ESTEC, 9 March 2005Division of Ethics of Science and Technology Contribution to European Exploration Strategy 1 Contribution to the development of a European

ESTEC, 9 March 2005 Division of Ethics of Science and Technology

Contribution to European Exploration Strategy

1

Contribution to the development of a

European Space Exploration Strategy

First roundtable discussionESTEC, 9 March 2005

Division of Ethics of Science and TechnologyDivision of Ethics of Science and Technology



2

UNESCO and Space

• Ethics of Outer Space Programme• Space Education Programme• Disaster Management System



3

UNESCO and Ethics

• Bioethics • Environmental ethics• Science ethics• Ethics of outer space

• Ethics Education programme

• Global Ethics Observatory

• Ethics Around the World



4

UNESCO and Ethics:Bioethics

• International Bioethics Committee, Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee, Interagency Committee on Bioethics

• Universal Declaration on Human Genome and Human Rights – 1997

• International Declaration on Human Genetic data – 2003 • Declaration on universal norms in Bioethics – 2005?



5

UNESCO and Ethics: Environmental ethics

• World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST)

• Recommendations on Fresh Water and Energy (2001)

• Towards a Declaration on ethical principles for a sustainable use of the environment (2009)



6

UNESCO and Ethics: Science Ethics

• COMEST• Towards a code of ethics for scientists?

(2009)– The World Conference for Science – 1999 – The concern on terrorism – 2001– Feasibility study – 2007?



7

UNESCO and Ethics:Ethics of Outer Space

• Recommendations of COMEST and Pompidou report (1999/2001)

• Development of ethics of outer space both as a scientific discipline and civic discourse

• Involvement of the space and academic communities• Emphasis on awareness-raising and education both

within and outside the space community• Non feasiblity of an international instrument



8

UNESCO and ESA

• ESA initiated the work of COMEST on space and co-published the Report « The ethics of space policy » (1999)

• Symposium on Astronauts – 25 October 2004• Ethical Working Group on Planetary Protection

and Exobiology – Since May 2004



9

Ethical Issues about Space Exploration

• A subject of public debate

• A pioneering mind?• What for?• The exploitation

scenario• Extraterrestrial

ecologism

• Extraterrestrial bioethics

• Intellectual property• For whom?• Do astronauts have a

life?• A new human habitat?



10

Ethics of Space Exploration: for a Public Debate

• Space exploration is of concern to everyone because of:– Its costs– Its risks– Its benefits– Its phantasy



11

Ethics of Space exploration:A pioneering mind?

• The human adventure: from Africa to the Moon

• Limits of this notion– Are great discoveries such a glorious example?– Emptiness of space– Limits of the earth



12

Ethics of Space Exploration:To What Purpose?

• The glorification of the pionneering mind does not seem sufficient…

• … But is the scientific research the only motive and interest?– The American example allows to question this view– The Keynesian effect



13

Ethics of Space Exploration: the Exploitation Scenario

• The legal quarrel about exploitation• What would be the economic rationale?

– Natural resources– Some room– Ways to exploit celestial bodies: for production,

tourism, scientific research?– Using local life?



14

Ethics of Space Exploration:Extraterrestrial Ecologism

• How should we treat ET life?• Use of environmental ethics principles:

– Precautionary principle– Respect for life– Burden of proof principle

• The idea of a moratorium and the possibility of an isolation



15

Ethics of Space Exploration:Extraterrestrial Bioethics

• Genetic engineering in microgravity will raise specific issues

• What about possible genetic ET material? (Jurassic Park meets E.T.!)

• Genetic selection of astronauts



16

Ethics of Space Exploration:Intellectual Property

• Innovation in outer space: foreseeable issues

• Scientific discoveries on celestial bodies – existing guidelines may not be sufficient

• The issue does not concern civil servants but…



17

Ethics of Space Exploration:for whom?

• The benefit of all mankind… – Star Trek vs. Star Wars

• Are all space travellers really envoys of mankind?

• If space travellers have rights, things get more complicated – IP, misbehaviors, cultural differences



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Ethics of Space Exploration:Do Astronauts have a Life?

• The selection process• Privacy• Isolation• Communication• Comfort• Risk



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The Ethics of Space Exploration:A New Human Habitat?

• Distant (?) prospect of colonization:– Which rules do apply?– When do you stop being a terrestrial? (see Asimov)– Ethical issue of terraforming

• Very close effects of this distant prospect– Limits of our planet and phantasy of emigration– Does space exploration divert us?



20

Some Ideas of Recommendations

• The participative approach– Reinforce information program and public debate

• Clarify the motives and the interests– Undertake economical studies– Be careful with the « pionneer » rhetoric

• Give guarantees to space travellers• .. And to ETs• A way to solve terrestrial problems



21

Thank you

Division of Ethics of Science and Technology

[email protected]

http://www.unesco.org/ethics

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

ESTEC, 9 March 2005Division of Ethics of Science and Technology Contribution to European Exploration Strategy 1 Contribution to the development of a European