The researchers argue that planetary protection policies should be expanded to include the preservation of the environments of the Moon and Mars, in addition to biological contamination guidelines. They suggest that existing guidelines should be strengthened to address issues such as orbital debris, crowding, security concerns, and more. They also recommend the addition of compliance incentives to improve sustainability policies. The team of researchers includes individuals from NYU Abu Dhabi, the University of California, Berkeley, and New York University, highlighting a collaborative effort to address these issues.
In their paper published in the journal Space Policy, the researchers review existing planetary protection laws and literature to identify shortcomings in current rules guiding human space exploration. They point out questions left unanswered by existing laws, such as those related to atmospheric and abiotic contamination, which they believe are important gaps that need to be addressed collaboratively. This highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to planetary policy to ensure the protection and preservation of celestial bodies like the Moon and Mars.
The researchers emphasize the importance of sustainability as a core principle of human space exploration. They argue that just as climate change is a significant challenge for terrestrial society, space sustainability should be viewed with similar urgency. By implementing rules and procedures that prioritize sustainability in space exploration, the next generation of exploration can be governed in a way that is clean, safe, and productive for years to come. This approach aims to create enforceable policies that are specific in their requirements and robust in their ability to protect the environments of celestial bodies.
Atri asserts that sustainability should be a fundamental principle of space exploration, and that the space community must address this issue with urgency. By establishing rules and procedures now that prioritize sustainability, the foundation can be laid for future space exploration that is clean, safe, and productive. By implementing stronger and more specific requirements for sustainability in space exploration, the researchers believe that technology developed beyond Earth could also have benefits for terrestrial technology, highlighting the interconnectedness of space exploration and technological advancements on Earth.
Overall, the researchers call for a comprehensive approach to planetary protection policies that extends beyond Earth to include the preservation of Lunar and Martian environments. By addressing existing gaps in policy, strengthening guidelines to include sustainability practices, and providing compliance incentives, they aim to create a framework for clean, safe, and productive space exploration that will benefit future generations. By prioritizing sustainability as a core principle of human space exploration, the researchers believe that rules and procedures can be established to govern space exploration in a way that is enforceable, specific, and conducive to the development of technology for both space and terrestrial use.