The document discusses the need for a comprehensive ethical code for human activities in outer space, highlighting the historical lack of such a framework on Earth and its consequences. While various public and private entities have addressed space ethics, there remains no binding document outlining these principles. The author proposes 'eight ethical disciplines' as a moral roadmap and emphasizes the importance of educating future decision-makers about these issues.

1. 44th COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 16-24 July, 2022. Online
at https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022cosp...44.3430S/abstract .
Abstract PSSH.1-0018-22.
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Dilemmas encountered in establishing the Ethical Code for Outer Space
Zvi Sever sever.zvi@gmail.com
Abstract
Most human settlements on planet Earth were created without the
establishment of any ethical code, and this has resulted in immense damage
to the natural infrastructure, along with disharmony among humans and a
consequent lack of cooperation among states and other bodies. It might seem
that the field of ethics in space has been dealt with extensively by public
bodies (UN, EU, COSPAR and countries), all of which are assisted by both
academic institutions and private economic entities (tourism companies,
space industry, etc.), as well as by ordinary citizens, who have created
forums, associations, activities and the establishment of websites. Among all
these, however, there is not one single document that offers a comprehensive
and binding ethical code for human activity in outer space. Consequently, I
have published (Sever 2020) 'eight ethical disciplines' that will comprise a
moral roadmap for our activities in outer space, two of which incorporate
decisions taken by the UN in 1957. The current article presents the dilemmas
that face us on our path to accepting the 'eight ethical disciplines', as
presented on the one hand to the current decision-makers and on the other
hand to the next generation of decision-makers, to the high-school pupils and
university/college students, in the framework of 'lesson plans' on this issue.
An ethical code for outer apace should be available to all the world's
population, and constitute a focal document to be presented to international
bodies, countries, legislators, educators and the general public.
Sever, Z. 2020. The ethical code for space activity. Space Research Today,
Vol. 208: 44-48.