Download This PaperCost-Benefit Analysis of Space Exploration: Some Ethical Considerations
Space Policy, vol. 25, no. 2, pages 75-80
12 Pages Posted: 11 Jul 2016
Date Written: May 1, 2009
Abstract
Humanity faces many important decisions about space exploration. An important but controversial decision making paradigm is cost-benefit analysis (CBA). This paper discusses some ethical considerations in CBA that are important to decision making about space exploration, including: how we define costs and benefits; space exploration’s non-market value; the standing of future humans and of extraterrestrials; and the role of discounting in evaluating long-term space exploration projects.
Keywords: ethics, outer space, cost-benefit analysis
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Baum, Seth, Cost-Benefit Analysis of Space Exploration: Some Ethical Considerations (May 1, 2009). Space Policy, vol. 25, no. 2, pages 75-80, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2807387
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