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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Nicola Davis Science correspondent

End ‘colonial’ approach to space exploration, scientists urge

The Milky Way From A Ratnapura Mountain, Sri Lank
Humans should endeavour to be ‘gentle explorers’ of space. Pictured: the Milky Way. Photograph: Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

Humans boldly going into space should echo the guiding principle of Captain Kirk’s Star Trek crew by resisting the urge to interfere, researchers have said, stressing a need to end a colonial approach to exploration.

Nasa has made no secret of its desire to mine the moon for metals, with China also keen to extract lunar resources – a situation that has been called a new space race.

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