Policy Considerations for New Human Space Exploration Strategies: the Space Generation Perspective

Paper number

IAC-15,E7,IP,6,x28819

Author

Ms. Chantelle Dubois, Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), Canada

Coauthor

Dr. Laszlo Bacsardi, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary

Coauthor

Mr. Michael Deiml, FZ Juelich/ Uni Wuppertal, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Abhijeet Kumar, University of Sydney, Australia

Coauthor

Mr. Seyed Ali Nasseri, Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), Canada

Coauthor

Ms. Alana Bartolini, University of Toronto, Canada

Coauthor

Ms. Jessica Todd, Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), Australia

Coauthor

Ms. Kate Howells, The Planetary Society, Canada

Year

2015

Abstract

Human and robotic spaceflight has become a global enterprise with increasing  entities from the government and non-governmental sectors introducing new space exploration strategies. With these novel strategies, the need for modifications to existing regulations or policies, or development of additional guidelines, must be considered. 

The Space Generation Congress (SGC), the annual conference of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), was hosted in Toronto, Canada from September 24 to 26, 2014. During the congress, students and young professionals representing 15 countries participated in the Ethics and Policy of New Human Space Exploration Strategies working group. 

The group conducted a review of the current field of human space exploration strategies, focusing on ethics, present policies, and future policies. As a result of these findings, the space generation proposes the following recommendations: 

(1) the UN recommend its member states examine the Multilateral ISS Agreement as a model for cooperation and accessibility agreements in future multi-party missions; 

(2) the UN recommend its member states to adopt risk-sharing policies, similar to the US Launch Indemnification Policy, to share liability and reward in multi-party missions. 

As we move into an age of manned-mission focus, ethical considerations surrounding exploration strategies are numerous and complex. As such, there is growing need for a guiding body to oversee balance between ethical factors and mission objectives. In order to fill this gap, the group proposed the establishment of a UN-ethics board to formulate ethical guidelines and monitor mission proposals of  entities pursuing human space flight initiatives.

Furthermore, we suggest the extension of existing policies to foster cooperation and diversify risk with regards to multinational, multi-party, commercial, and long-duration human missions.

Abstract document

IAC-15,E7,IP,6,x28819.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-15,E7,IP,6,x28819.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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