Who Owns the Moon?
Who Owns the Moon?
Who Owns the Moon? I started thinking about this question after a forum post and thought I would try and answer once and for all who owns the moon and why. Many people have claimed moon ownership and many people think different people own part of the moon, I have a poll a bit further down asking people who they think owns the moon.
Some claim the U.S.A own the moon as on July 20th, 1969 an American flag was planted into the moon on the first moon landing. Some claim we all own the moon, or that no one owns it, and there is even one entrepreneur called Dennis Hope who has been selling lunar property for years selling 1 acre plots on the Moon for about $20-35 and you get a personalised deed, photo of your lunar land and an information sheet.
Dennis Hope and the Galactic Government
Dennis Hope first claimed he owned the Moon in 1980 when he registered his claim to the UN and he got no reply so he figured he had secured the rights to the Moon. He then started selling rights to the Moon including the minerals in it like Helium-3 a very expensive mineral that scientists think could be a new renewable energy source.
Hope has even set up his own Galactic government which does not abide by UN rules meaning he can claim ownership of the moon despite the fact the UN said the treaty prohibits countries from claiming property in Space.
Space experts and countries still did not recognise Hope's Moon rights and the President of International Space Law Tanja Masson-Zwann says "What Lunar Embassy is doing does not give people buying pieces of paper the right to ownership of the moon."
Whether you actually can claim part of the moon buying through Hope's website is a difficult question to answer, but it sounds good, makes a lovely present, you get a photo and whenever you see the Moon you can say you own it. I would say that you can't really buy or sell the Moon, we all own it as much as each other!
Even if it would not stand up in a court, it is a nice gift and you do get some extras like a map with your piece of the moon on it, a certificate and more!
If you want to buy a piece of the Moon or other lunar property then below is the place to go!
Mankind Owns the Moon and So Does The Guy Who Owns the Sun!
At the end of the day, no-one owns the Moon and I am sure that is what most people will agree and I congratulate Mr Hope for making so much money from basically fancy bits of paper! That does not mean noone can profit from the moon and I am sure that the first people who settle their will claim ownership.
When Neil Armstrong arrived on the Moon he claimed the Moon for mankind and the flag just represents the U.S.A got to the Moon first!
"We came in peace for all mankind"
