Star Territory: Printing the Universe in Nineteenth-Century America

The United States has treated the cosmos as a territory available for exploitation since its founding, with government officials, astronomers, and other actors participating in large-scale efforts to map the nation onto cosmic space. However, other actors established alternative cosmic communities, such as Black and indigenous astronomers, prophets, and printers, who offered ways of understanding the heavens that broke from the work of U.S. officials. Today, NASA administrators advocate public-private partnerships for space commerce, while the military seeks to control strategic regions above the atmosphere.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 04 June 2021
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

The United States has held a prominent position as a space power since its inception, as noted by Gordon Fraser in his writings. The white stars adorning its flag symbolize the aspiration of continental elites to establish the former colonies as a new constellation in the global constellation of nations. The streets and avenues of its capital city were meticulously planned based on celestial observations. As the nineteenth century progressed, the scientific discipline of surveying, or mapping with reference to celestial movement, became crucial for colonizing the North American continent.

Throughout its history, the United States has approached the cosmos as a territory ripe for exploitation. This perspective is evident in its built environment, cultural mythology, and exercise of military power. In his book "Star Territory," Fraser delves into how state agents, including President John Adams, Admiral Charles Henry Davis, and astronomer Maria Mitchell, actively engaged in extensive efforts to map the nation onto cosmic space. Through the use of almanacs, maps, and star charts, practical information and exceptionalist mythologies were disseminated to the nation's soldiers, scientists, and citizens.

However, this narrative is just one facet of the story that Fraser presents. He also highlights the contributions of other actors who established alternative cosmic communities. These individuals, including Black surveyors, seamen, and publishers, as well as elected officials from the Cherokee Nation and Hawaiian resistance leaders, offered distinct ways of understanding the heavens that departed from the narrow perspective of U.S. officials who viewed the universe solely as a measurable and exploitable entity.

In contemporary times, NASA administrators advocate for public-private partnerships in the development of space commerce, while the military seeks to assert control over strategic regions above the atmosphere. It is natural for observers to perceive these developments as indicative of a growing rivalry between nations in the pursuit of space dominance.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780812252927