Extraterrestrial Bioethics

Abstract

The author plays with three interconnected concepts: off-Earth bioethics, xenobioethics, and the ethical considerations surrounding the disposal of a cosmonaut's corpse. Off-Earth bioethics involves ethical considerations related to recruiting and monitoring astronauts, while xenobioethics deals with the ethical challenges of encountering extraterrestrial life. The author argues that it is important to develop a non-speciesist standard of personhood that can accommodate the possibility of intelligent extraterrestrial life. Finally, the author ponders the disposal of a cosmonaut's corpse in a space mission, arguing that this process must prioritise the crew's morale and consider the potential environmental impact of different disposal methods. Overall, the role of bioethics will be crucial in shaping humanity's future as a galactic sinner or a reliable cosmic stakeholder.