AN ambitious self-proclaimed space nation founded by a Russian billionaire and backed by a consortium of scientists is set to take its first step into the cosmos later this year.

The public collective which aims to become a space-bound private “country” calls itself Asgardia and was first announced in October by its founder and chief financial backer Igor Ashurbeyli who believes the floating nation can “offer an independent platform free from the constraint of a land-based country’s laws.”

The idea behind the project is to prompt a discussion about the regulations and laws that underpin space activity and create a demilitarised and freely accessible base of scientific knowledge permanently in orbit.

RADIO SIGNALS FROM SPACE COMING FROM RED DWARF STAR ROSS 128 ARE 'STRANGE', ASTRONOMERS SAY

In the long term it has much bolder — and somewhat quixotic — plans to create a shield to protect Earth from cosmic threats, such as asteroids, solar flares and space debris.

But in the meantime Asgardia wants to send its first tiny satellite into space to test the concept of long-term data storage in orbit around the Earth.

According to a recent filing with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which was first reported by Motherboard, Asgardia’s initial step will be the launch of its first satellite later this year.

The organisation is set to reveal details about the launch at a press event in Hong Kong on June 13 but the filing says the very small nano-satellite will piggyback to the International Space Station on a resupply flight scheduled for September.

“The primary payload is a solid state device hard drive,” Asgardia says in the application. “The drive is loaded on the ground with data, and the data is updated once on orbit. A file is returned that verifies successful data transmission.”

In order to test the technologies that underpin the group’s goals the nano-satellite will have two particle detectors, mounted externally and internally. “From this data we can map the solar flux, and determine the radiation dosing that the internal electronics are receiving,” the application says.

It is the first step for the organisation’s stated goal to become the guardians of Earth and human knowledge. But as Motherboard points out, it could potentially open the door for off-planet data and tax havens floating in space.

So far more that 180,000 Earth dwelling humans have signed up to become a citizen of the ambitious nation — by simply filling out a basic online form. Initially it will just be data storage and scientific instruments but eventually the plan is to allow humans to inhabit the floating space stations which will make up Asgardia.

But before that can happen the group will have to solve a number of issues, the least of which will presumably be to simulate gravity.

It’s believed Mr Ashurbeyli is providing the funding for the project so far but hopes to crowdfund future missions with contributions from those who have signed up.

THE WILD WEST OF SPACE

If you think the project sounds crazy, you’re not alone. There are still a lot of questions that remain unanswered about the goals of the mission. But those behind the idea aren’t just eccentric stargazers.

Mr Ashurbeyli founded the Aerospace International Research Center in Vienna and is former chairman of UNESCO’s Science of Space committee and last year was awarded the UNESCO Medal for contributions to the development of nanoscience and nanotechnologies. They’re credentials that no doubt go a long way to allay understandable scepticism of the project, which even he admits sounds a little kooky.

The project is also backed by space experts and researchers from universities in Canada, the United States and Russia.

Steven Freeland is a Professor of international law at Western Sydney University and recently completed a review of Australia’s Space Activities Act 1998 which governs civil space activities in Australia.

He is not involved in the project but knows a number of the consortium members “very well” and said “the people involved are of the highest calibre and quality.”

Speaking to news.com.au following the announcement of Asgardia in October, he questioned the project’s ambitious timeline but said its initial area of exploration has merit.

Prof Freeland said the project could usher in much needed changes to the ad-hoc nature of international space law, pointing to the International Space Station as a prime example.

“Different national laws apply depending on where you are in the space station,” he said. “When you’re in the Japanese part, Japanese law applies and when you’re in the US part, US law applies.”

International law is typically reactionary and as yet we don’t have a robust legal framework for when humans permanently populate space.

“Ultimately people will get married in space, have babies in space and murder each other in space,” Prof Freeland said.

Ambitious projects such as Asgardia and others like the Mars One mission highlight the need for a genuine legal framework for when that time comes.

“You need concrete proposals and I think a project like this helps that along,” he said.