Beyond Earth’s horizon, ethics must be our compass, guiding humanity through uncharted frontiers. In space, dignity, accountability, and the pursuit of reliable, dependable innovative advancements become the true measure of exploration.
The Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy’s Space Ethics program examines how human space exploration and emerging space-related biotechnologies raise ethical and legal questions that extend beyond existing terrestrial frameworks. As capabilities such as bio preservation, suspended animation, and long-duration missions evolve, the program explores how these developments may require rethinking autonomy, consent, risk, and human wellbeing in environments fundamentally different from those on Earth.
The program advances comparative and anticipatory scholarship to build ethics and governance frameworks where current scholarship offers limited guidance. It considers broader societal dimensions—from cultural perspectives on celestial environments to the ethical implications of expanding human activity beyond Earth—and assesses how emerging practices align with principles of dignity, accountability, and responsible innovation. Through this forward-looking analysis, the program helps establish the ethical foundations for humanity’s future in space.
