Every Man and Every Woman is an Astronaut.

There's been an inordinate amount of speculation about the name of our group. Many of our correspondents have asked us what it means, and it has even appeared in print as "Radio" on occasion.

Raido is one of the 24 characters in the ancient Nordic rune system. It has been linked with rhythm (or "the funk", if you prefer), a journey (because we're astronauts) and control over one's circumstances (that's the autonomous bit).

It intrigues us that various reactionary groups use runic symbols as part of their imagery. We wonder how well their nationalism will stand up when community-based space exploration becomes a reality. There are no countries in outer space. There is no absolute up or down, as Aristotle taught; no absolute position in space; just the position of a body in relation to other bodies. Everywhere there is incessant relative change in position throughout the universe, and the observer is always at the centre of things.

Forwards to a multiverse without borders!