Ethical and legal clarity urged as planetary defense faces asteroid threats

Ethical and legal clarity urged as planetary defense faces asteroid threats
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jun 17, 2025
A potentially catastrophic asteroid impact may seem like science fiction, yet the possibility remains real. Earlier this year, asteroid 2024 YR4 briefly raised alarms with a 1-2 percent chance of colliding with Earth in 2032. Although updated calculations have ruled out a threat in this instance, future threats remain a pressing concern.

A new research paper from Swinburne University of Technology addresses the ethical, legal, and social implications surrounding asteroid mining and planetary defense. Lead author and bioethicist Dr Evie Kendal emphasizes the urgent need for an international framework or authority dedicated to safeguarding civilization from celestial hazards.

"This is not a new issue but one that continues to plague the world, with no clear mandates for who should act in the interest of protecting the planet and our lives," says Dr Kendal.

She notes that asteroid mining also operates in a regulatory gray zone. "While the legal situation is being considered globally, various ethical issues remain, including how to protect occupational health and safety for off-world miners, how off-world mineral assets should be taxed and how we can avoid space piracy and claim-jumping that would undermine confidence among prospectors."

Kendal also raises broader ethical concerns, such as whether humanity should interfere with the space environment at all, and how extracted resources should be utilized to avoid worsening climate change on Earth.

NASA's 2022 DART mission, which successfully altered the trajectory of the Didymos asteroid, is cited as a landmark demonstration of kinetic impactor technology. Despite this progress, Dr Kendal warns against assuming a smooth path forward. She cites political tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, as well as recent funding cuts to NASA, as indicators of the unpredictability of relying on current partnerships.

"Many assume the UN-endorsed Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) will play a central role and most likely lean heavily on those involved in the DART mission," she explains. "However, such an assumption should be doubted."

Dr Kendal stresses the need for enforceable, ethical, and policy-based governance in space activity. She points to the 2021 satirical film *Don't Look Up* as a cultural reflection of how corporate interests could jeopardize planetary defense.

"In both the asteroid mining and planetary defence contexts, we can no longer rely on non-binding agreements or assumptions based on historical cooperation. We need clear ethical and policy guidance to govern continued human activity in the space domain."

Research Report:Technical Challenges and Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) for Asteroid Mining and Planetary Defense