Artemis, Ethics and Society: Synthesis from a Workshop

NASA’s planning and implementation of the Artemis missions and Moon to Mars efforts may set precedents in exploration for decades to come. In April 2023, NASA convened a workshop on how to assess the ethical and societal implications of Artemis. This workshop was NASA’s first structured foray into studying the ethical and societal implications of exploration since the Apollo program in the 1960s. This report documents the discussion and ideas feedback and suggestions from the 55 participants invited to the Artemis and Ethics workshop and focuses on the following key study questions: 1) How should NASA consider the ethical, legal, and societal implications (ELSI) of the Artemis and Moon to Mars efforts?; and 2) What are the key ethical and societal implications that need consideration? This initial exploratory study does not make formal recommendations but instead maps out options available for NASA and other actors to consider as humanity goes to the Moon, Mars and beyond.