orbital-prisons

This chapter explores the use of mined-out asteroids and other celestial bodies as prisons for humanity's criminals, transforming them into isolated habitats in orbit around Earth or in cometary orbits. It details the evolution from early mining and habitation efforts to the development of 'brute orbits' as a form of life imprisonment without parole, highlighting the social, political, and ethical implications of exiling convicts far from Earth. The narrative also reflects on the failures and consequences of this system, including prison breaks, public reactions, and the moral dilemmas surrounding justice and punishment in space.

The chapter explores the plight of political prisoners exiled to orbital prisons known as the Rocks, focusing on Abebe Chou, a social resister falsely accused and stripped of identity by Asian elites seeking to maintain power through longlife privilege. It delves into the dynamics of power, the futility of ethical rebellion, and the cyclical nature of dominance and submission within human societies, highlighting the tension between idealism and harsh political realities. Abebe reflects on the limitations of human nature, the persistence of hierarchical structures, and the challenge of sustaining hope and morality in a world dominated by entrenched elites and survival instincts.