Abstract
Global space ethics review offers a method of protecting terrestrial and extraterrestrial interests during human interactions with space and celestial objects. This chapter considers how a robust space ethics review system could be developed and monitored over time to ensure adherence to ethical principles. After briefly introducing the concept of space ethics, this chapter considers various methods of asteroid deflection, evaluating whether these could be ethically acceptable. It then continues by identifying some potential threats to human health and wellbeing posed by space exploration, including risks to global biosecurity, before outlining the proposed global space ethics review process intended to avoid or mitigate these risks.
This fragment is taken from John F. Kennedy’s public speech at Rice University in Houston regarding the American commitment to the Moon landing: ‘We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of preeminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war’ (September 12, 1962).
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Notes
- 1.
A collaboration between UNESCO, the European Space Agency (ESA), various other UN groups and national space agency representatives, and private industry.
- 2.
These are roughly adapted from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council’s requirements for human research ethic committee membership but are similar to many other jurisdictions.
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Kendal, E. (2019). ‘No Conscience of Its Own’: The Need for Global Space Ethics Review. In: Schmidt, N. (eds) Planetary Defense. Space and Society. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01000-3_17
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