Since before this column burned hot in space, I have awaited a question. Nah, that's not it. I have awaited affirmation. I have waited for someone to see the significance of space colonization to our species the way I do. At the launch of ISS, especially the inhabitation of Alpha by Expedition 1, I even called for humanity to align our secular calendar to it. It's that big.

Imagine my wonder then, when I found Phil Smith's column here. In it he designates "The Astrazoic Eon" as that period in human history defined by our determined if gradual ascension into Earth orbit and then beyond. Quoting from that column:

I would guess, however, that only a handful fully recognized the implication of Expedition One: from now on, life will begin to survive, grow, and evolve off the Earth. As soon as those men lifted off the pad on a pillar of fire as bright as the Sun, the Phanerozoic Eon came to an end, and the Astrazoic Eon dawned.

Get that? Only a handful of people even think about the Astrazoic Eon, not to mention worry about naming it. I feel special. Personally I think "The Astrazoic Eon" may be too harsh, too sharp with eye-glazing syllables, though I appreciate the scientific roots of the term. Allow me though a colloquial preference for suggesting a simple and straightforward alternative: A.S. (After Space). Anyway, Phil's comments made me happy in that same delirious, demented manner like when I learned other people actually liked that starship show on TV. There's at least a handful of us out there, oh fellow fingers. Rejoice!

It's been pointed out how tenuous this claim is. God willing an accident occurs and the crew is forced to return to Earth, abandoning the station. That would reset the count then, wouldn't it? Yes it would. Do I reserve such affection for the idea that my thinking regarding it may be biased? Yes I could. However, as Picard says, "We may yet prevail. That may be a conceit, but at least it's a healthy one."

Two years ago, celebrating one thousand days in this new eon, "In time humanity will adjust its calendar to acknowledge the awesome import of these days towards the dawn of real history in which we so casually live." I still stand by that, though in private correspondence Phil tells me, "Most in the space industry think I'm smoking dope when I carry on about this particular subject."

We'll see who's right, once the smoke clears!


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