Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2012
Abstract
While the international community has acted forcefully since World War II to protect sites and objects of cultural or historic significance on Earth, little attention has been paid to the same kinds of sites and objects in space. There are important ethical and scholarly reasons for wanting to preserve sites and in situ objects in off-Earth contexts from destruction or commercial exploitation. Innovative space research equipment, such as spacecraft, satellites, and space stations, and the locations of historic missions, such as Tranquility Base, therefore deserve formal international recognition and protection. Appropriate models for developing a comprehensive protective scheme can be found in existing international protocols, especially the 1959 Antarctic Treaty (and later additions), the 1970 UNESCO Convention on Cultural Property, the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention, and the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Underwater Cultural Heritage. In addition, space agencies and professional organizations can mandate adequate and ethical planning for the post-operational phases of space missions to include arrangements for heritage protection.
Recommended Citation
Walsh, Justin St. P. (2012). "Protection of humanity’s cultural and historic heritage in space." Space Policy, 28.4, 234-243. doi: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2012.04.001
Peer Reviewed
1
Copyright
Elsevier
Included in
Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons, Modern Art and Architecture Commons, Other Aerospace Engineering Commons, Space Vehicles Commons
Comments
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Space Policy. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Space Policy, volume 28, issue 4, in 2012. DOI: 10.1016/j.spacepol.2012.04.001