How shall we live in space? Culture, law and ethics in spacefaring society (original) (raw)

To the Moon, Mars, and beyond: Culture, law, and ethics in space-faring societies

Bulletin of science, technology & society, 2006

The U.S. civilian space program is focused on planning for a new round of human missions to the Moon and, later, perhaps, to Mars. These plans are intended to realize a "vision" for exploration articulated by President George W. Bush. It is important to examine this "vision" in the broader context of 21 st century space exploration, which is a truly global enterprise. Questions to be addressed include: How will extending human presence into the solar system affect society and culture on Earth? What legal, ethical and other value systems should govern human settlements and other activities in space? Do humans have rights to exploit extraterrestrial resources and alter extraterrestrial environments? Does space exploration need reinvention to meet social needs? This paper will describe the current environment for space policy making and a framework of space law, ethics and culture within which these questions can be considered.

Law, Ethics, and Space: Space Exploration and Environmental Values

Etyka, 2018

This paper offers an analysis of the ethical values that have accompanied human exploration of space so far, and emphasizes the need to infuse human space activity with new ethical values by means of new and well-constructed legislation. One of the values that we deem particularly important in the creation of a new approach towards space exploration is care for the natural environment, including the space environment.

Viewpoint: Look Before Taking Another Leap for Mankind---Ethical and Social Considerations in Rebuilding Society in Space

Astropolitics, 2006

Commercial space travel is looking more like a real possibility than science fiction, but tied to that ambition we may be held back by the gravity of emerging ethical dilemmas. This viewpoint article surveys a range of social, economic, and political questions, and critically evaluates reasons why we should explore space. The usual ethical issues related to environmental and safety concerns are just the beginning, as there are other interesting questions, such as: what would be a fair process for commercializing or claiming property in space; how likely would a separatist movement be among space settlements who want to be free and independent states; and are reasons to explore space, like for adventure, wanderlust, or “backing up the biosphere,” good enough to justify our exploration of space? The point here that we should explore space; and if we are to move forward with our journey, which may be unstoppable anyway, then we should seriously consider these issues. At the least, this would give the public more confidence—amid questions of misplaced priorities and wasteful spending, along with an increased focus on ethics in science—that we are looking ahead before we take another leap for mankind.

The Way to Eden: Environmental legal and ethical values in interplanetary space flight

There is growing academic attention being directed towards the technical and engineering issues that face human spaceflight in respect of a journey to Mars. Often overlooked in such discussions, however, are the legal and ethical underpinnings that are needed to regulate human behaviour on such an extraordinary mission. This chapter will examine key issues in respect of law and ethics that will face humans on a long duration spaceflight and any subsequent human habitat or colony. This inquiry will examine the existing framework covering long duration spaceflight aboard the ISS and contrast this with legal issues in respect of the welfare of the crew and potential issues relating to the administration of justice for interplanetary travellers. There will be an analysis of the environmental impact of long duration space activity and the extent to which legal regulation should be used to embed environmentalism as a core mission value. Given that there is an emerging consensus on the damage caused by existing space activities, it is contended that any new regulatory framework should embed a commitment to environmental protection within the fabric of rules governing human behaviour in outer space and should be at the forefront of such policy discussions. It is maintained that such legal and ethical issues are not only vital in respect of any human-crewed mission to Mars, but will become the template for the way in which policy regarding all long duration space flight and constitute the lodestar for normative behaviour in this context.

Outer Space in Society, Politics and Law - Space Exploration

Exploration has been a buzzword over centuries, ranging from the early naval endeavours in the 15th century to the space missions of our days. Throughout the centuries, exploration could be best described as the act of searching or travelling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information 2 . It were the early exploration missions that led to the discovery of America, Australia, etc.; it were the inland expeditions that brought back innovations and new products; and it was the act itself that brought with it new knowledge, which transformed human culture to an enlightened one -both in Europe and eventually worldwide. Space exploration is the logical continuation of that very process in a world that leaves no major "white" spots to explore further. It is therefore defined "... as the use of astronomy and space technology to explore outer space." 3 , a sentence that involves three words, which have to be understood completely to appreciat...

Establishing an Ecological Ethical Paradigm for Space Activity

Space Activity began in the late 1950s as a means of promoting the ideologies of two superpowers. As these two great nations strove for supremacy in space, so Space Law was centred around governmental activity. Space activity has evolved from this, becoming increasingly commercial and involving many other actors. This has created regulatory uncertainty which needs addressing. Before the regulation can be addressed it is necessary to understand what ethics or values should shape a new legal order for space. This paper will propose that future space activity needs to be governed from a normative position which promotes an ecological and sustainable position for human activity in outer space.

Ethics After the Space Act

2016

explore the consequences of high-quality imaging of Earth from space. ANALYSIS 19 The ethics of space exploration Jai Galliott argues that our environmental responsibilities extend into outer space. FEATURE Tackling space debris in the orbital environment Hugh Lewis explains the problem and a surprising source for its solution. FEATURE 34 Space agriculture is bringing farming indoors Gary Stutte analyses the impact of growing food for spaceflight. February 2016 | environmental SCIENTIST | 3 FEATURE 8 Monitoring nature from space: what is so exciting about it? Nathalie Pettorelli explains how satellite remote sensing can complement in-situ data collection. OPINION 28 Ethics after the Space Act? Tony Milligan outlines the legislation that governs our use of Space and whether it is fit for purpose. CASE STUDY 42 Trees in Space: no longer the forbidden fruit Thomas Graham explains the advantages of carrying fruit on space missions and the advances that are making this possible. FEATURE 48 Unlocking the lunar archive Louise Alexander explains how the history of the Solar System is contained in lunar samples.

International law and ‘the art of living in space’

Space Policy, 1993

The establishment of permanently Inhabred settlements in space will present unpereileled challenges for discovery, exploration and cooperation. Many nations may participate collectively in this endeavour, either through direct contributions of personnel, materials and technology, or indirectly by cultural, economic and political intercourse. More than an orbiting research facility, a settlement will be a self sustaining, vibrant community, with an identity and destiny of its own. The advances and advantages that will he derived from the actlvltlse of the settlement will come to he to the heneflt of all mankind.

Towards An Ethical Approach To Commercial Space Activities

Infrastructures, Technologies, and Applications, 2008

This chapter introduces the ethical questioning in the field of space activities, especially space commerce. If the 1967 Outer Space Treaty defines space as the “property of all” and its exploration as the “province of all mankind”, the future utilization of near-Earth (and tomorrow Greater Earth) space needs probably a new ethics (if ethics means not only legal applications but also and for example the application of the “rule of three Ps”: protection, promotion and preparation). Orbital debris mitigation, the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters or, in the future, the safety of private astronauts crews offer lessons in realism and sources of prospective reflections. Space ethics is still in its infancy.