As humanity moves toward permanent settlements beyond Earth, reproduction becomes unavoidable. While space research already supports progress on Earth in agriculture, medicine, and technology, sustainable life off-planet will require the ability to conceive and raise children in challenging conditions. To date, no conception has occurred in orbit, and systematic research into reproduction under microgravity and radiation exposure remains limited.

Space poses unique obstacles: partial and microgravity affect physiological processes, radiation increases genetic risks, and environmental stresses such as disrupted circadian rhythms may interfere with fertility and pregnancy. Very little is known about how reproductive organs, embryos, and childbirth would be influenced by these factors. Addressing these knowledge gaps requires interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Space Reproduction Roadmap Consortium is being developed to create a coordinated and ethically grounded approach to research human reproduction in space and integrate existing research and related roadmaps. The consortium aims to realize this goal through a series of international symposia, where subject matter experts from multiple fields contribute to a practical roadmap for the global research community.