Philipp Kürten just published a piece in the recent edition of the Imaginary Papers, a quarterly newsletter curated by the Center for Science and the Imagination (CSI) at Arizona State University (ASU). Imaginary papers explores speculative futures, science fiction, worldbuilding, futures thinking, “and the unplumbed depths of the imagination”. Through the collaboration of writers, thinkers, scholars and creatives it fosters a space where ideas about technology, society, and the future converge.
Science Fiction Frame
Philipp’s article dives into the alternate history depicted in the TV series For All Mankind. The series imagines a world where the global space race intensifies beyond the moon landings. One striking absence, however, is Europe’s role in this augmented space race. Philipp explores the implications of this omission, reflecting on how Europe’s non-representation contrasts with the continent’s current aspirations for space autonomy—and is a surprisingly accurate portrayal of the real-world fears and narratives shared by many European stakeholders and policymakers for outer space. Through the lens of For All Mankind, Philipp offers an exploration of Europe’s fears of being left out and lagging behind, particularly aligning with the empirical observations made in the FutureSpace project’s research.
