A biological and ethical assessment of whether humans could or should reproduce in space

Victor M. Cole; Julian Savulescu; Sebastian E. Illanes; Federico Batiz; Paula Beth Angelica Tiqui Benny; Zhongwei Huang; Sean W.D. Carter; Mahesh A. Choolani; Matthew W. Kemp

doi:10.1038/s41526-025-00535-3

A biological and ethical assessment of whether humans could or should reproduce in space

Victor M. Cole
, Julian Savulescu
, Sebastian E. Illanes
, Federico Batiz
, Paula Beth Angelica Tiqui Benny
, Zhongwei Huang
, Sean W.D. Carter
, Mahesh A. Choolani
, Matthew W. Kemp^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Contemporary plans to establish human habitation on the Earth’s Moon have increased interest in the ability of humans to establish extraterrestrial pregnancies. There is a lack of data to identify if humans could safely reproduce away from the Earth, and even less guidance with regard to whether we should attempt to do so. This work was developed to stimulate investigation into the likely biological and ethical challenges facing the establishment and maintenance of a healthy human extraterrestrial pregnancy.

Original language	English
Article number	80
Pages (from-to)	80
Journal	npj Microgravity
Volume	11
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00535-3
State	Published - Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.1038/s41526-025-00535-3

Cite this

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title = "A biological and ethical assessment of whether humans could or should reproduce in space",

abstract = "Contemporary plans to establish human habitation on the Earth{\textquoteright}s Moon have increased interest in the ability of humans to establish extraterrestrial pregnancies. There is a lack of data to identify if humans could safely reproduce away from the Earth, and even less guidance with regard to whether we should attempt to do so. This work was developed to stimulate investigation into the likely biological and ethical challenges facing the establishment and maintenance of a healthy human extraterrestrial pregnancy.",

author = "Cole, \{Victor M.\} and Julian Savulescu and Illanes, \{Sebastian E.\} and Federico Batiz and Benny, \{Paula Beth Angelica Tiqui\} and Zhongwei Huang and Carter, \{Sean W.D.\} and Choolani, \{Mahesh A.\} and Kemp, \{Matthew W.\}",

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doi = "10.1038/s41526-025-00535-3",

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AU - Cole, Victor M.

AU - Savulescu, Julian

AU - Illanes, Sebastian E.

AU - Batiz, Federico

AU - Benny, Paula Beth Angelica Tiqui

AU - Huang, Zhongwei

AU - Carter, Sean W.D.

AU - Choolani, Mahesh A.

AU - Kemp, Matthew W.

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Contemporary plans to establish human habitation on the Earth’s Moon have increased interest in the ability of humans to establish extraterrestrial pregnancies. There is a lack of data to identify if humans could safely reproduce away from the Earth, and even less guidance with regard to whether we should attempt to do so. This work was developed to stimulate investigation into the likely biological and ethical challenges facing the establishment and maintenance of a healthy human extraterrestrial pregnancy.

AB - Contemporary plans to establish human habitation on the Earth’s Moon have increased interest in the ability of humans to establish extraterrestrial pregnancies. There is a lack of data to identify if humans could safely reproduce away from the Earth, and even less guidance with regard to whether we should attempt to do so. This work was developed to stimulate investigation into the likely biological and ethical challenges facing the establishment and maintenance of a healthy human extraterrestrial pregnancy.

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ER -

A biological and ethical assessment of whether humans could or should reproduce in space

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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