The first man to enter space was launched by the Soviet Union in 1961. Eight years later, the American Apollo 11 mission landed the first humans on the moon. Though these events were political moves that became part of the space race, the world came together for some of the greatest human achievements in history. Many people all over Earth shared a sense of accomplishment and wonder as fuzzy images of Buzz Aldrin stepping on the moon’s surface came through on their television sets. The video sparked curiosity in some viewers, who advocated further exploration of space. However, the space race ended, Soviet and American space missions halted. Now, private bodies are investigating options for exploring space for commercial and industrial purposes. With the first recreational orbital flights only a few years in the future, the human race needs to unite and cooperate to create lasting regulations and policies on environmental protection and international competition before mankind extends his presence beyond Earth.

After the Cold War, many world powers defunded their national space programs, so the private sector turned its attention to space. According to Matheson in his MIT News article, entrepreneurs see potential in the commercial space industry, which includes tourist space travel, asteroid mining businesses, and other startups. BlueOrigin is planning on launching tourists into orbit for a short space flight (Matheson). Shannon Stirone explains that asteroids are rich in precious metals, water, and other materials, so companies like Planetary Resources plan on exploiting these celestial bodies for their resources. The water mined from asteroids can be turned into rocket fuel, and the asteroids could become refueling depots so humans may venture further into space and colonize other planets (Stirone 7). These markets drive the future of space exploration, but they also raise ethical concerns for many researchers, scientists, and philosophers over the impact human activities will have on the natural space environment.

John and Pamela Smelcer address the concern humans should have over the pollution in orbit. 8,500 trackable objects and 100,000 pieces of smaller debris “are hurling in their orbits at around six or seven miles per second” (J. and P. Smelcer 30). Not only does this debris damage spacecraft now, but it may pollute the orbit to a point where launching into space is impossible. Astropollution demands international attention, even today. Agreements between nations that eliminate any further pollution of the Earth’s orbit should be proposed to the United Nations. As space activities become commonplace for humans, space debris will need to be monitored and collected. The Smelcers’ theory of orbital pollution is extremely useful because it sheds light on the difficult problem of destructive human behavior and protection of the natural environment.

Asteroid mining by itself raises many concerns over the effects on the environment. Shannon Stirone’s claim that “out space seems far too vast to be despoiled—just as the Earth itself once did” rests upon the questionable assumption that environmental concerns will not prevent the rush of competition between companies to reach the stars first. Stirone’s lack of environmental concern represents the consumerism of our society. She even compares it to how the resources of Earth once seemed endless. The mass consumption that humans are accustomed to today cannot come into space. It’s predicted that within the next several centuries the Moon and Mars would be dismantled to satisfy the resources needed to support the population (J. and P. Smelcer 30). Humans’ destructive nature is not sustainable in the long run.

Current space laws are outdated and do not suit the cultural, social, or political environment today. I agree with Billings about the need for update to the law, a point that needs emphasizing since so many people do not know space law exists. The policies in place now include treaties that were drafted in the 1960s. They just briefly discuss environmental protection and are vague in other areas (Billings). Billings contends that new treaties and laws need to be proposed in order to prevent any negative outcome from human activity in space. She describes a conservative approach to space exploration, where precaution is used with every move and the effects of every action are measured. It is meant to preserve the pristine environment of space.

International cooperation will be a necessity when exploring space. James Clay Moltz claims that international cooperation is necessary for space travel, but it will also be the biggest challenge. Tension or conflict between countries would be taken into space. The United Nations has taken precautions regarding relations among its member states by signing in bills that forbid weapons of mass destruction in space and regulate military use of space. I am of two minds about Moltz’s claim that international cooperation is going to be a challenge. On the one hand, I agree that world peace is a very difficult achievement. On the other hand, I am not sure if the next generation will hold the key to world peace.

For centuries, philosophers and scientists have looked to the stars and theorized what lays beyond. Now, on the brink of a new industrial revolution, it is important to analyze the ethics of our decision making. Within the next few years, nations will need to come together to develop policies that will address astroenvironmental protection and ensure international cooperation.
