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Mars Historical and Ethical Context : Past, Present, and Imagination

Puumala, Mikko ; Sivula, Oskari ; Arnould, Jacques ; Capova, Klara-Anna ; Ditrych, Ondřej ; Dunér, David LU orcid ; Lee, Natuschka M. ; Milligan, Tony ; Persson, Erik LU orcid and Schmidt, Nikola , et al. (2024) In Space and Society p.85-98
Abstract
Mars has long been a source of inspiration, imagination and, lately, aspiration for many. It has generated a breadth of beliefs and ideas, as well as hope for a bright future there. However, the red planet will never offer a fresh start: we would carry with us some of our culture and our politics. Our future there would remain connected to Earth’s history, particularly human history. In the present chapter, humanity’s relationship to Mars is discussed from a broadly historical, cultural, and ethical perspective, in order to provide a backdrop for the later inquiry of a variety of issues—ethical, societal, and political—related to Mars exploration and settlement. Political drivers for establishing a Mars settlement are then discussed. The... (More)
Mars has long been a source of inspiration, imagination and, lately, aspiration for many. It has generated a breadth of beliefs and ideas, as well as hope for a bright future there. However, the red planet will never offer a fresh start: we would carry with us some of our culture and our politics. Our future there would remain connected to Earth’s history, particularly human history. In the present chapter, humanity’s relationship to Mars is discussed from a broadly historical, cultural, and ethical perspective, in order to provide a backdrop for the later inquiry of a variety of issues—ethical, societal, and political—related to Mars exploration and settlement. Political drivers for establishing a Mars settlement are then discussed. The chapter ends on a more practical note: on planetary protection, and the threat posed thereto by human-borne microbes. One way or another, terrestrial beings will alter the Martian environment. The ethical concerns this raises cannot be left unaddressed. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Mars and the Earthlings : A Realistic View on Mars Exploration and Settlement - A Realistic View on Mars Exploration and Settlement
series title
Space and Society
editor
Verseux, Cyprien ; Gargaud, Muriel ; Lehto, Kirsi and Viso, Michel
pages
14 pages
publisher
Springer Nature
ISSN
2199-3890
2199-3882
ISBN
978-3-031-66880-7
978-3-031-66883-8
978-3-031-66881-4
DOI
10.1007/978-3-031-66881-4_4
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6dbd321d-de5c-4e1e-94e9-616322f55202
date added to LUP
2025-01-21 20:18:51
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:30:30
@inbook{6dbd321d-de5c-4e1e-94e9-616322f55202,
  abstract     = {{Mars has long been a source of inspiration, imagination and, lately, aspiration for many. It has generated a breadth of beliefs and ideas, as well as hope for a bright future there. However, the red planet will never offer a fresh start: we would carry with us some of our culture and our politics. Our future there would remain connected to Earth’s history, particularly human history. In the present chapter, humanity’s relationship to Mars is discussed from a broadly historical, cultural, and ethical perspective, in order to provide a backdrop for the later inquiry of a variety of issues—ethical, societal, and political—related to Mars exploration and settlement. Political drivers for establishing a Mars settlement are then discussed. The chapter ends on a more practical note: on planetary protection, and the threat posed thereto by human-borne microbes. One way or another, terrestrial beings will alter the Martian environment. The ethical concerns this raises cannot be left unaddressed.}},
  author       = {{Puumala, Mikko and Sivula, Oskari and Arnould, Jacques and Capova, Klara-Anna and Ditrych, Ondřej and Dunér, David and Lee, Natuschka M. and Milligan, Tony and Persson, Erik and Schmidt, Nikola and Tønnessen, Morten}},
  booktitle    = {{Mars and the Earthlings : A Realistic View on Mars Exploration and Settlement}},
  editor       = {{Verseux, Cyprien and Gargaud, Muriel and Lehto, Kirsi and Viso, Michel}},
  isbn         = {{978-3-031-66880-7}},
  issn         = {{2199-3890}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{85--98}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Nature}},
  series       = {{Space and Society}},
  title        = {{Mars Historical and Ethical Context : Past, Present, and Imagination}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66881-4_4}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-031-66881-4_4}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}