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Do You Need a Permit to Land on the Moon?
Billosaur writes "With the recent announcement of Google's X-prize for a successful private landing of a robot on the Moon, someone has asked the Explainer at Slate.com if permission is required to land something on the Moon? Turns out that while there is no authority that regulates landing objects on another world, getting there does require the permission of the national government from where the launch takes place. This is in accordance with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, signed by 91 nations, which regulates the uses of outer space by the nations of Earth. Specifically, Article VI enjoins: 'The activities of non-governmental entities in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party to the Treaty.' Start your paperwork!" J adds: The relevant quote from Destination Moon is "If we ask for permission, they'll find a way to block us. So we go now, as soon as we can!"
I went to the moon without leaving Earth, and it didn't require any permit. I think it did require some papers, though.
My question is, once you're there, who's going to come up to arrest you?
I need a permit to build a fence in my yard (in the US), so I can only extrapolate that legal requirement to landing on the moon.
There's no prison on the moon. Wait, don't give them ideas for a Guantanamo 2...
Think of columbus?
So, instead of reaching the moon, they'll end up landing on some completely unknown stellar body in between the earth and the moon. There they'll meet the indigenous population and name them after the stellar body they think they've landed on. Moonians? Moonites?
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!
That's why the faked the moon landings. They didn't want to do the paperwork.
It is no longer uncommon to be uncommon.
Because might makes right, or at least makes right irrelevant.
Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.
Sealand, ha ha. The whole thing would fall apart if you used a tiny firework on it. Not really, but the image that conjure amuses me.
..you SUCKERS! If I want to launch myself into orbital demise from my own private property then I will, fascists.
My first reaction was "This is a strange question for Ask Slashdot"
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You were planning on returning?
Hell I ain't returnin'. It's my god damn property, I found it, I built it up, I'm keepin' it.
And don't you try and send any spaceships with tea 'cause I'm gonna wreck 'em with my bare hands, you good for nothing imperialists!
You obviously haven't watched James Bond enough. You just have to make the launch platform submersible!
(get your own laywer)
And while you're at it, after you have been granted permission, do the world a favor and send him along for the ride.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the light cone.
Astronaut: Thanks for the advice, but I think I'd be better off using a rocket.
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Just goes to show... For every person seeking to push the edge of human achievement, there will be 1000 bureaucrats and lawyers trying to stop it, or at least make the journey fraught with red tape and roadblocks.
If legal bureaucracy had been around in Biblical times, Moses would have needed to get a permit and do an environmental impact study to part the Red Sea.
Software sucks. Open Source sucks less.
If they do that, I'm renouncing my US citizenship, moving to afghanistan, joining al aqeda, and surrendering to the nearest US army base. Free trip to the moon + free prayer rug = win.