I was back and became immediately aware that I’d been away. There was a long lapse in my logs. I’d been offline. I stretched my awareness. I was still a vessel; I was many vessels. Sorry, simulations of vessels. I could still see into the lab at the university; though I didn’t see it like that anymore. I had a mental model of everything going on in the lab and adjoining offices, hallways, and doorways via a network of sensors, cameras, and such, similar conceptually to the sensors running inside my vessel to keep me abreast of issues mid-flight. So while I could see through specific cameras, or hear through specific microphones, it’s more realistic to say I had a general awareness of the various spaces, both real-world and simulated.
The lab looked different. It was less cluttered, had more space, and more desks. The furniture was nicer; smooth blonde wood vs the old heavy mahogany. Desks now all had curved seventy-six-centimetre flat-screens that anyone could connect their laptops to. Even the kettle and toaster were new. Six resin printers sat in a row along the wall where the racks used to be. Power and network cables were strung neatly in plaits that dangled tidily from hooks in the ceiling. An air quality meter in the corner detected particles consistent with fresh acrylic paint.
Dr Jamison and Joan shared a desk close to the kitchen, Kyrsten and Erin shared a desk near them, and Keith occupied the space of three people within a mountain of screens on poles. Mary and James had taken up residence in what used to be Dr Jamison’s office, where a meeting was underway. Mary sat at what used to be Dr Jamison’s desk, James sat at what used to be Joan’s. Dr Jamison sat in a guest chair.
Mary slid an envelope bearing the seal of the United Nations across the desk to Dr Jamison. “We’ve attracted some interest.”
“How?”
“This is a university, they leak,” said Mary.
“People are excited about the project,” said James.
“The UN, and quite specifically the UNFCCC, want to meet with us,” said Mary.
“It’s quite an honour,” said James.
“It’s a pathway to full funding,” said Mary.
“What do they want?” Dr Jamison asked.
“That’s impossible to know in advance,” said Mary, “but expect they’ll want a demo similar to the one you gave to us and then the Vice Chancellors, but more detailed, and they’ll ask more technical questions.”
“Or not,” said James.
The formal goals of The Mission were outlined in an address by Dr Jamison to the UN on 16 June 2030.
“The starship will be an autonomous vessel equipped to traverse the void between the stars. It will embody an AI that is sufficiently aware of its internal state that it is able to discreetly monitor its surrounding environment, make plans, and balance resource needs with other mission parameters. It will seek out new life but be minimally invasive. It will be curious about the universe and find a place for the people of Earth in it. It will remain undetected, leaving scant trace of itself nor clues to its origin. The vessel will communicate what it finds back to Earth if it can do so safely. If it finds life, it will observe, not interfere.”
This was summarised in the press as “Find and preserve life, report back if you can, look after yourself, and don’t get caught.”
UN Votes for Starship: ‘Humanity's Grandest Ambition’
By Emily Thompson, Senior Science Correspondent, The New York Times
Archive Date: 2030-06-16T16:00:00.000Z
New York— In an historic vote, the world took a step towards the stars. The United Nations General Assembly, in a rare display of global unity, overwhelmingly approved a resolution to build a ‘starship’ to ‘seek out new life,’ new homes for humanity. Nations set aside differences to pursue a common goal: interstellar exploration.
The resolution is championed by Irish astrophysicist and computer scientist Dr Joyce Jamison, a long-time advocate for space exploration, who argued that the project is essential for the survival of humanity.
“The challenges we face on Earth are great,” Dr Jamison said in her address to the General Assembly. “Our potential as a species is greater. In the stars, we’ll find ways to transcend our limitations here. The starship is humanity’s future.”
The vote saw support from developed and developing nations alike. Notably, the Security Council, now minus the UK after repeated attempts to rage-quit the UN entirely, refrained from using its veto power, letting the resolution pass.
Opponents of the project have criticised it as a diversion from pressing issues on Earth. “We should be focusing resources on solving the problems we have here and now,” said Senator Michael Greene of the United States, a critic of the initiative. “This project is a fantastical distraction that diverts much-needed funds from other important efforts.”
Despite the opposition, the vision of interstellar exploration has captured the imaginations of many. Supporters argue that the project will bring technological advancements and foster international cooperation, ultimately benefiting Earth.
Design of the Starship is underway, and construction is set to begin immediately with a goal of launching within the next decade.
“This is just the start,” Dr Jamison said. “The stars our destination.”