Space Enthusiasts, Power, Kinship and Unpredictability: The Human Journey to the Cosmos and Outer Space Ethics

Humans and their robotic emissaries are launching into space in ever greater numbers. While the technological aspects of these missions are prioritized and ongoing, the social aspects and ramifications of this movement into a new arena of exploration and exploitation leave questions unanswered. How does this look from the perspective of those interested in space, and are people interested in the quest to travel to space or is it a small privileged few whose voices dominate? These lead me to ask through the use of interviews how people feel about space, and if obligations to act ethically override other factors (scientific, financial, cultural as examples) for going there? Will humanity learn lessons from other historical instances of exploration and colonization on Earth that led to genocidal harm as we travel away from it and move into new areas, or perpetuate elitist, nationalistic and/or capitalist paradigms that prioritize the business or country over the human, and sociocultural beliefs? Or can humans work more inclusively, and collaboratively, to include the social sciences as part of this process, and in so doing, continue the work of decolonization? So called “space colonization” is an arena that could benefit from an increase in regulatory oversight and collaboration.