Space and the Extraterrestrial Environment

摘要

As humankind proceeds with space exploration, colonization, and development of space activities in the 21st Century, the relationship between space and the extraterrestrial environment emerges as a crucial area. A number of questions in this regard need to be considered and addressed: do humans have a right to extract resources from space and planetary bodies, to create human supported biospheres in space and on planetary surfaces, and to terraform celestial bodes inhospitable to "human" life; should space be protected to safeguard human ends such as scientific inquiry; does humanity have a direct obligation to the welfare of the space environment; do the needs of extraterrestrial life forms (even if only microorganisms) take precedence over (or require protection from) life from Earth; do humans need to protect indigenous life forms from "Earth" life forms that may cause harmful effects; what is the human responsibility to preserve the worlds of the Solar System in their wilderness states for present and future generations; and what are the guidelines for space exploration activities on planetary bodies to keep potential environmental impacts to a minimum. In addressing the issues raised by these questions, this paper identifies and discusses three environmental ethical frameworks: (1) anthropocentrism; (2) biocentrism; and (3) cosmocentrism. These frameworks serve as a roadmap for the range of space exploration polices that can be directed to spread life, and search for life, in the Solar System in an environmentally responsible fashion.