AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS — JULY 2026 — The Space Reproduction Roadmap Consortium (SRRC) today announced the publication of its first white paper, Towards a Community Roadmap for Future Human Reproduction Beyond Earth. Developed through an international, interdisciplinary collaboration, the publication marks an important milestone in the effort to build a coordinated research roadmap for one of the most fundamental challenges of long-term human presence beyond Earth: the ability to safely reproduce in space.
The white paper captures the outcomes of the inaugural SRRC Symposium, which brought together 40 experts from reproductive medicine, developmental biology, space life sciences, space technology, ethics, law, governance, entrepreneurship, and policy. The online event took place on September 26th and 28th, 2025. The white paper marks the beginning of a coordinated international effort to advance human reproduction in space. It captures the first insights and recommendations developed by the SRRC expert community and will help guide future roadmap development.
Why space reproduction matters
As human spaceflight moves from short missions toward longer stays on the Moon, Mars, and commercial space stations, a new biological question comes into focus. Temporary crews can return to Earth, but truly permanent or multi-generational settlements require people to form families, have children, and support healthy development beyond our planet. Yet no human conception, pregnancy, or birth has ever taken place in space, and uncertainties remain about how altered gravity, cosmic radiation, isolation, stress, nutrition, and closed spacecraft environments may affect fertility, embryonic development, pregnancy, childbirth, and early life. If humanity is serious about living beyond Earth, these questions can no longer be avoided.
Building the Roadmap
The white paper identifies key research priorities and strategic considerations across four interconnected domains. Together, these domains form the foundation of a structured framework for future roadmap development:
- Biomedical Science
- Space Technology
- Ethics & Legal
- Space Business & Geopolitics
“The publication of this white paper represents an important transition from isolated discussions toward a coordinated international effort,” said Egbert Edelbroek, founder of SpaceBorn United and initiator of the SRRC. “The objective is not to predict exactly how or when human reproduction beyond Earth will become possible, but to create a collaborative process through which the global community can responsibly explore the scientific, ethical, technological, and societal questions involved.”
The consortium emphasises that the publication should be viewed as the beginning of a longer journey rather than its conclusion. The roadmap initiative is designed as an open, iterative process that will continue to incorporate new expertise, evidence, and perspectives as the field develops.
The Next Phase of the Roadmap Initiative
Following the white paper publication, SRRC will begin the next phase of roadmap development. This phase aims to expand scientific participation and build broader international support for the roadmap and its long-term objectives. In parallel, SRRC will engage industry stakeholders, investors, philanthropic organisations, and other contributors who help enable future roadmap execution.
Preparations are underway for a second global symposium targeted for early 2027. The event will bring together additional experts, organisations, and potential implementation partners. In parallel, SRRC is preparing local expert workshops designed to engage specific regions and stakeholder communities. This will help identify regional expertise and ensure that roadmap development reflects a broad range of cultural, ethical and societal perspectives.
Building an International Ecosystem
To support this growing international effort, SRRC has also launched its new online platform (www.srrc.space), providing a central hub for roadmap development activities, future events, publications, and stakeholder engagement.
The consortium welcomes participation from researchers, clinicians, engineers, ethicists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, space agencies, commercial space organisations, and other stakeholders interested in contributing to the responsible advancement of human reproduction beyond Earth.
The white paper is available through Zenodo and can be accessed via: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21078931
Further information about the initiative can be found at: www.srrc.space
About the Space Reproduction Roadmap Consortium (SRRC)
The Space Reproduction Roadmap Consortium (SRRC) is an international community-led initiative that initially operates as a scientific think tank, expert network, and roadmap-development platform focused on advancing human reproduction beyond Earth.
The consortium brings together experts from diverse disciplines to identify research priorities, foster collaboration, and support the responsible development of future scientific and technological capabilities in this emerging field.
Media Contact
Dr. Egbert Edelbroek
Founder & CEO, SpaceBorn United — Initiator, Space Reproduction Roadmap Consortium (SRRC)