Space exploration should be more democratic and equitable to all potential actors

We are amid what appears to be a second space race, except this time, the space race is not just led by two major superpowers, but by a wider group of nations who have interests in engaging in space exploration.

This widening body of nations interested in space exploration has led to an accompanying rise in companies and industries that have keen interests in extraterrestrial exploration, both on Earth and in space itself. However, one of the key questions that is often glossed over in this "new" space race is who benefits from it, and who is further marginalized and ignored.

In our recent piece in Nature, we, an international group of researchers who have come together to incorporate marginalized perspectives in space exploration, make the case that space exploration should not be solely the domain of a small group of wealthy nations.

The implication is that exploration should be made accessible to all nations and peoples, regardless of their economic capacity or political power. Strictly, this does not mean that even bad agents should have access to rocket technologies. It means only that there should be an end to exclusions based upon wealth and power.

Despite the existence of legislation and treaties that were designed to prevent territorial claims to outer space (a legacy of Cold War geopolitical jockeying and posturing), current members of the space exploration "club" on Earth are ensuring that they will have first rights and first access to exploit natural resources in outer space. This hearkens back to colonial and extractive principles of land control and tenure on Earth, a practice that has impacted Indigenous communities disproportionately.

Existing discourse surrounding access to space seems to focus on who can get there the quickest, and who gets the lion's share of the potential economic and political benefits of a renewed push for space exploration.

This way of thinking does not take into account the diverse perspectives and needs of global communities, particularly developing nations and Indigenous communities—despite the fact that these communities and constituencies often possess long-standing interests in space exploration, and even have engaged in attempts to create broader openings for space exploration within their communities, as can be seen among Indigenous communities in the Pacific.

Despite this increased engagement, and agreements such as the Artemis Accords, which is a guiding document to how countries and organizations will engage in space exploration, practical barriers still exist to Indigenous communities engaging even more in the broader space exploration industry. These barriers include economic barriers, lack of interest by outside partners due to the need to meaningfully consult with Indigenous communities around their participation in space exploration activities, and ongoing contestations over existing space-related infrastructure, such as the long-controversial Thirty Meter Telescope.

These fractious engagements with Indigenous communities have resulted in situations where Indigenous nations are largely blocked from taking a larger role in space exploration, to their detriment. This means that in broader discourse surrounding space exploration, only a few voices, namely those of the rich and powerful, are the only voices that gain any traction and receive any attention. This does not set the stage for a democratic, equitable landscape of extraterrestrial exploration.

We argue that broader and better consultation is needed with Indigenous communities when it comes to space exploration, whether the consultation is regarding Earth-bound infrastructure, or regarding exploration in extraterrestrial space itself. This is in keeping with legal principles such as the UN's Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It also ensures that exploration activities that are being carried out are respectful to Indigenous protocols, and more broadly, work towards the benefit of all humanity, rather than a select group of nations and individuals.

This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about Science X Dialog and how to participate.