], space offers viable solutions: it can create jobs, provide essential resources, foster global cooperation, enhance our understanding of the cosmos, and ultimately save humanity from extinction through the establishment of self-sufficient colonies on/around the Moon, Mars, and asteroids.

The legacy of the Gerard K. O’Neill’s space settlement concepts is of great relevance. The major benefits of large space habitats and vast construction programs in space were identified 50 years ago.

Such propositions offered to bring all of humanity up to a living standard now enjoyed only by the most fortunate, with the provision of high quality  space habitats  at a time when the world population is doubling every 35 years. We envision moving much of our manufacturing and energy technology off the surface of the Earth, using materials sourced from the Moon and asteroids, rather than continually mining the Earth and depleting her innate resources. The effects would be in protecting the biosphere from industrial pollution, and preventing overload of Earth’s heat balance. These process were described 30 years before we started worrying about global warming!  And the search for clean, practical energy sources continues.

Also, in a long term view – as the material resources available from the Moon and asteroids can far outweigh those on the Earth, and the living space gained from the construction of large habitats can outstrip the global population increase – the expansionist space paradigm  means that we will never run out of room. As a result, there will be no need for any nation to try claiming resources from others. The expansion of humanity into space can also prevent us from a new Middle-Age caused by the revival of religious or ideological radicalism, which tend to add fuel to the fire of economic and ethnic conflicts. Certainly in such a collaborative global scenario the threat of warfare should be greatly reduced.

At the SRI 2026 congress, our primary mission is to raise public awareness about the risks to our quality of life and advocate for accelerated civilian space development. We urge all sincere space humanists to contribute to this crucial goal.

This Call for Papers serves as both a conceptual framework and a call to action. We invite our friends, supporters, and partners to contemplate current challenges and propose ways to help humanity transcending its limits and start growing into outer space. While we welcome detailed technical projects and business plans, we aim to emphasize the political and philosophical aspects: What priorities should we promote? Why will these make a difference? How can we build grand coalitions to realize these projects?

While we will continue to support space exploration, we want to focus this congress on space development—industrialization and settlement—discussing solutions within the realms of space policy, science and philosophy.

Some statements proposed for this congress:

QUALITY OF LIFE NEEDS SPACE!

Quality of life is worsening, due to conflicts for survival in the closed world. In order to restart progressing, quality of life needs civilian development in outer space!

SUPPORT “HI” EVERYWHERE!

Rather than attempting to build a superhuman or an artificial brain to replace human brains, we prefer to travel the world in search of new Einsteins and Mozarts, knowing that poor children may be genius, even though they could live in a slum and play soccer with a ball made of rags. We support innate Human Intelligence (HI). And we prefer to continue using AI software as a valuable tool to assist us in our work, rather than a method of replacing human acumen.

STOP DISTURBING GAIA WHILE SHE’S GIVING BIRTH, WITH ALL OF THESE BOMBS!

Will Gaia, the living planet, give birth under drones and bombs? A third world war would put at risk the possibility of a infant solar civilization. Though our priority is to open the high frontier in any way, we are speaking loud and clear: STOP ALL WARS! IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE EVERYWHERE! Our mother Earth is giving birth: STOP DISTURBING HER, NOW!

MAKE SPACE AND LOVE, NOT WAR!

Let’s kick-off civilian space development before 2030! All peoples of planet Earth can unite their efforts,  producing a clear and sound sign of hope and love for humanity: although imperfect,  civilization is not to be trashed,  it remains to be debugged and evolved, rapidly expanding into space!

WE SPEAK FOR THE SETTLERS!

Focus on principles/projects that would support a permanent, and ultimately autonomous / independent human presence in outer space.

LET’S MOVE FROM MERE SURVIVAL TO A TRUE RENAISSANCE!

The time has come to shift focus from mere survival to fast expansion, progress, and a renaissance of human civilization in space.

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2         SYMPOSIA AND TECHNICAL SESSIONS 

2.1        CONGRESS THESES  SYMPOSIUM

2.1.1       Status of civilization and quality of life – session

Chairs: Adriano V. Autino, Alberto Cavallo, Bernard Foing

Abstract

This is the main Thesis document of the 4th SRI World Congress. This  is targeted to analyze the status of the civilization, the  probabilities for  survival  and  continuous development.  We determine that humans should not only survive. The cultural dimension and the quality of life are of paramount importance for the survival of civilization. Our work goes to the very heart of civilizational sustainability, demonstrating a holistic criteria, not purely  economic or political, but systemic, integrating survival, development, and evolution. We will consider a set of categories that together describe the health, resilience, and future trajectory of our  civilization. The quality of life on Earth is worsening, due to the global crisis, the devastating wars that continue in Ukraine and Gaza, and many other forgotten conflicts, the general obsolescence of civil rights, and the rise of the supremacy of the technocratic power over social intelligence. These are, first of all, intolerable factors of cultural involution, that our civilization will pay for in centuries to come, with a heavy risk of social implosion.

Our goal is to draw a Holistic Civilizational Overview (HCO), integrating:

• Survival Readiness – current environmental balance and resilience capacities, primary resources and extraction capacities
• Development Capacity – energy foundation, technological infrastructure, economic and industrial base
• Social Governance – social and cultural cohesion, governance and institutions
• Evolutionary Potential – capacities for expanding into outer space

This will allow assessment of the status quo, in answering some key questions, e.g.:

1. Where are we? Geopolitics, astropolitics, environment, economy, sustainable development
2. Quality of life, humans and non-humans: quality of culture, social, environment, food, future, happiness, social growth possibilities^[[4]]
3. What are the vulnerabilities and the associated risks? (risk analysis):

• How easily civilization could collapse?
• What is the potential for restarting?
• Could civilization regenerate after collapse?

4. Risks mitigation strategy:

• The evolution perspective: are we on the path to spacefaring sustainability?
• May civilization start expanding into space during a global conflict?
• May the global crisis be reverted by coherent efforts, kicking-off civilian space development?

5. How to accelerate an effective risk mitigation process?

The sole possibility to reverse such tendencies, and reinstate civilization on a path of free and peaceful development is expansion into outer space. This perspective will create global stability and help make resource wars obsolete, providing new space and resources for sustainable civilian development. Space Renaissance International indicated the high road in its founding document, the Space Renaissance Philosophical Manifesto (2009): Space is the Answer^[[5]]. The 3^rd SRI World Congress’s Final Resolution, in July 2021^[[6]], included 12 priority objectives, that retain all of their disruptive validity nowadays, although we need to acknowledge the current status and the possibility of implementation, also with respect to other agenda’s, e.g. the UN Space 2030 Agenda, approved in 2021 as well.

In 2025, our most critical task, as a space activist organization, is to facilitate a deeper understanding, through large public opinion, that our quality of life is at serious risk, and can be saved only by accelerating civilian space development. And this is the primary question that SRI is making to all sincere and dedicated space humanists: provide indications and help to achieve this fatal goal.

Session’s topics:

1. The quality of life of humans (and not only) in the 21st century depends on the expansion into space
2. Critics of both the regressive green transition and the techno-authoritarian policies, because both are basically anti-humanist
3. The cultural damage caused by the global shift to weaponization of the space industry, in the name of increasing the defense capabilities. Economic attributes, militarization as opposed to development 
4. Priority of geo-lunar industrialization, infrastructure, and logistics
5. Priority of developing in free space, more than on planetary surfaces
6. Safeguarding human life and human rights, on Earth and in space
7. Civilian Space Development to save civilization from social implosion and global holocaust
8. Actuality of Gerard K. O’Neill’s concepts: large rotating habitats in free space
9. Rather then building super-humans or artificial brains to replace human brains, we prefer to seek out the new Einsteins and new Mozarts everywhere
10. Working to enhance Human Intelligence (HI) rather than Artificial Intelligence (AI), which remains a valuable tool not a substitute
11. Working at United Nations to enhance UNOOSA and COPUOS public visibility, and promote Civilian Space Development as a strategic roadmap for Humanity
12. The need for a Space Peace Movement – addressing Treaties and cooperative international instruments
13. Balance of the works done after the SRIC3 Final Resolution, and suggestions for the next 5 years (political part)

2.1.2       Space Renaissance International organization, structure and planning

Chairs: Bernard Foing, Adriano V. Autino

Abstract: tbd

Session’s topics:

1. Plan of actions for SRI and partners
2. SR International working structure, including SR Academy’s Committees and National Chapters
3. Balance of the works done after the SRIC3 Final Resolution, and suggestions for the next 5 years (organizational part)

tbd

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2.2         SPACE PHILOSOPHY & POLICY LAB SYMPOSIUM

2.2.1       Space Philosophy & History – session

Chairs: Marie-Luise Heuser, Adriano V. Autino, Michael Schumann

Providing a place to reframe philosophical concepts and tools to understand the many challenges of the 21st Century, this session will give an opportunity to cross-relate historical predecessors with modern contemporaries of the spaceflight vision. The technical and political history of space travel gives us insights into the emergence of the space age and shows us which political philosophies and technical achievements opened up space for humans and what obstacles there can be (e.g., the quest for dominance during the Cold War). By making a commitment to outer space as a realm of the possible and indeterminate, the space community can ensure the future of humanity to become (and remain) an open world instead of a blind alley. With this priority to restrain further militarization of space, as well as to reconceive the principles of international space law, the salvaging of humanist and enlightenment traditions will be essential. But as long as no single person or organization has capacity enough to give a complete account of ‘a truly space civilization’ for closing the matter singlehandedly, the rereading of great minds and the nurturance of international understanding will remain prerequisite to civilize humanity’s longtime progress into outer space. According to this goal, lest the intellectual heritage of non-Western countries is omitted, it deems important to (re)discover space pioneers from non-Western countries (e.g. Aldo Cocca from Argentina, Vikram Sarabhai from India, or Konstantin Tsiolkovsky from Russia) who have contributed as much to the internationalization and humanization of spaceflight imaginaries over the past centuries. For being able to resolve their emerging ethical dilemmas or conflicts of interests, the mediating influence of the humanities, social sciences, and cultural studies seems be a welcome change of perspective. With this premise in mind the philosophy community can help in dispelling cross-cultural misunderstandings, in educating the public, as in the clarification of general issues concerning spaceflight. Committed to the inscrutability of human beings, the Earth’s cultures find a backdrop to justify dignity in the face of contemporary episodes of depredating violence. After all, the old dream of ‘humanization of space’ (e.g. O’Neill, Ehricke, Greater Earth) is at stake, i.e. the better hopes of the space age for decent as peaceful interrelations between people all around the solar system. If nobody would take intellectual leadership as SRI is doing now, it would be much to the worse for the quality of life. Therefore, we cordially invite experts from the wider academe with a stake in the challenges of the times ahead, to discuss and criticize the civilizational issues of human spaceflight from their special point of view.

This session is made in cooperation with the „Gesellschaft für Kultur und Raumfahrt“ (KuR).

Session’s topics:

1. Space ethics for peace
2. Long-term future scenarios
3. From fictional and technical possibilities to reality
4. The role of dreams and utopian philosophy as driving forces of reality
5. Technical and political history of spaceflight
6. Concepts to understand humankinds place in the cosmos
7. Space travel as an extension of the biosphere
8. Contributions of space humanism for the future of humanity
9. Metaphysics, ontology and epistemology of space
10. Religious conceptions of sky and heaven (Astrotheology)
11. Spaceflight imagination in non-Western cultures
12. Transhumanism, posthumanism and AI
13. Emergence of non-terrestrial cultures
14. Aliens as a challenge to anthropocentrism

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2.2.2       Space Policy – session

Chairs: D. O’Brien, A. Sinclair, E. Sadeh, R. Katz

Abstract:

The session will reflect SRI work  as an observer at COPUOS, and the initiatives being carried both in the UN environment and society at large. We wish to stress the fundamental importance of space development for planetary sustainability and peace on Eart. Although it is very difficult to predict the real problems that the space pioneers will certainly encounter, we  support civilian space development – as a social process – in  contributing to develop  worthwhile proposals of regulations and ethical standards, to accompany (not to precede) the development of the incoming cislunar economy. Avoiding the militarization of space and supporting a comprehensive ban on placement of weapons in space is a priority, keeping alive and expanding the Outer Space Treaty, with regard to further agreements, space resources propriety and utilization. To this ends we have proposed the inclusion of an 18^th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Space for All on Earth and Beyond, to act as a technologically enabled clearing house for rapidly growing space affairs within the upcoming years.  SRI  invites the discussion with partners and friends about the validity of our positions, and the efficacy of our actions to support them, we are open to criticisms, constructive proposals, and other suggestions.

Session’s topics:

1. Space 18th SDG, Space for All, on Earth and Beyond: adding an 18th SDG to the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, history and founding concepts
2. Astropolitics: risk of space wars or opportunity for peace?
3. Clearing the ambiguities of the Outer Space Treaty
4. Space Economy: an extraordinary unexpected growth, now leading global economy, good perspectives and criticalities
5. Use of space resources: Moon, Asteroids, Mars, and beyond
6. Space resources: who are the owners? Space Settlers
7. Priority: industrializing the Geo-Lunar space region vs. Mars City
8. Space for Peace: A UN Flag on the Moon, the design of a comprehensive ban on weapons in space associated agreements and mechanisms 
9. A review of the UN-COPUOS Space Resources Working Group
10. We speak for the Settlers! Focus on principles/projects that would support a permanent (and ultimately autonomous/independent?) human presence in outer space  
11. Space for Peace: A UN Flag on the Moon, a comprehensive ban on weapons in space  
12. A critical review of the UN Space 2030 Agenda: proposed amendments, adding civilian space development to the agenda
13. Human rights in space: the rights of space workers, space settlers, and space communities
14. The permanent space revolution: 100% inclusivity, helping new entry countries to join civilian space development
15. How to establish a legal framework to allow the recovery of big space wreckages and their possible reuse
16. History of collaboration and friendship in space, how to continue this virtuous tradition

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2.2.3       Space 18th SDG Coalition – session

Chairs: R. Katz, F. White, A. V. Autino

Abstract:

The session discusses the work done by the Space 18th SDG Coalition, the rationales of the initiative, the status of the works and the future initiatives toward UN, UNOOSA, COPUOS and the large public audience. The organization of the Coalition and its tasks are discussed as well.

Session’s topics:

1. Space 18th SDG, Space for All, on Earth and Beyond: adding an 18th SDG to the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development
2. The Space 18th SD: History and founding concepts
3. The Space 18th SDG Coalition: Report from the works done and suggestions for the future
4. The Space 18th SDG Coalition organization, funding, enlargement

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2.3         SPACE SCIENCE & ENGINEERING LAB SYMPOSIUM

2.3.1       Living in Space – session

Chairs: J. Pelton, S. Jewell, L. Feretti

Abstract:

Expanding into outer space is essential for enhancing — and to avoid a further worsening — of the quality of life, in general terms, both on Earth and in space. The quality of life in space is the specific theme of this session. Expanding civilization into outer space means to evolve to a further superior style and condition of life, that will be achieved in space habitats, wherever they are located: in orbit, in Lagrange Points, on planetary surfaces. This session addresses the issues related to civilian life in space, from scientific, multidisciplinary and philosophical humanist points of view.

Nowadays “Living in space”, for astronauts, is living under constant control, as can be seen on the ISS. Astronauts don’t have civil rights, they are military, subject to military rules. But we don’t see living in space as living in a barracks! Quite the opposite.

Space tourists should enjoy a different condition, they should be considered as similar to air or sea travelers, holding insurance and with rights to claim for damage they might incur. Pioneering space settlers should have full civil rights, and freedom of movement from the first. Space workers should have the right to negotiate their working conditions and freedom to organize their trade unions when needed. Initially these communities will subscribe to the laws of their Earthly national states, yet in further perspective space communities should be free to additionally develop and hold their own constitutions and legal systems. Ergonomics and the beauty of space habitats are primary requirements. Space for living should be more than “enough”, with freedom to stay alone in private quarters and the provision of additional public spaces. Large public spaces, with agriculture, gardens, forest, and lakes… (referring to the concept of flamboyance, recently proposed by Howard Bloom) will illustrate the futuristic nature of O’Neill’s prescient vision, in short.

This session is made in cooperation with the “Living-in-Space Initiative”, in the frame of the partnership agreement between SRI and ACES Worldwide.

Session’s topics:

1. Protection of life and health from cosmic radiations,
2. Requirements for spinning habitats (simulated gravity)
3. Requirements for planetary habitats (Moon and Mars)
4. Beauty and ergonomics of habitats as an essential life requirement
5. Requirements for food production in space, space farming
6. Civil rights of the space workers and settlers
7. Green environments and waters in space habitats, space gardens and lakes
8. Living out of the gravitational well, in a 3d environment, a new cultural dimension
9. Art in space, new freedom of expression, facing the mystery of the universe
10. Civilian space settlers analog training
11. Space medicine
12. Space psychology
13. The Living in Space Initiative & Living in Space Committee: Report of the works done and suggestions for the future

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2.3.2       Space Tech & Industry – session

Chairs: Werner Grandl, Alberto Cavallo, Gary Barnhard

Abstract:

Industrializing the geo-lunar space is a call to action, more than an administrative trivia. SRI aims to solicit information from within the space community, and private and public dealers, in activating as soon as possible at best capacities, the production of value outside planet Earth. This outlook is generated for the benefit of all humans within a differential perspective, both for the terrestrial citizens on Earth and those who will create and depart to a newer world, outside our mother planet. We consider that it is not important where you start from, but how you seek to become involved, through investment, or research, educational aspects or know-how for access and availability. As always, SRI looks to focus on some unattended but important issues. For example, space to space transport systems. Attempting to travel to Mars, a large spaceship was conceived. a vehicle that is intended to launch from Earth, land on Mars and then come back to Earth. Yet, even provided that the priority is to travel to Mars, maybe a suitable vehicle might be better assembled from launched components in Earth orbit, which are targeted to travel to the Mars orbit, where a smaller shuttle could be used to descend to the planet’s surface. Such a structure would comprise a space-to-space starship, similar to the type of vehicle that might be used to travel to the Moon orbit and return. Space-assembled vehicles will have design requirements that are totally different from the current single launch rocket models. Another highly relevant topic was investigated by SRI recently: the energy demand on Earth is skyrocketing, due to supercomputers, artificial intelligence, electronic money and the general electrification of all human activities. As an expedient practice the possibility to relocate big data centers in space is described. Let’s see what is the state of the art, in using solar power in space, to feed space infrastructures. Many other topics were already present in our works, in our works, and will be subject of this call for papers as well.

Session’s topics:

1. Space to Space transport vehicles, for passengers and cargos
2. Low cost, reusable, safe and ergonomic launchers: Earth to/from orbit, Moon to/from orbit
3. Orbital Debris recovery and reuse
4. Energy: feeding the space settlement in Earth orbit, on the Moon, Lagrangian points, Mars, and beyond
5. Cloud computing and big data centers in space
6. Producing fuel in space, from orbital debris, Moon and asteroids resources
7. Space Technologies: new propulsion techniques, robotics, artificial intelligence
8. Space Tourism: suborbital, orbital, lunar, Lagrangian
9. Economy: the potential of electronic money to boost big space projects and civilian space development
10. Near Earth Objects: defense on Earth and in space, utilization and mining
11. Moon: mining and industrialization
12. Cislunar economy
13. Mars: a logistic node between internal and external solar system
14. Nuclear fusion designs for fast Mars mission
15. The Space Renaissance Academy Transport Mining Industry – Near Earth Objects, Orbital Debris (TMI-ODNEO) Committee: Report from the works done and suggestions for the future

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2.3.3       Space Habitats – session

Chairs: Werner Grandl, Jerry Stone, Tom Matula

Abstract:

Considering the urgency of bootstrapping civilian space development, the themes of located space habitats, and the quality of life in space are of paramount significance. SRI aims to start experimenting with simulated gravity in space, after many years of delay. Effective simulated gravity, together with protection from solar and cosmic radiations, are critical health issues and decisive factors for the resultant change of paradigm, from space exploration to space settlement. Some awareness of this issue was raised during the last years, but not enough: only a few related projects are taking place in the private sector, yet the national space agencies are not addressing the steps needed for the development of simulated gravity assets. We hope that such stagnation will be replaced by an industrious activity, with space agencies making available their know-how, studies, and financing capabilities to assist entrepreneurs and commence working on all the issues connected to the human quality of life in space, holding simulated gravity as a first priority.

Session’s topics:

1. Simulated gravity space stations and habitats: Earth orbit, Moon orbit, Earth-Moon (EM) Lagrange points
2. Life & health protection from solar and cosmic radiation
3. Green environment in space habitats
4. Green, ergonomics and beauty: making life in space habitats better than on Earth
5. Analog training for astronauts and for space settlers and migrants
6. Space medicine and psychology
7. The Space Renaissance Academy Space Habitats & Living in Space Committee: Report from the works done and suggestions for the future

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2.3.4       Target Young Generations – session

Chairs: Ghanim Alotaibi, Maria Moukarzel, Eligar Sadeh

Abstract:

The global crisis grasping our civilization is having a heavy impact on young generations. Covid 19 constrained them to remain closed in and isolated at home renouncing the most exciting activity for young people: to meet, play and have fun together, developing social contacts and personal stories. In many nations students were obliged to use only telematic means to attend school, which was harmful to education and socialization. The current geopolitical situation, characterized by rising nationalism, wars and conflicts both in the developing and the post-industrial world, doesn’t offer a friendly and profitable environment for youths to explore the world and seek their evolutionary path. In general terms, the global crisis is restricting the opportunities for youth , presenting them a world in which human culture holds less priority, with respect to survival and upholding their individual interests. Our civilization is presenting to the younger generations a world in which they should concentrate their efforts on finding and following the strongest and most determined leader, to militarily defend their small national, provincial, or ethnic human subassembly, considered the best in the world, against the rest of the world.

SRI is strongly against such status of things. We feel that human intelligences can be found everywhere in the world, without any limitations of national borders, ethnical belongings or religious faiths. We believe that human intelligences (HI) are ascendent over artificial intelligences (AI). Therefore we are doing our best to find HIs wherever they are located . The Target Young Generations Committee organizes international contests, competitions, grants and bursaries, to make young HI to emerge and rise in the world, wherever they are. The EHTOS program (Expanding Humanity To Outer Space) is an example. This session aims to solicit good ideas to organize this kind of initiatives, good methods for quickly reaching students and teachers in schools and universities, young entrepreneurs and startups and incubators around the world.

Session’s topics:

1. Expanding Humanity To Outer Space (EHTOS)
2. Fertilizing Planet Earth’s schools and universities with civilization expansion into space, science, technology, art, history
3. The Space Renaissance Academy Target Young Generations (TYG) Committee: Report from the works done and suggestions for the future

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2.4         SPACE RENAISSANCE ART & MEDIA SYMPOSIUM

2.4.1       SCI-FI & Future Narrative – session

Chairs: Adriano V. Autino, Robert Katz

Abstract:

In science and speculative fiction, space exploration is often depicted in a spectacular way. Explosions, hostile contact with alien entities, violent confrontations and killings, enormous technologies that no reader or viewer can really understand. Misleading patterns due to Hollywood perceptions of the basis of human interaction might fetch a large audience, but the real challenges and opportunities of space settlement and exploration are often displayed in a distorted and antagonistic way. Over 50 years the leading science fiction current has been a dystopian one, in which humanity is blamed for wasting, polluting and destroying the natural environment of planet Earth. In such an extremely critical vision of the world, science and technology are not necessarily seen as evolutionary tools, yet as the main culprits.

We need writers, poets, artists in general to come up with more utopian, or better eutopian, or at least non-dystopian, views on space exploration and living in space. What are the questions being raised and why are they of interest? What role can (science fiction) literature play in spreading the concept of equitable space settlement, exploration and living in space?

In the so-called Golden Age of science fiction literature – in the 1950s and 1960s – space exploration had often been connected to conquering and colonizing planets. Nowadays, the trend in literature has become more realistic. During the first decades of the new millennium, a mature current has emerged paying closer attention to the psychology of the characters, their human relations and interactions. Science and technologies are seen again as being useful tools, in a broader vision, encompassing humanistic culture and the arts, that seems to prelude a  post-kopernican and futurist weltanschauung.

Even so it is necessary to examine some evidence on how contemporary science fiction deals with space challenges. It is important to ask the writers themselves what they are interested in when it comes to space settlement and exploration, and how they perceive the literary science fiction tradition and the newer phases of scientific & technological knowledge.

The artistic drive for authenticity and freedom must be duly considered. Imagining everyday  human life in space, and how the great dimension and inherent freedom of space could influence the view, feelings, and dreams of both exceptional and ordinary people. How living outside Earth’s orbit in small communities, and looking towards to the infinite space ocean, where the common enemy becomes the vast emptiness, and the human hostility appears in a far distant perspective, might generate a new sense of romanticism, a space romanticism. These philosophical prospects seems to be far more interesting today, than replicating worn-out killing scripts, based on eternal templates.

Session’s Topics:

1. The main science fiction currents and their relationship with real future development
2. Science fiction and relationship between humans and the rest of nature
3. Science fiction and ethics
4. Science fiction and the capacities to imagine alien cultures and psychologies
5. Does modern science fiction have a role in accelerating civilian space development?
6. Traditional science fiction impact on the space movement raise and ideals
7. Science fiction narrative and futurologist literature
8. Sociological science fiction

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2.4.2       Space Renaissance 4 All Gallery – session

Chairs: Bernard Foing

Abstract:

The Space Renaissance 4 All Gallery was an international initiative, to carry a Science-Technology-Art-Partnerships payload into Low Earth Orbit, where it circles the planet before returning for scientific study and public engagement. The Gallery was located inside the Nyx capsule of The Exploration Company that was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Base, California on 23 June 2025. The capsule was aimed to orbit Earth, reenter the atmosphere and return intact — making its payload available for scientific and technical evaluation, museum exhibitions, and public outreach. The program was initiated by LUNEX CEO and SRI President Prof. Bernard Foing  (former ESA Chief Scientist and lead of first ESA lunar mission SMART1). “This is not just a technological mission. It is a Space Renaissance for All statement,” said Prof. Bernard Foing. “Together with MoonMars and our partners, we are creating a human-centric space future that carries our stories, our knowledge, and our spirit. We have developed a space payload to celebrate the values and goals of SRI Space Renaissance, LUNEX and partners. The program used a spare part from ISS Expose astrobiology tray own 2009-2010. The gallery contained: Science samples from NASA Ames and Universities (astrobiology, soils and rocks from Earth, meteorites from Moon, Mars, asteroids); Artscience pieces from ArtMoonMars, MoonGallery, MoonMars Museum, SRI; a Digital library of documents, images and music; a Tribute to 40 partners of Space SDG18 and LUNEX.” The flight was meant to test the feasibility of using aerogel as structure for housing electronics. If successful, aerogel as a light-weight, thermal insulator, would expand our ability to support electronics in highly thermal variable environments, such as the Moon (collaboration between NASA Glenn Research Center and NASA Ames Research Center). Vegetable items have been previously been orbited as well, namely some seeds such as Arabidopsis Thaliana, Raphanus Sativus, Pumpkin, Hibiscus Syriacus, Rose of Sharon. The Space Renaissance for All Gallery contained some 20 Artscience pieces from ArtMoonMars, MoonMars Museum, Space Renaissance Art chapter, ArtEO, MoonGallery and a Digital library of documents, images and music.

The Space Renaissance 4 All Gallery invites all the space artists to join, illustrating their artworks, and being onboard the future episodes of art in space.

Session’s Topics:

1. A balance of the past projects and what next
2. Art in space, new perceptions
3. Space in terrestrial arts, an evolutionary impulse
4. Art in space, as an educational asset

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2.5         SPACE RENAISSANCE PARTNERS – SYMPOSIUM

Chairs: Bernard Foing, Adriano V. Autino

Abstract:

SRI is developing a network of partners, sharing the ideals of expanding civilization into outer space. Such a partnership produced over the years some very effective collaboration programs, e.g. the Space 18^th SDG Coalition. We invite representatives of our partner organizations to present their main activities, emphasizing the initiatives having an impact on public audience, outreaching the expansion of civilization in outer space. 

Invited partner organizations:

– LUNEX EMMPOL
– ACES Worldwide
– The Mars Society
– Lifeboat Foundation
– Moon Village Association
– EuroSpaceHub
– Kepler Space University
– Space Value Foundation
– Human Space Program
– National Space Society
– MMAARS 

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• INDEX: Abstract, Manifesto, Congress Thesis I, Congress Thesis II, Space Philosophy & History, Space Policy, Space 18th SDG Coalition, Living in Space, Space Tech & Industry, Space Habitats,  Target Young Generations, SCI-FI & Future Narrative, Space Renaissance 4 All Gallery, Space Renaissance Partners 
• 
  [1] See the SRI 3rd World Congress 2021 Thesis “Thesis 1 – Status of Civilization and perspective of expansion into outer space”
  https://2021.spacerenaissance.space/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/PAPER-SRIC3-SCT-4.1.01-007.pdf
  [2] “Fatti non foste a viver come bruti ma per seguir virtute e canoscenza” was written by Dante Alighieri in the Canto XXVI of the Divina Commedia
  [3] https://spacerenaissance.space/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The_Space_Renaissance_Manifesto.pdf
  [4] Also referring to Maslow needs classification
  [5] “Space: the Answer”, in the Space Renaissance Philosophical Manifesto, page 10 https://spacerenaissance.space/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The_Space_Renaissance_Manifesto.pdf
  [6] https://2021.spacerenaissance.space/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Final-Resolution-Final-approved.pdf

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