Being a child of the 40's, my idea of space colonization doesn't even reach minor comprehension of this plan. But, at my age it cannot apply to me as the roulette wheel of life is far too against me to be any part of this rather claustrophobic idea. However, I wish participants good luck and hopefully bon voyage.

PS
If you run into Odin, Thor, or Loki, say hi for me.

to sum up this nonsense in one word "lunacy"!!!!!!!!!

That article didn't even discuss the kind of constitution Asgardia will have. As far as I'm concerned, the government should need only departments (or ministries) of state, treasury, defense, and justice. They also are headed for disaster if they establish a "common" in the form of the habitat and its environment. Who controls that, controls the people.

The article lost my interest when I ran across the phrase "wants to file for UN recognition".

Why did the first thing that popped in my head was a demand for a minority to practice Shariah Law?

I like the concept but i was hoping that when NASA sent astronauts to the moon that a Moon Colony would be established. My dream at that time was to live on the moon. Unfortunately, I'll never understand why that never happen. There was so many many excuses and propaganda in regards to why that didn't happen that it crushed my dream.

Any off-Earth colony needs to vigorously establish its own government and independence from Earth. The concept of off-Earth populations is explored consummately in the sci-fi TV series "The Expanse", a highly recommended watch.

You can run, but you can't hide.

YASFC - Yet Another Science Fiction Country.

The Dorsai Irregulars, the Society for Creative Anachronism, and various micronations all come to mind. Their common thread is their disconnection from reality.

The fleeting appearance of the country of Abkhazia, recognized by almost nobody, is more real. At least they had the insight to create this postage stamp: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...

To win you Must be "Competitive".
Compromise is just the moderation of two or more practical alternatives.
I.E. the lesser of two evils as seen by the people in charge.
Something that is "Politically Correct".

I'd be up for it, if it were more like the "Golden Rule Habitat" from Heinlein's "The Cat That Walked Through Walls."

Looks like corporate "Rights" are going to be hammered out sooner than later. I'm curious to see what people will sign away for the "privilege" of living in space. I gather the "Rights" will lessen as the ability for corporations to profit expands.

Their terms of service is really all you can see until you "join". They seemed a bit restrictive, for a freedom loving space nation...but these days..

I am torn between thinking these thought experiments are fun and thinking they belittle the very notion of a microstate and the notion of being outside all traditional nation states.

I don't need them to tear Dr. Ashurbeyli apart. Just don't start the article with "Coming soon: a nation in space for humans." It almost inviting us to laugh at the notion. It's almost saying, "of course there will always be nation states much like what we have today, but let's laugh at the kooks who dream of alternatives."

I actually think the nation state will go away and something like this will come true, but not any time soon. I imagine pioneers starting with free trade zones in developing countries, places where startups can get their international staff together without immigration issues and other governmental roadblocks. I imagine it happening next in inhospitable places on earth and then maybe seasteds. Space is really rough, trying to kill you in so many ways. I could imagine a nation starting under water (dreaming in the far future) before space.

The reason is the key to wealth is trade. Going to some distant place, like space, makes it hard to trade. You get rid of gov't impediments to trade, but you add the huge impediment of distance. The distance doesn't give you immunity from attack because you're much much more vulnerable in space.

The tenor of the article, though, invites me to laugh off the whole idea of a micronation. I laughing to myself that Asgardia could mean "you watch your ass" in Esperanto. I wish CNN took it more seriously.