Changing the Paradigm on Human Enhancements: The Special Case of Modifications to Counter Bone Loss for Manned Mars Missions

Szocik, Konrad; Campa, Riccardo; Rappaport, Margaret Boone; Corbally, Christopher J.

doi:10.1016/j.spacepol.2019.02.001

Cited by 23 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…The idea, specificity, and rationale for human enhancement for space are discussed elsewhere. 32 Human enhancement discussed in the context of space missions includes substantial and invasive enhancements, mainly gene editing. The purpose of such enhancements is the adaptation of humans to hazardous space environments and the minimization of the negative effects of space radiation and microgravity, advancing the progress of space travel.…”

Section: Human Enhancement For Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Moral Bioenhancement for Space: Should We Enhance Morally Future Deep-Space Astronauts and Space Settlers?

Szocik,

Gouw

2023

Theology and Science

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The idea of moral bioenhancement has been discussed in recent years by ethicists and philosophers. While such discussion covers many different issues on Earth, they have not yet been considered in the context of future human space missions. In this paper, we discuss the bioethics of biomedical moral enhancement for space whether it is possible, probable, and preferable. We show that the ethical context of moral bioenhancement for space differs from analogical contexts on Earth. We point out that space exploration policy should take into account the possibility of moral bioenhancement.

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Section: Human Enhancement For Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Moral Bioenhancement for Space: Should We Enhance Morally Future Deep-Space Astronauts and Space Settlers?

Szocik,

Gouw

2023

Theology and Science

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“…Some of the criteria are discussed elsewhere in regards to parameters such as invasiveness, reversibility or inheritance. 11 The nonnegotiable starting point is an assumption that the informed consent of volunteer deep-space astronauts is required. Then, the mission planners should show-this should be their duty when the space program is funded by the public like in the case of NASA, CNSA 12 or Roscosmos 13 why we should take a risk of sending humans to the deep-space and to edit their genomes, which is usually a controversial bioethical issue.…”

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confidence: 99%

Human Future in Space and Gene Editing: Waiting for Feminist Space Ethics and Feminist Space Philosophy

Szocik¹

2019

Theology and Science

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, marked an entry in the history of NASA and the human space missions in general. That day, two female astronauts, Jessica Meir and Christina Koch, made the first in history all-women spacewalk. 1 While human spacewalks have occurred at the International Space Station (ISS) since 1998 and several female astronauts made the joints spacewalks with male astronauts, this symbolic event began the discussion of prospects for space philosophy, as well as space policy. One of the basic challenges human spaceflights face is a hazardous impact of space on humans. This is one of the reasons why a human presence in space is limited to the boundaries of the low Earth orbit. This is not necessarily the only reason for caution. Another cause is the lack of a strong rationale to send humans to space. 2 Linda Billings, writing here in Theology and Science, has argued strongly that we earthlings should not colonize Mars or other planets. 3 However, let us assume we will send space explorers to off-Earth planets and focus our attention only on the medical and physiological issues. The NASA Twins Study gives us a lot of information about the human body and psyche in space, but only about the male body and psyche. 4 There are some differences between male and female resistance to the different factors in space. Some of them provide good reasons to favor females more than males in space. As Mary Robinette Kowal rightly points out, an average female is better adapted to the space environment-precisely, to the microenvironment of the spacecraftdue to the fact that females are statistically smaller, lighter and use fewer consumables. They are also more resistant to stress in space. 5 Mission planners should not ignore such factors, as the space environment is extremely hostile to humans. This challenge is more apparent when the long-term and deep-space human missions are considered, such as missions to Mars and beyond. 6 The main difficulties of long trips in space include space radiation, altered gravity, unfarmable Martian dust, habitat confinement, isolation, distance from Earth and many others-mixed ecological and psychological factors. 7 The question arises-Are humans able to survive such long missions using currently applied countermeasures, such as diet, drugs, exercise or anti-radiation shelters? We yearn to have deep-space astronauts who not only will survive but who will also perform all tasks at the peak capacity. A longterm-about 3 years and longer-mission in space, such as a mission to Mars may be challenging given currently used countermeasures, in this case, pharmaceuticals 8 and the anti-radiation shielding. 9 Human enhancement in general, including gene editing, could be the option for meeting those difficulties. The idea which lies behind gene editing for space is simple and may be explained in three simple steps. First, identify all hazardous factors in space and check if you have effective countermeasures. Second, if you determine that your countermeasures will not work for the long-term missions, consider the possibi...

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Ectogenesis for Space Exploration

Kendal

2021

Encyclopedia of Life Sciences

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Ectogenesis (artificial womb technology) could yield many benefits on Earth and provide a safe and sustainable way to populate an off‐world human colony. Gestating foetuses in a protected and controlled environment could help prevent damage caused by radiation exposure, nutritional deficits or the impact of microgravity during pregnancy. This method of reproduction would also reduce the risks and burdens to female settlers and avoid losing members of the early settlement workforce to maternal morbidity and mortality. Realising the potential of ectogenesis to improve sexual equality in reproductive endeavours on Earth and promote the creation of new human settlements in space, will require substantial legal, political and scientific support. It will also require the development of ethical standards for the development, testing and distribution of this new reproductive biotechnology. Key Concepts Human settlements in space will need a safe way to reproduce the next generation of settlers. Ectogenesis (artificial womb technology) could yield many benefits on Earth and in off‐world human colonies. Removing the risks and burdens of pregnancy and childbirth could make a fundamental contribution to achieving sexual equality in human reproduction. Ectogenesis services will need to be distributed equitably to avoiding exacerbating social inequality in reproduction. There are a number of ethical and legal barriers to developing ectogenesis that will need to be addressed before the technology can achieve its potential.

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Changing the Paradigm on Human Enhancements: The Special Case of Modifications to Counter Bone Loss for Manned Mars Missions

Cited by 23 publications

References 42 publications

Moral Bioenhancement for Space: Should We Enhance Morally Future Deep-Space Astronauts and Space Settlers?

Moral Bioenhancement for Space: Should We Enhance Morally Future Deep-Space Astronauts and Space Settlers?

Human Future in Space and Gene Editing: Waiting for Feminist Space Ethics and Feminist Space Philosophy

Ectogenesis for Space Exploration

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