Future space missions and human enhancement: Medical and ethical challenges

Konrad Szocik; Mark Shelhamer; Martin Braddock; Francis A. Cucinotta; Chris Impey; Pete Worden; Ted Peters; Milan M. Ćirković; Kelly C. Smith; Koji Tachibana; Michael J. Reiss; Ziba Norman; Arvin M. Gouw; Gonzalo Munévar

doi:10.1016/j.futures.2021.102819

Future space missions and human enhancement: Medical and ethical challenges

Konrad Szocik, Mark Shelhamer, Martin Braddock, Francis A. Cucinotta, Chris Impey, Pete Worden, Ted Peters, Milan M. Ćirković, Kelly C. Smith, Koji Tachibana, Michael J. Reiss, Ziba Norman, Arvin M. Gouw, Gonzalo Munévar

Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Scopus citations

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.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	102819
Journal	Futures
Volume	133
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2021.102819
State	Published - Oct 2021

Keywords

Bioethics
CRISPR
Gene editing
Human enhancement
Space missions
Space settlement
Synthetic biology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Business and International Management
Development
Sociology and Political Science

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10.1016/j.futures.2021.102819

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title = "Future space missions and human enhancement: Medical and ethical challenges",

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.",

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language = "English (US)",

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T2 - Medical and ethical challenges

AU - Szocik, Konrad

AU - Shelhamer, Mark

AU - Braddock, Martin

AU - Cucinotta, Francis A.

AU - Impey, Chris

AU - Worden, Pete

AU - Peters, Ted

AU - Ćirković, Milan M.

AU - Smith, Kelly C.

AU - Tachibana, Koji

AU - Reiss, Michael J.

AU - Norman, Ziba

AU - Gouw, Arvin M.

AU - Munévar, Gonzalo

PY - 2021/10

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AB - 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.

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KW - CRISPR

KW - Gene editing

KW - Human enhancement

KW - Space missions

KW - Space settlement

KW - Synthetic biology

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Future space missions and human enhancement: Medical and ethical challenges

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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