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Ethics of Outer Space: activities
Four activities are developed:
  1. A policy report has been drafted on the basis of existing materials; this report has been used for consultations with existing bodies and experts; the policy report was submitted to the 4th Session of COMEST in Bangkok (March 2005).

  2. Consultation of relevant experts on a bilateral basis involving the most significant actors of the space community to further study:
    • The principles of a possible international declaration.
    • The recommendations of COMEST: system of data management, education program.
    • As a result of the consultations, the policy report will be transformed into a feasibility study identifying possible international actions as well as proposals for the General Conference to implement (or further study) the suggested projects. One of the proposals might be to develop an international instrument of ethical principles for the peaceful use of outer space. On the basis of the consultations, the likelihood of reaching consensus on principles seems to be low.
    • The consultation process has taken place from July 2004 until January 2005. The results of the consultation have been discussed by COMEST at its fourth session.

  3. Promote the ethics of outer space. Several activities will be employed to foster public debate and interest within the scientific and policy-making communities. Examples of questions and issues that can be addressed are: What is the meaning and value of space exploration? How should decisions been made in the ethical balance between security and confidentiality, about the use of nuclear power in space, or about the qualification of data (scientific, commercial, sensitive)? In order to foster debate, the following activities will be undertaken:
    • Publications: The Division will develop publications in the biennium 2004-2005.
    • An international conference in Paris with participation of other agencies will be organized ("Mars and Minerva - The ethical and philosophical challenges of space exploration"). Wide participation would be needed from philosophers and ethicists as well as the space community and policy makers.

    • Since there is a lack of philosophers and ethicists who are interested in the ethics of space and who have competency in this (new) area of ethics, initiatives will be made to create a small body of experts in space ethics; some philosophers and ethicists will be invited to expand expertise, and then be involved in activities and conference, so that a competent advisory body will be emerging.
    • Joint workshop ESA/UNESCO in UNESCO Headquarters (29 October 2004): "Legal and ethical frameworks for astronauts in space sojourns" (Alberto Marchini, European Centre for Space Law. Email: alberto.marchini@esa.int). Presentations have been made and papers developed (read more.

  4. International cooperation, in particular with COPUOS. On the basis of the principles identified in the policy document and previous work, relevant (parts of) sessions of COPUOS and its subcommittees will be attended, as invited by the Group of Experts and by COMEST. The debates of the experts in these fora will be carefully monitored.

    An important connection is also maintained with ESA (European Space Agency). Several joint activities with ESA are undertaken:


    Possibilities of cooperation with other Space Agencies are also explored, as well as with other relevant organizations such as OECD, OSCE, COSPAR, and IAF.




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