Section 14: Space Ethics & Dual-Use Impact

Overview

Space is not a blank canvas—it’s a mirror reflecting Earth’s values, ambitions, and fears. As spacetech founders build tools that can be used for both planetary good and harm, they must think proactively about ethics, dual-use consequences, and public trust. This section helps leaders design for long-term integrity.

Part 1: Understanding Dual-Use Risk

Definition: Dual-use technologies are those with both civilian and military (or surveillance) applications.

Examples:

• Earth observation used for agriculture → also used for missile targeting

• Autonomy in orbital logistics → also used for kinetic defense

• On-orbit manufacturing → also used for weapon component assembly

Tool: Dual-Use Risk Spectrum

TechCivil UseMilitary UseSensitivity Level

Exercise: Classify your core tech and adjacent applications using the spectrum.

Part 2: Ethical Foresight Framework

Purpose: Proactively anticipate the consequences—intended and unintended—of your technology.

Framework: Ethical Risk Canvas

• Intended Use:

• Possible Abuses:

• Who Benefits?

• Who Might Be Harmed?

• Time Horizon of Risk:

• Mitigation Pathways:

Prompt: What happens if this technology is used at scale by actors we don’t control?

Part 3: Building Public Trust

Tactics:

• Transparent communication on intended use and controls

• Publish dual-use disclosures in public materials

• Seek stakeholder input early (scientific, public, indigenous, etc.)

• Contribute to open-source ethics frameworks (e.g. Space Sustainability, Open Lunar)

Tool: Trust Design Checklist (Coming Soon)

Part 4: Governance, Compliance & Guardrails

Strategy: Use legal, technical, and cultural tools to avoid harmful use.

Resources:

• Open-source license templates with use restrictions

• Internal ethics review committee guide

• Export classification & government review pathways

Tip: Consider building a “kill switch” or audit log system into autonomous tools.

Tool: Guardrail Builder Canvas

RiskGuardrailOwnerEnforcement Mechanism

Part 5: Mission Integrity & Brand Strategy

Why It Matters: Trust is an accelerant—and a moat.

Exercise: Ethical Brand Narrative

• Our values: __________

• Our red lines: __________

• How we build with integrity: __________

• The future we want to enable: __________

Prompt: If your company becomes famous, what do you want it to be known for?

Part 6: Founder’s Ethical Compass

Reflection Questions:

• What future am I enabling—not just what product am I building?

• What power am I concentrating—and in whose hands?

• What story will I tell my grandchildren about this work?