Conclusion: Ethics, imagination and the future of space

One of the promoters of ethics at CNES liked to repeat that this approach is an effective way of preparing for the future. Indeed, far from imposing constraints and limits on human initiatives, ethical questioning provides an opportunity to root them in a more accurate awareness of their reasons and causes, even those most deeply rooted in a particular cultural context. At the same time, it enables us to recall and clarify the goal we're striving for, beyond the difficulties we may have encountered at the time.

This approach to ethics does not exclude its more regulatory and legal dimensions; indeed, as the latest news on private space projects reminds us, these are essential if we are to envisage the future, build the future, and be aware of the responsibilities that space players have.

So far, while space organizations have considered...