Overview

It appears from the preceding chapter's analysis of the space law treaties that they cannot be relied upon to protect the space environment and preserve its unique attributes for future generations. However, an alternative mechanism might be available in the guise of an ethical policy for space.

To most space professionals, the thought of devising a policy of space ethics is about as appealing as a wet afternoon in winter. Experience has shown that most of them are so focused on their particular area of expertise that they have little time for such "soft subjects," and their instantaneous reaction to an ethical policy would most probably be "as long as it doesn't stop us doing what we're doing, go ahead ." This, however, would not be a professional attitude.

Other professions, of which many space professionals are, by virtue of their specializations proud, to be considered members, have already developed their own codes of ethics. We are familiar, for example, with ethical codes in medicine and biotechnology subjects that deal directly with people and in various branches of engineering that provide products and services for customers, clients, or consumers.

A code of ethics is effectively a code of conduct: it guides professionals in what they should and should not do in their everyday professional lives; it provides a useful reference for making sometimes difficult ethical judgements; and it provides external observers with an assurance of a professional's integrity and standard of competence.1 The existence of an ethical code shows that...