The undiscovered country: establishing an ethical paradigm for space activities in the twenty-first century

With an increased focus on the benefits afforded by advances in space exploration, this chapter examines the lack of ethical underpinning in space activity. It is suggested that policymakers within national space agencies and commercial ventures have been understandably, focused towards the technical, and to a lesser extent the political dimensions of space activity at the expense of ethical considerations. This chapter considers the underpinning ethics of space governance and establishes normative values in respect of space law, human spaceflight, orbital debris and the protection of extraterrestrial environments. The chapter argues that the search for a normative ethical position underpinning space activity is important for future sustainable space activity as an increasing range of diverse actors seek to exploit the opportunities afforded by the space industry.