Animals have led the way in space exploration, starting with the first years of the space race in the 1950s. Their contributions provide priceless perspective on the impact of space travel. To be very clear, we do not condone the abhorrent treatment often given to such fascinating and intelligent creatures. To date, we’ve been launching non-human species into space for decades. Yet we don’t have any established guidelines in place to ensure these animals aren’t harmed by their experience in space.
That transcontinental path started in 1957 with the former Soviet Union’s launch of Laika, a stray dog, on Sputnik 2. This was the first time in space history that any living being went into orbit around the Earth. Laika’s mission, though, concluded with tragedy, as she died in-flight. After this historic trip, animals were sent on their own missions in other countries, but the moral questions surrounding this practice were almost entirely overlooked.
In 1961, the United States launched the first hominid on a suborbital flight. To accomplish this mission, scientists needed to know just how proficiently Ham could complete tasks in a zero-gravity setting. This served as an important precursor to human space exploration and demonstrated the extraordinary abilities of primates, including ourselves, to thrive in harsh environments. Though even then, the ethical implications of using sentient beings for experimentation were not entirely acknowledged.
The Evolution of Animal Testing in Space
In the years that followed, more animals were sent into space to study different things. In 1963, France sent Félicette into space, the first—and so far only—cat to travel to orbit. After her mission was complete, she was euthanized for study purposes. This act created a huge moral precedent regarding the treatment of sentient beings in research and scientific practices.
Throughout the 1960s, NASA was testing with chimpanzees like Ham. They used those particular animals to field test the Mercury capsule prior to launching human astronauts into space. As public sensitivity to issues of animal welfare increased, so did the demand for ethical guidelines. In 1996, NASA withdrew from the BION program and introduced its “Principles for the Ethical Care and Use of Animals.” These principles outlined three core tenets aimed at ensuring humane treatment:
“Respect for life: use only appropriate species in minimal numbers necessary for valid results.” – NASA’s Principles for the Ethical Care and Use of Animals
These five guiding principles highlight ethical obligations to emphasize societal benefit in animal research. They further highlight the importance of reducing animal suffering, avoiding maleficence, in other words.
In recent forays scientific research spaces abandoned lethal route for passive methodology. In 2010, the European Space Agency made headlines by rejecting primate research entirely, opting instead for simulation technologies to assess astronaut health risks. This precedent reflects an increasing regard for ethical practices in the field of scientific research, which is promising.
The Current Landscape of Animal Welfare in Space Exploration
Even with today’s technology and knowledge of ethical considerations, we still don’t know the fate of animals sent into space. When in 2019 Israel’s Beresheet spacecraft crash-landed on the moon, it was revealed that thousands of tardigrades had been sent along with the spacecraft. Most resilient microscopic creatures, what happens to them post-impact is still in question.
In 2022, KEKA Aerospace took a bold pioneering step to end the use of animals on their missions. This announcement follows the sad death of a rat named Kavira on one of its Troposphere 5 rockets. This alarming incident removed the veil on the lack of accountability and ethical responsibility in the aerospace industry.
The first multicellular organisms that experience aging are sent to the International Space Station by a team of scientists. Their intention was to research the effects of space conditions on bodily systems. These studies are paving the way for understanding how human health is impacted in space. They raise serious questions about animal welfare and the ethical integrity of these missions.
More countries across the globe are starting to realize that animals are sentient beings who deserve moral and legal consideration. New Zealand has made an impressive leap in this direction, part of a growing trend toward the recognition of animal rights around the world.
The Need for Regulations
There are only five such core outer space treaties in existence. These are all extremely significant matters, including the peaceful use of outer space and liability for damage caused by space objects. Though critical to animal welfare, none of these treaties mentions animal welfare in any explicit terms.
The lack of detailed policy opens immediate ethical questions about the welfare of animals used during missions. With more countries participating in space exploration, the need to set standard guidelines that safeguard animals has never been more pressing.
“Societal benefit: weigh the ethical value of animal use against potential societal gains.” – NASA’s Principles for the Ethical Care and Use of Animals
Scientists and animal rights activists alike have called for the development of such regulations. They think these rules need to guarantee humane treatment and confront moral consequences as we move further into the universe.
“Non-maleficence: minimize pain and distress, recognizing that animals may suffer similarly to humans.” – NASA’s Principles for the Ethical Care and Use of Animals