---
title: "Space ethics"
chunk: 1/2
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_ethics"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:24:23.169627+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

Space ethics, astroethics or astrobioethics is a discipline of applied ethics that discusses the moral and ethical implications arising from astrobiological research, space exploration and space flight. It deals with practical contemporary issues like the protection of the space environment and hypothetical future issues pertaining to our interaction with extraterrestrial life forms.
Specific issues of space ethics include space debris mitigation, the militarization of space and the ethics of SETI and METI, but also more theoretical topics like space colonization, terraforming, directed panspermia and space mining. The field also concerns itself with more fundamental moral questions, such as the value of abiotic environments in space, the intrinsic value of extraterrestrial life, and how humans should treat extraterrestrial non-intelligent life (like microbes) and extraterrestrial intelligent life (and whether this distinction should be made in the first place).
Astroethical issues are often discussed as elements of broader issues such as general environmental protection and imperialism. Astroethics have been described as an emerging discipline gaining in attention, a "necessity for astrobiology" and a "true issue for the future of astrobiology".

== Ethical guidelines for space exploration ==

=== Planetary Protection ===

A guiding principle in astroethics is that of Planetary Protection (PP), which seeks to prevent the introduction of lifeforms from Earth to other celestial bodies (forward contamination) and vice versa (back contamination), and thereby possible adverse consequences on existing ecospheres resulting from such contamination. This principle is anchored in the UN Outer Space Treaty, which was established in 1967 and has since been signed and ratified by all space-faring nations.

=== Precautionary Principle ===

The precautionary principle was defined in the 1998 Wingspread Conference on the Precautionary Principle. This approach is supposed to guide decisions in the face of a lack of scientific knowledge or consensus on a matter. In a 2010 COSPAR workshop at Princeton University, 26 experts embraced the precautionary principle and concluded that "further investigations before interference that is likely to be harmful to Earth and other extraterrestrial bodies, including extraterrestrial life and the contamination and disturbance of celestial environments", are to be conducted.

=== Other Astroethical Principles for SETI ===
SETI astrobiologist Margaret Race and Methodist theologian Richard Randolph have outlined 4 principles for the search for extra-terrestrial life within the Solar System:

Cause no harm to Earth, its life, or its diverse ecosystems.
Respect the ecosystem on the surveyed celestial body, do not irreparably alter it or its evolutionary trajectory.
Follow proper scientific procedures with honesty and integrity during all phases of exploration.
Ensure international participation by all interested parties.

== Issues ==
A wide range of concrete issues is discussed in astroethics. Some of them are herein elaborated.

=== Sterility ===
Assumptions about outer space, particularly regarding space colonization, have characterized outer space as sterile and therefore a terra nullius. This assumption does not hold true, particularly considering that Earth is part of it.

=== Space debris ===
Millions of pieces of space debris, defunct artificial objects in space, are orbiting Earth. On average, one cataloged piece of space debris falls back onto the planet every day, potentially posing a risk to organisms and property. In total, an estimated 80 tons of space debris re-enter Earth's atmosphere every year. Due to the high friction with the atmospheric gases, the debris burns up, causing the release of its chemical components, which may contribute to atmospheric pollution and ozone depletion. Additionally, space debris orbits the Earth at extremely high velocity. In Low Earth Orbit, where all crewed space stations and many satellites are located, debris typically reaches speeds of around 8 km/s (approximately 18,000 mph or 29,000 km/h).  As a result, even tiny pieces of debris can severely damage or destroy satellites and spacecraft in the event of a collision. This could pose a threat to the lives of astronauts on crewed missions and lead to the phenomenon of Kessler syndrome, where a collision of objects in space produces new fragments of space debris that could set off a chain reaction of more collisions. This could render the space around Earth untraversable for space missions and unsuitable for the use of satellites.
As of March 2022, there are no legally binding international laws about who is responsible for the extraction of space debris, or mandating a reduction of new space debris brought into Earth's orbit. However, space agencies of several countries have implemented their own standards and policies to reduce introduction of new space debris, and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has been founded to address issues regarding orbital debris. Additionally, JAXA is researching an electromagnetic tether that could be used to pull debris down into the atmosphere.
The moral problem is that those in power (space agencies) can launch material into the Earth's orbit for their own gains without being held accountable for it, while the general public has to bear the consequences (such as atmospheric pollution or the risk of being hit by space debris).

=== Satellite surveillance ===
Reconnaissance satellites are used for a variety of military and intelligence purposes, such as optical imaging and signals intelligence. It has been noted that such data could infringe on people's privacy and thereby lead to ethical and legal issues. It could also turn into a source of national security threats if such information got into malevolent hands. In order to ensure ethically correct obtainment and use of satellite data, leading researchers in law, meteorology and atmospheric science have called for new policy which would lead to more transparency and security.