This article introduces the concept of the "state of contact" — an integral characteristic of a civilisation that determines its ability to interact safely and successfully with other worlds. The author argues that interuniversal breakthrough technology is only a necessary but insufficient condition. The decisive factor for success is the internal state of the civilisation: its informational, emotional, and volitional health. Based on the civilisational model of the "Seven Forms of Matter" (7FM) and the concept of Hierarchical Information Immunity (HII), three main states of civilisation are identified. An evolutionary (healthy) civilisation is capable of dialogue, reflection, and adaptation. A stagnant (frozen) civilisation reproduces patterns, fears the new, and projects its internal pathologies onto contact, turning it into conflict. A degrading (sick) civilisation loses touch with reality and is absolutely incapable of contact — any encounter becomes a catastrophe. The article proposes the "Golden Order of Contact" — a sequence of five steps: diagnosis of the civilisation's state, treatment (if necessary), learning reflection, technical preparation, and state monitoring during the mission. This approach gives the Project a new criterion of readiness, new tasks for Control, new protocols, and a new meaning for missions — each expedition becomes not only an exploration of a neighbouring universe but also an exploration of oneself. The article serves as an introduction to the "State of Contact" cycle, which will examine in detail the types of civilisational states and their diagnosis. The main conclusion: the Golden Order of Contact does not begin with starting the generator, but with an honest look at ourselves.
Alexander Yourievitch Kotelnikov (Mon,) studied this question.