Planetary parks - the need of a wilderness policy in solar system exploration
- Paper number
IAC-10,E3,4,3,x6665
- Author
Dr. Gerda Horneck, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Prof. Charles Cockell, Open University, United Kingdom
- Year
2010
- Abstract
International space exploration programs foresee robotic visits to a variety of Solar System bodies and finally the establishment of human settlements on Moon and Mars. Strategies are required to consider ethical and environmental arguments beyond the currently used planetary protection policy established by COSPAR. In analogy to the National Park system existing on Earth, a planetary park system is proposed that incorporates the concepts of COSPAR’s planetary protection, but extends the reasons for practical protection policies beyond the utilitarian protection of scientific resources emphasized by planetary protection, into other utilitarian and intrinsic value arguments. Such planetary park systems might still allow for the development of non-park areas by commercial enterprise. References: Cockell C.S. and Horneck G. (2004) A Planetary Park system for Mars. Space Policy 20, 291–295. Cockell, C.S. and Horneck G. (2006) Planetary Parks – formulating a wilderness policy for planetary bodies. Space Policy 22, 256-261.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)