Abstract
Future human space missions to Mars and beyond may be realized for different research, economic, political or survival reasons. Since space remains a hazardous environment for humans, space exploration and exploitation requires the development and deployment of effective countermeasures. In this paper, we discuss prospects for human enhancement by gene editing, synthetic biology, or implants, for the purposes of future space missions. We argue that there are good reasons to consider such options, and that ethical arguments can be made in favor of human enhancement to enable long-term space exploration.
Highlights
If we try to remotely settle an alien world light years away, what do we do with any life that’s already there – or could we even recognize it? While these topics are already discussed in space ethics and SETI and METI literature (Author, 2016; 2019, Brin, 2019; Cockell, 2016; Haramia & DeMarines, 2019; Traphagan, 2019; Wilks, 2016), it is likely that far-future human missions, which will go beyond the Solar System, will increase our chances for contact with other forms of life including possibly an extraterrestrial intelligent life
One such challenge is the idea of human enhancement for space
The idea of human enhancement, as well as human space missions in general, has both advocates and opponents and we argue that human enhancement may be inseparably connected with a future human presence in space
Summary
There is a high likelihood that human space missions to the Moon, Mars and possibly beyond will become a reality within the century. While some critics may argue against the concept of human space missions in general and the idea of a space refuge in particular, many authors agree that in the long term colonizing new environments in space either within or beyond our solar system may support the long-term future of humanity (Mason, 2021). The precise nature of enhancement, which may be more or less invasive, reversible or irreversible, and heritable or non-heritable, requires very careful thought and might well be driven by scientific and ethical considerations on Earth. In our paper we do not consider arguments for or against various types of space missions, including the concept of space refuge, nor do we analyse the superiority of humans over robots in space, or vice versa. Some of the proposals and concepts considered can be seen in terms of a thought experiment today, and a plausible development for the future of our species in space
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