About this episode
The episode discusses the ethical implications of NASA's Artemis 2 lunar mission and the broader questions surrounding human space exploration.
Today, humanity reaches towards the Moon once more. The first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years. But as NASA’s Artemis 2 lifts off, some troubling moral questions follow in its wake. Are the billions of pounds being spent a visionary investment in our future, or a luxury we can't afford while poverty, disease, and a climate crisis demand urgent action here on Earth? Who benefits from space exploration? The wealthy nations that lead it or all of humanity? Is there really a moral imperative to explore the possibility of how to live on other planets? And ... as we venture outwards, do we risk repeating the mistakes of colonial expansion? That's our Moral Maze tonight ... the ethics of human space flight WITNESSES: Dr Simeon Barber, Lunar Scientist at Open University; Dr Stuart Parkinson, Executive Director of Scientists for Global Responsibility; Dr Tony Milligan, Philosopher in Space Ethics; Mary-Jane Rubenstein, Professor of Religion and Science in Society at Wesleyan University PANELLISTS: Carmody Grey, Anne McElvoy, James Orr and Sonia Sodha PRESENTER: William Crawley
People in this episode
Host: William Crawley
Guests: Dr Simeon Barber, Dr Stuart Parkinson, Dr Tony Milligan, Mary-Jane Rubenstein
Topics covered
- human space flight
- ethics
- space exploration
- colonialism
- investment
- poverty
- climate crisis
Keywords
- Artemis 2
- moon mission
- space ethics
- humanity
- investment
- colonial expansion
- poverty
- climate crisis
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NASA, Open University, Scientists for Global Responsibility, Wesleyan University
More episodes of Moral Maze
- Is the World Cup morally compromised? · June 11, 2026 · 58 min
- Who is morally responsible for Britain's political short-termism? · June 5, 2026 · 57 min
- What is education for? · April 9, 2026 · 57 min
- Is an Established Church Morally Defensible? · March 27, 2026 · 58 min
- Economic shocks: is there a duty to accept sacrifice? · March 19, 2026 · 58 min
- Pragmatism and Principle: what is the role of morality in foreign policy? · March 12, 2026 · 57 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Moral Maze podcast page.