The moon has always served as an inspiration for humanity. There are many potential benefits to further exploration of our planet’s rocky satellite.
But we need to establish guidelines to prevent unethical behavior on the moon, particularly regarding the use of natural resources and off-planet labor.
How humans should interact with space and celestial objects is central to the emerging field of space ethics. It’s something I’ve been involved with since 2015. I taught my first class on consent for using celestial objects at Yale University’s Summer Bioethics Institute.
Human settlement
Some people believe that establishing human settlements on the moon—and other bodies—may help lessen the environmental burden of overpopulation on Earth.
While the practical issues of survival and maintaining communication receive a lot of attention in discussions of moon settlements, the ethical considerations are often overlooked.
Mining
The moon is already being considered as a mining site, or a base of operations for asteroid mining.
As with all mining projects on Earth, there are concerns about environmental sustainability and whether it is appropriate for mining corporations to profit from the commercialization of natural resources in space.
Medical research
There is talk about the potential to 3D print organs in zero gravity on the International Space Station.
3D printing organs on the moon, where gravity is one-sixth of that on Earth. It could be the next step in addressing the shortage of organs available for transplant. Then there’s the possibility of other medical research on the moon.
There are strict regulations for medical research in most countries on earth. Experiments on the ISS are done under the watch of the station’s partners. But there is no global system in place to review whether proposed medical studies on the moon are ethically acceptable.
