The First Interstellar Astronauts Will Not Be Human
Abstract
Our ability to explore the cosmos by direct contact has been limited to a small number of lunar and interplanetary missions. However, the NASA Starlight program points a path forward to send small, relativistic spacecraft far outside our solar system via standoff directed-energy propulsion. These miniaturized spacecraft are capable of robotic exploration but can also transport seeds and organisms, marking a profound change in our ability to both characterize and expand the reach of known life. Here we explore the biological and technological challenges of interstellar space biology, focusing on radiation-tolerant microorganisms capable of cryptobiosis. Additionally, we discuss planetary protection concerns and other ethical considerations of sending life to the stars.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2110.13080,
title = {The First Interstellar Astronauts Will Not Be Human},
author = {Stephen Lantin and Sophie Mendell and Ghassan Akkad and Alexander N. Cohen and Xander Apicella and Emma McCoy and Eliana Beltran-Pardo and Michael Waltemathe and Prasanna Srinivasan and Pradeep M. Joshi and Joel H. Rothman and Philip Lubin},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2110.13080},
year = {2021}
}
Comments
17 pages, 3 figures