The study of ecosystems in space—both natural (if extraterrestrial life exists) and artificial (human-made habitats). Space Ecology Theory addresses how life adapts to space environments, how closed ecological systems function, and how human settlements interact with extraterrestrial environments. It draws on Earth ecology, systems theory, and astrobiology to understand the conditions for life beyond Earth—and the responsibilities that come with introducing life to new worlds. Space Ecology Theory raises profound questions: Do we have a duty to preserve pristine extraterrestrial environments? What does it mean to be a multiplanetary species ecologically? How do we create sustainable human ecosystems in places with no ecology of their own?
Space Ecology Theory "Before we terraform Mars, Space Ecology Theory asks: what if Mars has its own ecology, even microbial? Do we have a right to transform it? And if we build closed habitats, how do we make them truly sustainable—not just technically, but ecologically? Ecology in space isn't just science; it's ethics."
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 3, 2026
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