Abstract EANA2026-255

The search for life in the Solar System has advanced significantly over the past few decades. Robotic space missions have now discovered potential biosignatures on multiple worlds, from our rusty red neighbor Mars to the frigid moon Enceladus. If there is life in the Solar System, it is very possible that future investigations could find it within our lifetimes. But what happens then?

In this presentation, we make the case that an international astrobiology treaty is needed to guide state and corporate actions in the aftermath of the monumental discovery of extraterrestrial life. First, we outline why astrobiological exploration would benefit from an international treaty. Humanity’s presence in space and our impacts on extraterrestrial environments are changing rapidly, necessitating a preemptive foundation for guiding what should happen if extraterrestrial life were to be discovered. Establishing what actions to take beforehand will facilitate the process of handling alien life with the kind of care and respect that will seek to maximize both its wellbeing and our own. Second, we analyze deficiencies in current outer space treaties with regard to the potential discovery of life beyond Earth. So far, no widely adopted treaty clearly outlines robust and well-informed actions regarding the treatment of extraterrestrial life. Third, we introduce a fully drafted treaty that could form the basis for an international astrobiology treaty. This treaty would, among other things, establish an international “life in space” committee to oversee international partnerships, outline quarantine and transportation procedures for extraterrestrial life, and prioritize the safety of Earth’s biomes while respecting alien life in its indigenous habitat.