The ethical aspects of space exploration were the topic of a fascinating panel on "Challenges Raised by Life in Space," sponsored last week by the Ethics Center. (podcast) Panelist Margaret Race, principal scientist at the SETI Institute, introduced the topic of "planetary protection," and the necessity of avoiding "forward contamination"--that is bringing earth's potentially damaging microbes to a new planet--and "backward contamination"--introducing life forms from other planets to Earth
Christopher McKay, planetary scientist from the Sapce Science Division, NASA Ames, focused his remarks on Mars and asked the audience to consider the moral status of alien life forms and the intrinsic worth of the richness and diversity of life
Center Bioethics Director Margaret McLean offered a set of principles which might inform our explorations including:
1) Space Preservation
2) Space Conservation
3) Space Sustainability
4) Space Stewardship
5) Respect for the "truly other other"
Respecting Life as We Don't Know It
