PROYECCIONES DE LA ACTIVIDAD ESPACIAL EN LA SOCIEDAD FUNCIONALMENTE DIFERENCIADA

Abstract

Background: Social sciences focuses insufficient on spatial exploration and the activities associated with it. In this essay, we present reflections on the effects of space exploration from the perspective of systems theory of society. We concentrate on the sociality projected from explorations in outer space, specifically the focus is placed on the spreading of communications and the new boundaries that trace a new image of globality. Objectives: It is proposed to approach space exploration as a singular and emergent sociological object that engages, in specialised forms, interactions, organisations and functional ly differentiated realms of society. Among the latter we will stress science, economics, politics, law and mass media. Methods/Approach/Methods: The possibilities of social systems theory to address the emerging projections of such phenomena and the changes it brings about in the very theory that observes them are discussed. Results/Outcomes: Two fundamental sociological elements of space activity are identified: space communication and the space communication network, and are examined their impacts on the concept of communication in general, on the spreading of social world, on functional differentiation, and on society. Conclusions: Space communication is defined as a communicative phenomenon in whose operational synthesis at least one of its selections is actualised beyond the earth’s surface by human beings or by technical devices, whether mechanical, remote-controlled or autonomous, being meaningfulness in all cases. These operations lead to events and reinforce endo-, exo- and interplanetary social processes and expose the geocentric presupposition underlying the current concept of world society