Asgardia’s leader intends to set up space arks and a permanent settlement of Asgardians on the moon in 25 years

Asgardia, named after Asgard, is a world in the sky in Norse mythology. Asgardia was founded just 20 months ago, and it already has about 200,000 citizens. Its citizens now live in more than 200 countries, which is more than the number of the United Nations’ member states (193). Becoming a citizen online is free. It also has a constitution and an elected parliament. Igor Ashurbeyli, a Russian engineer, computer scientist and businessman was inaugurated as its leader on Monday.

Asgardia has over-the-top ambitions. It plans to set up “space arks” with artificial gravity in outer space where humans could live permanently, and it wants to build up a population of 150 million within a decade.

Ashurbeyli said that he plans to have satellites that provide Internet access around the globe in five to seven years, space arks operating in 10 to 15 years, and finally to establish a permanent settlement on the moon within 25 years.

Asgardians now pay an annual membership fee of 100 euros. There are plans to collect taxes on businesses and private income, which will be kept very low, as stated. It wants to attract the 2 percent of the world’s population that is “most creative”. When asked how far that was going, Ashurbeyli said, “Citizenship selection will continue. It might even involve IQ tests.”

“This day will certainly be recorded in the annals of the greatest events in the history of humankind,” Ashurbeyli said in his inaugural speech to an audience of several hundred in the Hofburg, Vienna’s former imperial palace.

“We have thus established all branches of government. I can therefore declare with confidence that Asgardia – the first space nation of the united humankind – has been born,” said Ashurbeyli.