Monday, November 27, 2006
Legalize off earth land ownership!
I wish I could cut the title of this blog entry down to something that could fit on a bumper sticker, 'cause it's important. It's a "tragedy of the commons" problem writ large.Seen on Selenian Boondocks:
- If the concept of ownership on the moon was settled, finally, then they'd go and prospect in the hopes of finding something salable. However, with neither a guaranteed product or a guaranteed legal environment, then no business is going to the Moon any time soon. And without going to the Moon to deal with a product coming back to Earth, then there isn't much market for anyone doing manned space in LEO or above.
The US government MUST publically state that they will recognise land claims on the Moon up to a certain size if companies go there and bring back samples to be assayed and recorded. They must do it irregardless of existing treaties and they must do it pretty soon, if any of us is to be alive the next time some one goes to the Moon. If business is going to take risks, they MUST be assured of a right to make profits if those risks pan out.
At the moment, the only money made in space is from sending things there and getting pretty much the same things back home. We don't actually do anything there or make anything there or bring anything back from there that makes real money in and of itself. Unless that changes, government space agencies will be the only real game in town.
