Absolute Prioritization of Planetary Protection, Safety, and Avoiding Imperialism in All Future Science Missions: A Policy Perspective

The prioritization and improvement of ethics, planetary protection, and safety standards in the astrosciences is the most critical priority as our scientific and exploratory capabilities progress, both within government agencies and the private sector. These priorities lie in the belief that every single science mission—crewed or non-crewed, ground-based or not—should heed strict ethical and safety standards starting shortly after mission conception. Given the inevitability of the private sector in influencing future crewed missions both in and beyond low-Earth orbit, it is essential to the science community to agree on universal standards of safety, ethics, planetary protection, and especially antiimperialism. These issues will impact all areas of space science, and even matters related to national defense and biodefense. Delegation of power and strict communication standards not only to protect the lives of the explorers but protect the environments of wherever humanity decides to venture. Opening up the multidisciplinary approach of space exploration to international law and governance regarding planetary protection, safety, and creating comprehensive and ethical standards across all space faring institutions is needed for the future of space exploration. Agreement and enforcement by the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs and the cooperation of participating governments in setting guidelines will prove critical in improving standards for future science missions. Ultimately, moving international space law and domestic space policy from a reactive nature to a proactive one will ensure the future of space exploration is one that is ethical, transparent, and antiimperialist. The prioritization of safety, planetary protection, and ethical practices of space exploration and its subsets is heavily dependent on a clear, progressive, and precautionary approach to international and domestic space law and must be executed by both individuals as practice and by governments as policy, simultaneously.