The Case for Lunar Property Rights

longacre writes "Who owns the moon? In a thought provoking piece, Instapundit blogger/law professor Glenn Reynolds gives us a brief history of earthlings' discourse on lunar property rights, a topic which has stagnated since the 1979 Moon Treaty. Is it possible to claim good title on land that is not under the dominion of a nation? He goes on to plead his case for the creation of lunar real estate legislation. From the article: 'Property rights attract private capital and, with government space programs stagnating, a lunar land rush may be just what we need to get things going again.'"

Comments

Heinlein

[Etherwalk]

This is a Heinlein question--read The Man Who Sold the Moon, he has a lot of fun with it.

Re:location, location, location

[cronius]

So what can you do on the Moon that would make it so fabulously valuable? Beats me. The only unique resources the Moon has (exceedingly low temperatures in the shade, unbelievably good vacuum) you can also get in orbit, where you don't have to worry about any gravity at all, and can build eight-mile wide factories out of gossamer and shoe strings, if you want.
Helium-3. Lots on the moon, little on Earth. Can be used to build fusion reactors.

http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/041126084122.6pp9f0wx.html

"The moon contains 10 times more energy in the form of Helium 3 than all the fossil fuels on the earth," Kalam said.