SpaceEthics.org
The gate to large scale Space Ethics
THIS SITE IS AN ARCHIVE
This research group's work now continues within the Cosmic Footprint Society (https://www.cosmicfootprint.org/), a non-profit organisation founded in 2024 to carry forward and institutionalise the questions explored here. This page is maintained as a historical record of the group's formation and early work (2022–2024).
Welcome to SpaceEthics.org, an interdisciplinary Research Group investigating the ethical implications of the expanding power provided by space technologies, at the largest scales of time and space.
“We are prioritizing our research on concerns related to decisions and actions, taken today, which behold the potential to have effects, significant with respect to the scales and content of the local cosmos. “
In memory of Roger-Maurice Bonnet (1937-2026)
Roger Bonnet, scientist and solar physicist, left our world on Jan. 26, after a bright career where his impact on space research in Europe had been
outstanding. After creating a remarkable space laboratory, the In stitut d’astrophysique spatiale (IAS), today on Paris Saclay campus, he served 18 years as Director for science of the European Space Agency (1983-2001). In this position, gathering energies and advocating for cooperations, he created the first long-term, science-oriented program of spatial research in Europe. Among so many successes, the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SoHO) and the cosmological mission Planck, had and still have an extraordinary scientific impact. Retired from ESA, he directed the International Space Science Institute in Bern until 2012, then continued to serve ISSI. In parallel he became COSPAR President. Who better than him could cover this immense field and be listened to by all the space agencies in the world?
When the Cosmic Footprint initiative emerged, it was obvious Roger had to be associated. Indeed, the remarkable booka he had written with Lo Woltjer was full of ethical questions on the directions space research and utilization would take. Roger joyfully supported us and made possible the so fruitful contacts with ISSI. We know how much we owe to him and associate our sadness to the one expressed everywhere by the space communities.
Pierre Lena
R-M. Bonnet & L. Woltjer, “Surviving a Thousand Centuries. Can we do it?”, Springer Praxis (2008).​​
“shouldn’t we now care about our impacts, at the larger scales of time and space?"
Large scales ?
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Large scales, in our context, means scales at or beyond our species, our biosphere, our stellar system, and up to the largest scales of the observable universe.
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Our approach differentiates from cosmism, transhumanism, and longtermism, as it is non partisan regarding the future path to be taken, and the values to be followed. We concentrate on facts and logical paths, and do our best to avoid any "-ism-" in our approach. Our purpose is to explore the existence of the question itself, methodically and scientifically, and to propose paths towards its responsible assessment at the global level.
GOALS
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MAIN:
Scientifically evaluate the question of our cosmic footprint. Initiate a fruitful interdisciplinary approach and establish guidelines for future work. If relevant, highlight the issue to nations and international entities, ensuring it is acknowledged and properly addressed.
TARGETS:
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Produce of a White Paper, on ethics at large scale / cosmic footprint
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If a convergence is confirmed, draft a Manifesto for Nations and International Entities to effectively evaluate and address the questions related to our cosmic footprint.
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Should its necessity be confirmed, draft a project “International Panel on Ethics at Large Scales / Cosmic footprint”, which could be proposed to ISSI as an ISSI international team the following year, and as a seed for an United Nation Panel, to the UN.
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Should its necessity be confirmed, draft a project “Registry of anthropogenic impact beyond earth”
// Being evaluated:
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Should its necessity be confirmed, propose amendments for a fruitful review of the space treaty
Meet The Research Group
Coordinators
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(1937-2026) Prof. Dr. Roger-Maurice Bonnet, astrophysicist, Honorary Director, ISSI
Prof. Dr. Anouk Barberousse, full professor, philosophy of science, Sorbonne University, SND
Noemi Giammichele, postdoctoral fellow in astrophysics, IRAP/CNRS
David Boulesteix, PhD student in exobiology, working on the identification of life on Titan and Europe (NASA Dragonfly and Europa Lander). LGPM - Centrale- Supélec.
Adrien Normier, aerospace engineer, airline pilot & PhD student in philosophy of science, Sorbonne University, SND. Working on ethics at large scales.
Participants
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Dr. Asmaa Boujibar, assistant professor of planetary science, WWU
Dr. Anders Sandberg, Senior Research Fellow at the Future of Humanity Institute, Oxford.
Dr. Koji Tachibana, ethics, associate professor of philosophy at Chiba University, Japan.
Dr. Jacques Arnould, Ethics adviser, CNES. PhDs in history of science & theology.
Prof. Dr. Claudius Gros, physicist, developer of GENESIS, Goethe University Frankfurt
Charles Horikami , Attorney at Law, Regulatory and Space Policy Advisor, Juris Doctor | Regent University School of Law
Yéléna Esslinger, Ph.D candidate in space law, sustainability of outer space, University of Bordeaux
Valentin Degrange, research fellow, IESD, working on Space Law, and Space governance
Claude Nicollier, Astronaut, EPFL
Oskari Sivula, doctoral researcher in Philosophy at the University of Turku. Working on space, environmental and intergenerational ethics
Douglas Vakoch, Ph.D., President of METI, an institution dedicated to transmitting intentional signals to nearby stars, as well as fostering sustainability on multigenerational timescales.
Dr. George Profitiliotis, Postdoctoral researcher working on transdisciplinary applications of futures studies in the search for extraterrestrial life. National Technical University of Athens.
Former participants
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Dr. Baptiste le Bihan, Philosopher of science & physics. University of Bern.
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Dr. Jean-Claude Worms, Executive Director of COSPAR, former CEO of European Science Foundation, involved in planetary protection, space weather, coordination with the UN, and sustainable space exploration.
Purpose of this website:
Host the work of the interdisciplinary group on large scale space ethics. Become the very entry point on large scale space Ethics on the web. Host a newsletter curated by scientists, to keep to updated regarding the relevant milestone on large scale space ethics. Maintain a database organised as a Timeline, allowing at tracking the main events in the history of ideas and of technological developpement, contributing to the development of the question. When the subject is sufficiently developed and its significance clearly demonstrated, encourage the world's nations and international entities to evaluate the collective responsibilities tied to our cosmic footprint and to define a responsible course of action.