The geography of extra-terrestrial settlement imagined by elementary school pupils and adults

Abstract

This article explores how adults and elementary school pupils imagined living outside the Earth to be like, how themes of human geography emerge in these imaginings and how can these findings help real space plans? The data was collected by organizing a space-themed essay writing for elementary school pupils and adults. Essays reflected key themes of human geography in living in the space such as dwelling, home, power, human-environment-relationship, geopolitics, belonging and identity. All essays described often home-sickness and longing for nature in the space. The essays of the pupils described more school life and leisure, while adults focused on working conditions in space. Essays of the pupils were slightly more influenced by fiction and romanticism, and showed firm belief in democracy and multiculturalism in inhabiting space. In essays of the adults` human space inhabitation was characterized by the rule of the few, conflicts between humans and capitalist economy. The pupils and adults agreed that humans cannot break their ties with the Earth, if they succeed in living in the space. Everyday life perspective on living in the space is needed alongside with major space operators in the development of space rockets, space stations, potential space colonies and space democracy.