Abstract
Public and political discourses are often punctuated with unfair questions. Space activities seem to attract such unfair questions — in particular by the little minds. High-spirited activities such as humans in outer space and their visions risk being ridiculed or slammed. One such unfair question is: do astronauts solve any problems on Earth? It relates to the pressing questions our societies face in times of large financial and economic crises with a credit crunch, rising unemployment and lower living standards for many people. It also relates to global problems like securing peace, saving the environment or eradicating hunger and poverty in developing countries. Is there anything less likely to be a solution to these questions than sending humans into outer space? Certainly not, to be honest. So the strategy should be to refrain from entering into such debates, which are predestined to be lost.
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References
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An interesting ethical approach is provided by Arnould, Jacques. La Seconde Chance d’Icare: Pour une Éthique de l’Espace. Paris: Le Cerf, 2001.
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For a special view on this question see: Baum, Seth D. “Cost-Benefit Analysis of Space Exploration: Some Ethical Considerations.” Space Policy 25.2 (2009): 75–80.
An exemplary expression of this leadership is contained in the book by former Moon astronaut and Senator Schmitt, Harrison H. Return to the Moon. Exploration, Enterprise, and Energy in the Human Settlement of Space. New York: Copernicus Books, 2006.
See Hansel, Mischa. “The Political Dimension of Europe’s New Spaceflight Capabilities.” Yearbook on Space Policy 2007/2008: From Policies to Programmes. Eds. Kai-Uwe Schrogl, Nicolas Peter, Charlotte Mathieu. Vienna: SpringerWienNewYork, 2009: 188–195.
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N. B. Schrogl is here referring to students on Earth and not the students of space settlers as described by Alan Britton. “A School Curriculum for the Children of Space Settlers.” (in this volume).
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Schrogl, KU. (2011). The political context for human space exploration. In: Landfester, U., Remuss, NL., Schrogl, KU., Worms, JC. (eds) Humans in Outer Space — Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Studies in Space Policy, vol 5. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0280-0_1
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