Globalization of Space - The Astrosociological Approach

Abstract

[Abstract] The primary author coined the phrase "globalization of space" in the 1990s in lectures and presentations, thus the term was conceived in the sociological record. And, though texts and journal articles on sociology are full of studies of the phenomenon of globalization, sociologists are not serious about the study of those aerospatial events that made possible the extent of modern globalization. And, although it is in their purview, they do not keep track of advancements in the aerospace industry that can provide clues to where globalization is taking human societies.On the other hand, the "globalization of space" is referenced by a host of organizations connected to the aerospace community (i.e., NASA, the Air Force Academy, et al.). However, to the reverse of the sociological community, aerospace organizations have little concept of social factors at varying levels of analysis that can provide clues to where human societies are heading in space -a destination that will impact aerospace industries.The authors advocate for taking the astrosociological approach, a merging of social science and aerospace perspectives in order to examine the coming benefits and challenges to the globalization of space. Several topics, near-term to long-term, discussed in this report include:Demands on the aerospace industry by worldwide human populations affected by global warming, the decline side of oil, and natural disasters in increasingly populated areas Ramifications of a return to the Moon The need for a new advanced systems management for "big science" problems The workings of the technoeconomy-technocracy dichotomy Delimitation of the Westphalian nation-state system with the rise of a multi-planet economy Keywords: globalization of space, astrosociological approach, global warming, decline side of oil, decline of American postsecondary education, outer space production, world system of societies, social investments, technoeconomy, technocracy, transnational partnerships, transformation of capital, ecology of capitalism, technological means of production, Westphalian nation-state system, extraglobalization, multilectic, the solar village

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