On this site you will find links connected to the ethics of space exploration and a lecture I have given to astronomy clubs, “Perhaps we can, but should we? Ethical limits to Space exploration”. The material is organised as follows:-
> abstract of the lecture (scroll down)
> links to relevant posts on my blog (scroll down)
> 25-min audio file, discussion of space ethics (scroll to bottom)
> my presentation slides
> sources for the quotations used in the lecture
> diverse links – see subject tabs at top of this page
Feel free to discuss any points with me, or suggest additional material, and please tell me about any broken links. You can email me at peterhousehold@gmail.com
Note re lecture to Shannonside Astronomy Club 5/11/15. In the event I only covered the first half of the presentation, up to planetary protection slide 31, but not including the question of protecting planetary landscapes.
Saturday 10 October 2015
Thursday 1 October 2015
“Perhaps we can, but should we? Ethical limits to Space exploration” - Lecture abstract
In this lecture I delve into some current debates about the ethics and law of space exploration, touching on the following questions amongst others:-
• The debate on the so-called overprotection of Mars – what are planetary protection rules for, and should they be relaxed with respect to Mars? The ultimate relaxation of planetary protection for Mars would be terraforming - is it desirable?
• Should Mars be colonised? If so why? Are there good and bad reasons for colonising Mars? Is the Mars One project a suicide mission and if so does it matter? Does it infringe human rights law, and does that matter?
• How much invasive science should be done, such as vaporising comets?
• What is space archaeology and is it important? What steps ought to be taken to preserve it? Is there a role for UNESCO?
• Who has the right to mine asteroids? Does the common heritage of mankind principle in the Moon Agreement inhibit asteroid mining? Should it? Is the principle out-of-date and should it be amended? How likely is it that corporations will simply ignore it?
The militarisation of space, which arguably dwarfs all of the above issues, is not included. Another day’s work perhaps.
• The debate on the so-called overprotection of Mars – what are planetary protection rules for, and should they be relaxed with respect to Mars? The ultimate relaxation of planetary protection for Mars would be terraforming - is it desirable?
• Should Mars be colonised? If so why? Are there good and bad reasons for colonising Mars? Is the Mars One project a suicide mission and if so does it matter? Does it infringe human rights law, and does that matter?
• How much invasive science should be done, such as vaporising comets?
• What is space archaeology and is it important? What steps ought to be taken to preserve it? Is there a role for UNESCO?
• Who has the right to mine asteroids? Does the common heritage of mankind principle in the Moon Agreement inhibit asteroid mining? Should it? Is the principle out-of-date and should it be amended? How likely is it that corporations will simply ignore it?
The militarisation of space, which arguably dwarfs all of the above issues, is not included. Another day’s work perhaps.
Friday 25 September 2015
Links to my blog
The following posts on my blog relate to themes in the lecture
Is there a Moon Agreement and does it matter? (March 2014)
Mars One is OK, I suppose (January 2014). Joseph Roche of TCD. Has links to his radio interviews.
One-way trip to Mars planned for 2023 (August 2012)
One-way trip to Mars – can we, perhaps – should we, perhaps not (November 2010)
Against preserving the human species (October 2009)
Archaeology on the Moon (January 2012)
A US national park on the Moon? (October 2015)
Monday 10 November 2014
The Philosopher's Zone on ABC radio
Here's an Australian radio programme (25 minutes)
"A space mess", 9 November 2014
Life in space may create an ethical mess. Could space be a tabula rasa for humanity? Or wherever we go do our foibles follow quite closely behind? Touches on terraforming, the ethics of meeting other life forms, and the weaponisation of space.
"A space mess", 9 November 2014
Life in space may create an ethical mess. Could space be a tabula rasa for humanity? Or wherever we go do our foibles follow quite closely behind? Touches on terraforming, the ethics of meeting other life forms, and the weaponisation of space.
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