Astronauts on Strike! Spaceports, Colonial Telescopes and Labor Unions in the Stars

In this episode, Alina Utrata talks to Dr Kate Sammler, a geographer who looks at the intersection of science and politics in the oceans, atmospheres, and outer space. They discussed how colonialism and scientific exploration have long been entangled, from building telescopes on sacred indigenous land in Hawaii to James Cook claiming islands in the Pacific while following a star. They also talked about the little known construction of “SpacePorts,” or public transport hubs preparing the public for future travel in the stars—and why they’ve only been used as filming sets. Finally, they explain who exactly are the Autonomous Astronauts and why might the first labor strike in space already have happened.

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Nowhere Land by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4148-nowhere-land

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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