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!"

Comments

Re:Makes sense

[Anonymous Coward]

I went to the moon without leaving Earth, and it didn't require any permit. I think it did require some papers, though.

Of Course You Do

[fyrie]

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.

Re:Irrelevant.

[arth1]

There's no prison on the moon. Wait, don't give them ideas for a Guantanamo 2...

Re:History repeats itself

[Adriax]

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?

Returning?

[Tatarize]

That's why the faked the moon landings. They didn't want to do the paperwork.

Catch me if you can..

[Plutonite]

..you SUCKERS! If I want to launch myself into orbital demise from my own private property then I will, fascists.

My first reaction:

[kestasjk]

My first reaction was "This is a strange question for Ask Slashdot"

Old fishing joke

[Dogtanian]

I went to the moon without leaving Earth, and it didn't require any permit. I think it did require some papers, though. Official: Excuse me sir, but did you know that you need a permit to land on the moon?
Astronaut: Thanks for the advice, but I think I'd be better off using a rocket.