Whether you’ve dreamed of building a small settlement on the moon or you’re planning your next vacation, you may be wondering if you can actually own property on the moon. The truth is, the Galactic government doesn’t own the land. In fact, the International treaties say that no nation can “own” celestial bodies.
Legality of owning land on the moon
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Despite the fact that the United States is getting ready to send a crew to the Moon, the legality of owning land on the Moon remains an open question. According to the Outer Space Treaty, no country or private entity can claim ownership of the Moon. However, there are loopholes in the law that allow private individuals to acquire ownership of celestial land.
The Outer Space Treaty was signed two years before the United States’ first landing on the Moon. The treaty states that nations can use celestial bodies for peaceful purposes. However, it also bars the placement of military bases on celestial bodies.
The Outer Space Treaty hasn’t stopped the various nations’ claims to own the Moon. In fact, several have begun to pursue their own claims to the Moon’s real estate.
Galactic government doesn’t own the land
Despite what one might think, the Galactic government actually doesn’t own the moon. That honor goes to a group of astronauts who spent an epic 6 months on the lunar surface. The one major problem is that the galactic authorities have been confined to the lunar surface since 2009. The good news is that the space program is slated to return in early 2010. It’s an exciting time. The moon is littered with moon rocks and as many as a dozen or so lunar colonies. The requisite technology and science know-how are at the ready to ensure that a lunar landing is the first timer a femae astronaut can say bon voyage.
The biggest challenge is that some astronauts are still a bit weary of the lunar surface. The lunar orbit is an ideal environment to experiment with space technologies and develop a plethora of space colonies.
International treaties say no nation can ‘own’ celestial bodies
Regardless of whether a nation has signed a treaty or not, the Moon and other celestial bodies are considered res nullius, meaning there is no law that says they are owned by a country. However, treaties do state that countries should be allowed to explore and use these celestial bodies for peaceful purposes.
For example, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty states that no nation can claim sovereignty over the moon or other celestial bodies. It also prohibits nations from placing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in outer space, as well as stationing military bases and weapons on celestial bodies.
Another treaty, known as the Moon Treaty, states that celestial bodies are a “common heritage of mankind.” This means that no country has the right to claim sovereignty over the moon or other celestial objects.
Cost to build a settlement on the moon
Creating a permanent settlement on the Moon is not an easy task. In fact, the cost to build a settlement on the Moon could be trillions of dollars over the next few decades.
The cost to Build property on moon will depend on several factors. The first is the location of the settlement. In order to create a settlement that is permanent, the location will have to be a safe one. It must also be located in an area that will provide benefits such as solar energy and radiation protection. In addition, the colonists will need to grow food in lunar soil and recycle water.
A second factor is the cost of transportation. While the cost to transport a kilogram of material from Earth to the Moon is only $10,000, the cost to transport a kilogram of material to Mars can reach six-digit numbers. That means that a lunar settlement would need to be built with a larger cargo capacity.
Whether or not you can buy land on the moon
Whether or not you can buy land on the moon to build property is still an open question. A few social media users have claimed to have purchased lunar property, but it is highly doubtful that anyone will be able to actually own an acre of the Moon.
Nevertheless, the Outer Space Treaty has done its part in governing outer space. The treaty states that no nation may claim the Moon as their own. It also forbids nations from contaminating celestial bodies and weapon testing. It is the basis for international space law.
On the other hand, there are plenty of loopholes in the legal code that allow private individuals to claim ownership of celestial bodies. Using the space-related laws and regulations that the UN has enshrined in its space law treaties, a few individuals have sprung up offering schemes to buy celestial bodies.
