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

School of Medicine

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

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

Access to Document

10.1016/j.futures.2021.102819

Cite this

@article{b7f928b431f24f2880c2e4f5df97935d,

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.",

keywords = "Bioethics, CRISPR, Gene editing, Human enhancement, Space missions, Space settlement, Synthetic biology",

author = "Konrad Szocik and Mark Shelhamer and Martin Braddock and Cucinotta, {Francis A.} and Chris Impey and Pete Worden and Ted Peters and {\'C}irkovi{\'c}, {Milan M.} and Smith, {Kelly C.} and Koji Tachibana and Reiss, {Michael J.} and Ziba Norman and Gouw, {Arvin M.} and Gonzalo Mun{\'e}var",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Author(s)",

year = "2021",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.futures.2021.102819",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "133",

journal = "Futures",

issn = "0016-3287",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Future space missions and human enhancement

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

Y1 - 2021/10

N2 - 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.

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.

KW - Bioethics

KW - CRISPR

KW - Gene editing

KW - Human enhancement

KW - Space missions

KW - Space settlement

KW - Synthetic biology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85112576457&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85112576457&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.futures.2021.102819

DO - 10.1016/j.futures.2021.102819

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85112576457

SN - 0016-3287

VL - 133

JO - Futures

JF - Futures

M1 - 102819

ER -

Future space missions and human enhancement: Medical and ethical challenges

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this