Orbdev claims to "own" asteroid, sues NASA

This is about the most ridiculous thing I've heard (Orbdev Files US Federal Suit Over Asteroid Claim [links are totally slashdotted]). Some guy is claiming that he owns the asteroid that the spacecraft NEAR landed on and is charging NASA $20 to allow the defunct spacecraft to remain there. What a load of shit. Have I mentioned that I find space law as interesting (if not more so) as cyberlaw?

All I'll do here is repeat treaty language (to which Orbdev is bound as a non-governmental organization that works under the auspices of a treaty-bound nation).

Read on for specific snipets of treaty language from the AGREEMENT GOVERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF STATES ON THE MOON AND OTHER CELESTIAL BODIES (1979)

This means, even if this guy was the first to go to said asteroid, he wouldn't have a valid property claim... and all this guy did was point at the asteroid and say, "See that one? That's mine."

AGREEMENT GOVERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF STATES ON THE MOON AND OTHER CELESTIAL BODIES (1979)

Article 1

1. The provisions of this Agreement relating to the moon shall also apply
to other celestial bodies within the solar system, other than the earth,
except in so far as specific legal norms enter into force with respect to
any of these celestial bodies.

[...]

Article 11

[...]

3. Neither the surface nor the subsurface of the moon, nor any part
thereof or natural resources in place, shall become property of any
State, international intergovernmental or non-governmental organization,
national organization or non-governmental entity or of any natural
person. The placement of personnel, space vehicles, equipment,
facilities, stations and installations on or below the surface of the
moon, including structures connected with its surface or subsurface,
shall not create a right of ownership over the surface or the subsurface
of the moon or any areas thereof. The foregoing provisions are without
prejudice to the international rgime referred to in paragraph 5 of this
article.

Posted by joebeone at Noviembre 13, 2003 09:02 AM