Founding principles

Back in May 2014 when members of the initiative for interstellar studies derived our articles of incorporation, we also spent some time putting together a founding principles document, which we are now releasing. This is meant to act as a guide and to remind the future generations of our original intentions.

The text for the document is contained below.

TIME FOR THE STARS: FOUNDING DECLARATION OF THE INITIATIVE FOR INTERSTELLAR STUDIES

We, the founders of the Initiative for Interstellar Studies

1. Accept our mission to foster and promote education, knowledge and technical capabilities which lead to designs, technologies or enterprise that will enable the construction and launch of interstellar spacecraft.
2. Will work towards our vision, to aspire towards an optimistic future for humans on Earth and in space. Our bold vision is to be an organisation that is central to catalysing the conditions in society over the next century to enable robotic and human exploration of the frontier beyond our Solar System and to other stars, as part of a long-term enduring strategy and towards a sustainable space-based economy.
3. Are of diverse cultures and creeds, but through our individual differences comes a strength that unites us under our common goal, a shared belief that humankind’s future trajectory lies out amongst the stars. We will not look only outwards, we will not forget Earth; through our efforts to try and create a better future for our species we will seek to preserve and protect our planet, to respect life and personal liberty, and to encourage each and every one of us to strive to become something better, enriching the lives of not only everyone on our pale blue dot, but also the lives of those with the courage to take our first steps into the unknown.
4. Will strive towards creating a better future, one in which society has progressed technologically, politically, economically and culturally to be ready to take our first giant step to the stars within the next century and, in the process, we will seek to learn more about ourselves and about life, wherever we may find it.
5. Welcome the challenge ahead and commit to this enterprise with positive energy, optimistic enthusiasm, happiness and liberty, but also humble in remembrance and respect for how far our species has come and how far we can yet go.
6. Recognise that together we are stronger and that only through mutual respect and cooperation will we triumph in the face of adversity. Our cultural differences, our varied outlooks, are our strength; from diversity we will work towards harmony, armed with the tools of kindness, understanding and compassion. We will not only respect philosophical differences, we will seek to learn from them, implementing our learned knowledge with integrity, due care and honesty. From our unity of will shall come a strength that we as individuals can draw from, remembering that every person is unique and special and that everyone has within them the power to positively change the world and the course of human history.
7. Acknowledge that as we seek to emerge the idea of Building Starships within our times, from our imagination to reality, we also shall seek to raise ourselves up to a nobler and wiser people, outward looking and embracing of the journeys ahead and the experiences yet to be fulfilled.
8. Will never forget that the systems, methods and technologies that we develop in our pursuit of space can also be used to benefit life here on Earth. We will endeavour to find ways that these can be used to fundamentally improve the human condition and our environment in a sustainable way.
9. Will trust in the principles of reason, rational thought, good judgement and objectivity as we explore the path ahead of us with knowledge to the stars, yet never eschewing our spirit nor our emotional humanity and never forgetting where we came from, who we are, what we want and where we are going.
10. Believe in our hearts that the exploration of space is of vital importance to the future of humankind and that to fulfil our species’ potential, interstellar travel must be our aim as the ultimate purpose of the grand astronautical endeavour. We have assembled together to go on a journey, one that will ultimately take ourselves or future heirs to the stars. We invite everyone to accompany us on this journey, to show courage and vision and bold initiative on behalf of our species to the betterment of all, and to uphold our fundamental tenets.

We commit ourselves to these words as signatories, devoting ourselves to this bold and enriching endeavour. This is the unanimous declaration of the founding members of the Initiative for Interstellar Studies.

Declared on 28^th May 2014