Particularities and Nature of Space Projects: Engineering or Social Architecture?

by Vadim Rozin^1
1 Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russia)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29202/phil-cosm/28/8
Received: 29 August 2021 / Accepted: 6 October 2021 / Published: 27 January 2022

The article raises the issue of the nature of space projects. Some of them were implemented, but most remained on paper. On the one hand, the author discusses specific features of nonconventional social engineering to which he, in particular, refers space projects, and on the other hand ? the successful social Donor Project. He demonstrates that the designer cannot rely on existing prototypes in nonconventional design. Therefore, he/she is compelled to constitute the object being designed. To characterize the processes being developed and conditions defining them, he/she has to conduct researches and formulate concepts of these processes, to form the environment and the strategy of implementation of the project. Besides, nonconventional design implies the formation of a number of new kinds of activity (involvement of users in the designing, complex management, expert examination of projects, etc.). The analysis of the Donor Project made it possible to identify such conditions of success of this project as sound financial support, efficient project management, availability of administrative resource¸ methodological support, and interest of the main social subjects in its implementation. The author used characteristics of nonconventional and social design revealed in the analysis in the second part of the article at the discussion of space projects. He considers conditions under which such projects may be developed and implemented. The Donor Project could be developed and implemented due to creating a number of unique conditions, but in terms of scale, this project is nothing compared to space projects. Though the author shows the problematical character of the development of space projects – as yet there are no necessary conditions required for their implementation – he deems it necessary to continue to work on them, keeping in mind that it is a matter of nonconventional and social design.

Keywords: designing, space, implementation, conditions, environment, schemes, methodology, support, sociality

Arendt, H. (2014) Conquest of space and status of a man. Between the past and the future: eight exercises in political thought. Translation from English and German by D. Aronson. Moscow, Gaidar Institute Publishing House.

---

Bogdanov, A. (1921) Organizational science and economic regularity. Writings of the First All-Russian conference on scientific organization of work and production. Issue 1. Vereshchagin, I. (1928) About psychological analysis in the manner of Dostoevsky in architecture and other thoughts. Modern architecture, No. 4.

---

Glenn, S. (2020) Do We Have Technology for Intergalactic Travel in the Universe.

---

Gromyko, Yuri (1997) Design consciousness. A guide for programming and design in education for strategic management systems. Moscow: Textbook Institute Paideia.

---

Krichevsky, Sergey, and Alexander Bagrov (2019) Moon Exploration: Legal Aspects. Advanced Space Law, Volume 4, 34-49. https://doi.org/10.29202/asl/2019/4/4

---

Krichevsky, Sergey, and Vladimir Levchenko (2021) Human Life and Evolution in Biospheres on Earth and Outer Space: Problems and Prospects. Future Human Image, Volume 15, 39-58. https://doi.org/10.29202/fhi/15/4

---

Maracha, Vyacheslav and Anatoly Matiukhin (2006) Methodological issues of studying and formation of political and legal environment. Part 2. System research. Methodological issues. Year-book 2003-2005. Mjscow: KomKniga.

---

Miller, Keith (2020) 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Space Exploration. Available online: https://futureofworking.com/7-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-space-exploration/

---

Rosenberg, Alexander (1930) General theory of design of architectural structures. Moscow: Plankhozgiz Publishing House.

---

Rozin, Vadim (2018) Design and programming: Methodological research. Conception. Development. Implementation. Historical and social context. Moscow, LENAND.

---

Rozin, Vadim, Sophia Malyavina, and Yulia Gryaznova (2010) Social project as one of social process management tools (based on materials of «Donor» Project). Management philosophy: problems and strategy. Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IFRAN).

---

Schedrovitsky, Georgy (1995) Selected works. Moscow: Shk. Cult. Polit.

Rozin, Vadim (2022) Particularities and Nature of Space Projects: Engineering or Social Architecture? Philosophy and Cosmology, Volume 28, 93-106. https://doi.org/10.29202/phil-cosm/28/8