Abstract

As we embark on missions like NASA’s Europa Clipper and Enceladus Orbilander, ESA’s JUICE, and China’s Tianwen 4, we stand on the edge of potentially groundbreaking discoveries: finding life beyond Earth. In our study, we examine the complexities surrounding the discovery of microbial extraterrestrial life and how current space laws and policies might stand up to this groundbreaking event. It is not just about science but how this discovery might change how nation-states work together or challenge the existing global order, international norms, and geopolitics. Drawing lessons from past and present competitive and cooperative ventures, we establish an analytical framework that is then used to assess hypothetical scenarios of different international political and governance responses to the discovery of extraterrestrial life. As our research reveals, the geopolitical complexities raised by the potential discovery of alien microbial life underscore the urgency of re-evaluating governance models. The profound questions around sovereignty, stewardship, and legal uncertainties necessitate an examination of the existing legal frameworks and cooperative mechanisms. Our study delves into how international space law, global politics, and the broader implications of extraterrestrial discoveries intersect to expose critical gaps in our preparedness. Our study offers strategic recommendations for fostering effective international partnerships to explore and understand space exploration, planetary science, and astrobiology.

About the Speaker

Dr Margaret E Kosal is a Full Professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she serves as Director of Graduate Studies, Director of the Georgia Tech Military Fellows Program, and Director of the Policy and Politics of Emerging Science and Technology Initiative. Formally trained as an experimental scientist, Dr. Kosal earned a doctoral degree in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She is also the co-founder of a sensor company, where she led the research and development of biological and chemical weapons detectors, as well as biomedical sensors. Dr. Kosal has served as a Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, as Science and Technology Advisor within the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and as Senior Fellow at the US Department of Energy’s Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL). She is also an elected Honorary Lifetime Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and a Senior Associate Fellow at UK’s Royal Uniformed Services Institute (RUSI). She is the author of numerous publications including Disruptive and Game Changing Technologies in Modern Warfare: Development, Use, and Proliferation, which was recognized by NATO as a Top Book of 2021. Additionally, Dr. Kosal served as Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Politics and the Life Sciences.