International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation

Scientific Meeting "Space Use and Ethics"

March 3-5, 1999, at the Darmstadt University of Technology

Organizer: Interdisziplinäre Arbeitsgruppe Naturwissenschaft, Technik und Sicherheit (IANUS, Interdisciplinary Research Group Science, Technology and Security) at the Darmstadt University of Technology (TUD) in cooperation with: Institut für Theologie und Sozialethik of the TUD, Naturwissen-schaftlerInnen-Initiative, International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation (INESAP), Darmstädter Frie-densforum, Friedens- und Begegnungs-stätte Mutlangen, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. Additional groups are being invited to join.

Space activities are increasing. Who is doing what? Who is watching? Who sets the standards? Who benefits? What are the consequences? These questions were addressed at the conference "The Ambivalence of Space Technology" which took place in March 1997 and was organized by IANUS and several other groups.

The conference on March 3-5, 1999, will focus on ethical criteria for the assessment of space research and use. Goal is the critical dialogue between representatives of space organizations, science, politics, military, industry, and peace and ecological groups.

On the first evening, ethical criteria for space use and research will be presented by professors of social ethics, a physicist, and representatives of a space organization.

On the second day, these criteria will be used to assess several concrete space projects:

• use of nuclear power in space
• remote sensing satellites (civil/military use)
• manned space missions

The national and international control of space is the topic of an open panel discussion on the second evening.

The third day is planned for the discussion of consequences originating from the ethical criteria for space use. Political recommendations, a catalogue of challenges, and implementation possibilities are to be worked out.

Contact: IANUS, Zintl Institut, Hochschulstrasse 10, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany; tel 06151 -164468 fax -6039, email ianus@hrzpub.tu-darmstadt.de

Draft Program

Proposal: Short sessions with questions and answers after each speaker. Discussion and critical comments to be saved for the plenary discussions. Conference language mainly English as international participants are expected.

Note: All proposed speakers listed in the program have been invited. All topic titles are working titles and will be finally agreed upon with the speakers. Unless otherwise stated, IANUS members will convene the individual sessions.

Wednesday, 3.3.99

18:00 to 18:15 Welcome address conference organizers

18:15 to 21:00 Ethical Criteria for Space Research and Use

• Philosophical and Ethical Aspects of Manned Space Missions (Ulf Merbold)
• Peaceful and Sustainable Use of Space (Wolfgang Bender, Jürgen Scheffran)
• Ethical Criteria for Space Use - an ESA Perspective (Karl-Egon Reuter)
• On the Justifiability of Space Missions (N.N.)

Thursday, 4.3.99

Assessment of Concrete Space Projects

9:00 to 12:00 Use of Nuclear Power in Space

• German Participation in the NASA `Mars Surveyor' Program - Aspects of Power Supply (Göstar Klingelhöfer)
• Are Plutonium Generators for the Cassini Mission Justifiable? (Walter Flury, Michio Kaku)
• Plutonium Use in Space - Problems and Alternatives (N.N.)

13:30 to 15:30 Remote Sensing Satellites

• On the Current Political Debate (Bernd Kubbig)
• Dual Use of Satellite Remote Sensing (Wulf von Kries, Dieter Engels)

16:00 to 18:00 International Space Station (ISS)

• Manned Space Missions - Useless or Key to the Future? (Johannes Weyer, Wolfgang Engelhardt)

20:00 to 22:00 Public Panel Discussion: Who Controls Space? (Götz Neuneck, Brad Duty, Klaus Arnhold, Karl Grossman, R. Balasubramaniam)

Friday, 5.3.99

9:00 to 13:00 Consequences of the Ethical Criteria for Space Use

• The Development of Space Law (Horst Fischer)
• The Future of Space Policy (Edelgard Bulmahn, Simone Probst, Heinz Alfred Sauerwald, Regina Hagen)