Moon treaty

[badprof]

Hi all,

Another board that I frequent had a question raised recently about a treaty that the Moon would belong to all mankind (like Antartica) and that no preson or nation could own all or part of the Moon. (or other solar system bodies)

I seem to recall something about this from the dim distant past of the 1960's and 70's, but cannot remember if this treaty ever eventuated and if the USA ever signed it.

Can anybody here help the flagging memory?

Cheers

[Tuckerfan]

No cite, but yeah, there is such a treaty and the US, along with most other UN members are signatories to it.

[Squink]

Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (http://www.state.gov/t/ac/trt/5181.htm)
It's usually just called the "Outer Space Treaty."


Signed at Washington, London, Moscow, January 27, 1967
Entered into force October 10, 1967

Article I

The exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind.

Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be free for exploration and use by all States without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and in accordance with international law, and there shall be free access to all areas of celestial bodies.

There shall be freedom of scientific investigation in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, and States shall facilitate and encourage international co-operation in such investigation.
The US is a signatory, at least until our star wars program heats up again.

[Doodler]

It was a feel good move to begin with. As if any nation with any shred of interest in its own best interests would voluntarily tie one hand behind its back.

[ToSeek]

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, quoted above, is ambiguous on the notion of private property in space, with weasel phrases like "for the benefit of all mankind." It has been signed by the US and other major countries.

There is also a 1979 Moon Treaty (http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/SpaceLaw/moontxt.htm), which addresses the notion of private property by all but eliminating the possibility of any such thing. It has not been signed by the US or (so far as I recall) any other major spacefaring nation.

[Kesh]

Which is why I get annoyed with these scams trying to sell you property on the moon, or let you pay to name a star after your loved one. *******s.

[ToSeek]

Space - the property hotspot (http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=852952004)


Advocates of space development - who have long fought for clarity on the issue of who owns what - have been buoyed by a recommendation on the subject by the Commission on Moon, Mars and Beyond, set up by George Bush, the United States president.

The commission says 37 years of legal limbo is limiting the incentive for extraterrestrial enterprise, exploration and the quest for cleaner forms of energy. "Potentially, this uncertainty could strangle a nascent space-based industry in its cradle," it warned.

The declaration has animated those arguing for regulation of extraterrestrial property.

George Whitesides, the director of the National Space Society, said yesterday: "The right to own property has historically underpinned the exploration and opening of many other frontiers, so there is ample empirical evidence that property rights will be one of the critical enablers to doing the same in space."

With hundreds of private and government-led space missions in existence, the calls for controls are growing. Mr Whitesides said ground rules should be drawn up, now that the possibility of manned travel to other planets is on the agenda.

[ToSeek]

Writing the rules to govern the cosmos (http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0804/p15s02-stss.html)



Where mankind may go, lawyers are quick to follow - and futuristic as it may seem, some are busily writing the laws they hope will ultimately govern the universe.

[sarongsong]

The development of space law will be most interesting in light of the preponderance of maritime law in today's world, as the gold-fringed flag in every U.S. courtroom attests.
Lucrative endeavor:
"...The Lunar Embassy...has sold 410 million acres on the moon and properties on Mars, Venus and one of the moons of Jupiter to nearly 2.5 million people around the world...for $19.99 an acre, not including the $1.50 lunar tax..."
http://tinyurl.com/4xyfk
"...Former presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter and actors Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise and John Travolta are among those who have purchased moon property..."
http://tinyurl.com/63baa