We are witnessing a revolution in the space industry. For the first time we are seeing representatives from US, Russia, Europe, China, Japan and all major space agencies, committed for a sustainable human presence on the Moon. We are also witnessing a dramatic reduction on the launching cost and increased capabilities on space transportation. The reduction of launching cost is promising new markets, like space tourism, manufacturing in space, space based solar power and many more. This new space industry paradigm will trigger the upcoming revolution. Expanding humanity into outer space is therefore a destiny, not a choice. In fact, millions living and working in space is the only way for humanity as a species to survive. Unfortunately, most of the world population don’t realize the new paradigm and how humanity’s survival as a species is in danger, and fully depends upon expanding into outer space.
Unlike the terminology “Space Exploration”, the terminology “Expanding Humanity into Outer Space” involves all human activities, including culture, arts and everything else that we can’t even imagine, nowadays. Space Exploration is only concerned with science and engineering. The upcoming growth of the space domain in the future will have social, economic, and political impacts. Humanity should prepare itself for this upcoming revolution by conducting research on the implications of expanding humanity into outer space. Space Ethics is seen today as an independent field concerned with the study of the implications of expanding humanity into outer space. I add my voice to those who are seeking reformations for major space agencies to consider space ethics. But also, I would like to add that I see an opportunity for developing countries, which have not yet established a space agency. The establishment of space agencies with strong ethical foundations will have positive impacts both locally and on the whole global society.
Expanding humanity into outer space is a destiny and it is a matter of human survival as a species. It is impossible to imagine humanity as a species growing further in a world with scarce resources (a Closed World Future). In order to be able to access space resources for the benefit of everyone, thus defusing the triggers for new conflicts, developing countries should participate on efforts to cooperate with the rest of the world to expand humanity into space (an Open World Future). In addition to the urgency of communicating the concepts of Open World Future vs. Closed World Future to developing countries, it is also important to provide a model to establish space agencies based on space ethics. The new space agencies, born in the 21st century, should not repeat the same mistakes already incurred in the past. Space Ethics should be considered[1].
Every individual is valuable. More people involved in expanding humanity into space will bring to an acceleration towards the Open World Future. Most of the world populations are living in developing countries. The survival of humanity as a species, with all the opportunities in space (given the new paradigm) can shift the perspective about space agencies in developing countries. Today, most developing countries are merely interested on space applications (earth observation and communication), because the only alternative option is space exploration, which is seen as extremely expensive, with little or no return. Establishing space agencies in the 21st century should have different objectives, visions and activities, to serve civilian space development and to accelerate the efforts for the open world future. Hence, the survival of humanity as a species.
The consideration of space ethics research will support developing countries to identify their strength points to cooperate with the rest of the world for an Open World Future. It was emphasized by the US administration and other major space faring Countries that international cooperation in space is the future path. Shifting the perspective in developing Countries towards an Open World Future means new cooperation and partnerships.
There are challenges for developing Countries. Space agencies with strong ethical foundations require the transparency of information, so that the public may be involved on meaningful discussions concerning the allocations of public money and excellent opportunities of investment. This is also a challenge for the major space agencies in the world. Educated public will better aid decisions makers to take better decisions. Therefore, the role of civil society is paramount important.
In conclusion, developing countries will soon realize the space industry new paradigm. However, more actions should be taken to communicate the urgency of kicking-off the civilian space development. It is urgent because civilization, if trapped within the Earth’s gravitational well (Closed World Future) will unlikely survive. Once developing Countries will realize that space is more than just the traditional applications of 20th century satellites technologies, we will begin to see new principles for new space agencies and an evolution of the traditional ones. I am calling not to repeat 20th century mistakes, by seriously considering space ethics as a tool for decision making.
A small addition by A. V. Autino, SRI Founder.
15 years ago a small group of visionaries, including me, founded the Space Renaissance movement, and we started to promote civilization expansion into outer space. In 2015 Space X kicked-off reusable rockets, making such a perspective feasible and sustainable. Nowadays, 36 (so far) space advocacy organizations[2] (including Space Renaissance International, the National Space Society, The Mars Society, Lifeboat Foundation, the Space Tourism Society, the Beyond Earth Institute), are proposing an 18th Sustainable Development Goal – #Space18SDG Space for All, Civilian Space Development, on Earth and Beyond –, to be added to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Such initiative is strongly aimed to a 100% inclusivity, involving the whole Team Humanity, as it was stated during a recent speech at UN COPUOS in Vienna[3]. SRI is fully committed on such an historical campaign, a mission on behalf of whole humanity, as a species and as a civilization. This is the greatest opportunity, for space humanists, to get full visibility to the profound philosophical and ethical rationales backing the human expansion into the solar system. We will not resign, no matter how hard the struggle may become!
12 June 2023: see the 1st public event of the #Space18SDG co-promoters on the Space Renaissance Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/live/A5CAyaNl7GI
Sign the #Space18SDG pledge: https://www.change.org/space18sdg
Add your organization to the co-promoters group: https://spacerenaissance.space/sign-the-18th-sdg/
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[1] More about the Open World Future and the Closed World Future can be found on the Space Renaissance Manifesto, and the Thesis 1 of the 3rd SRI World Congress https://2021.spacerenaissance.space/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/PAPER-SRIC3-SCT-4.1.01-007.pdf page 16 https://spacerenaissance.space/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The_Space_Renaissance_Manifesto.pdf page 7
[2] See the complete list of the #Space18SDG Co-promoters https://spacerenaissance.space/the-space18sdg-proposer-organizations/
[3] https://agora.spacerenaissance.space/the-18th-sdg-proposal-was-announced-at-copuos-66th-session-in-wien-the-5-june-2023/
Space Renaissance France (French Chapter of SRI) 
Space Renaissance USA, Inc. (USA Chapter of SRI)
Space Renaissance (Italian Chapter of SRI)
Space Renaissance India (Indian Chapter of SRI)
African Space Renaissance (African Chapter of SRI)
Space Renaissance Academy
Space Renaissance Initiative Group