Footer 1

Nav Bar

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Member-exclusive 

You’ve run out of free articles. Get unlimited, ad-free access—now 25% off for Back to School. Ends tonight! 

Join to continue reading

Exclusive Social Sale: 25% off&nbsp;for new customers that came in from a social platform. September only.&nbsp; “One magazine has risen above its old school competitors to become&nbsp; the coolest science journal in the world.”&nbsp;—Europa Content.&nbsp;

Unlock this story + our newsletter, for FREE! Already a newsletter subscriber? Just click the "Log in" link above. 

Register to continue reading.

Nautilus

Karryl Kim Sagun Trajano is a Research Fellow for Future Issues and Technology at Nanyang Technological University.

Karryl Kim Sagun Trajano

Dayana Alagirova is a Ph.D. Student in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Dayana Alagirova

Margaret E. Kosal is a Professor of International Affairs at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Dayana Alagirova

Many Space Missions Are Searching for Life Beyond Earth—But Are We Prepared for the Fallout If They Succeed?