Re:US Set to Approve Private Moon Mission
by gnu8 on Monday June 06, 2016 @12:11AM
(#11844602)
In other words, the United States and the Soviet Union along with a few insignificant states to lend a plurality got together and granted a monopoly on space exploration to nation-states.
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Re:US Set to Approve Private Moon Mission
by JumpCrisscross on Monday June 06, 2016 @01:11AM
(#11844793)
> the United States and the Soviet Union along with a few insignificant states to lend a plurality got together and granted a monopoly on space exploration to nation-states.
International conventions require ships in international waters be flagged. This comes in handy when e.g. a ship needs help or causes trouble. I don't see the extension of this principle to spaceflight as being unreasonable. If Bezos's bird comes down on my house, I'd prefer there exist a venue in which to sue him.
Re:US Set to Approve Private Moon Mission
by jessaustin on Monday June 06, 2016 @05:58AM
(#11845601)
If Bezos's bird comes down on my house, I'd prefer there exist a venue in which to sue him.
This doesn't seem to have much to do with outer space treaties, unless perhaps your house is on the moon. Assuming that isn't the case, your house is protected by the laws of the nation in which it is located, and perhaps those of other nations as well.
Re:US Set to Approve Private Moon Mission
by schrodinger on Monday June 06, 2016 @06:54AM
(#11845797)
Presumably to get to space you still have to take off from somewhere on the planet, no?
Re:US Set to Approve Private Moon Mission
by Bluestrike2 on Monday June 06, 2016 @07:50AM
(#11846036)
Existing legal frameworks would suffice for pretty much anything in-atmosphere. The fact that the rocket is heading into space is largely irrelevant.
It would be amusing if a Liberian flagged space ship was the first to land people on Mars.
There's an honest-to-goodness Congolese space program.
https://www.vice.com/read/hows-the-congolese-space-program-d...
Re:US Set to Approve Private Moon Mission
by function_seven on Monday June 06, 2016 @02:59AM
(#11845106)
Doubly-so, if they used feet, inches, °F, and pounds to do so! It would prove the superiority of our great measurement units :)
I don't think they are "yours", but more so an anachronism from your colonial days ;)
Re:US Set to Approve Private Moon Mission
by function_seven on Monday June 06, 2016 @02:01PM
(#11848828)
Well shit, nobody else seems to want 'em, so they're "ours" now.
Re:US Set to Approve Private Moon Mission
by nameless912 on Monday June 06, 2016 @06:51PM
(#11851135)
To add onto this: I know the movie "Gravity" was just a bit of an exaggeration, but a situation whereby two different satellites are competing for the same spot in the sky and collide or otherwise negatively interact with each other is totally possible. If nothing else, there should probably be some international governance when it comes to orbits, positioning, and mission planning to make sure no one interferes with each other.
There's no requirement for state parties to sign up to the treaty. In effect there's no difference between each signatory implementing national laws independently from the treaty or implementing them because they're required to under the treaty. It's voluntary to join up. If the holy see, which hasn't ratified the treaty, wants to launch nuclear weapons from the Vatican then they're entirely welcome to do so. I'm sure there'll be objections from other avenues but this treaty is not one of them.