'My Auntie Mabel told me I'd make a great soldier, though I don't know how 30 years working in a biscuit factory had qualified her to make that judgement.....' Eddie Nugent
Definitely a sticky wicket. Here's a quote from the 'Outer Space Treaty' ...
Experts of international space law state that the Moon falls under the legal concept of res communis, which means that it belongs to a group of people, and may be used by every member of the group, but cannot be appropriated by anyone (the concept is also applied to International Waters). The effect of the Outer Space Treaty is to restrict control of private property rights, in the way that the law of the sea prevents anyone owning the sea. This is often disputed by those who claim the ability to sell property rights on the Moon and other bodies, but the dispute has never been tested in a court of law.
Speaking of a Lunar base as the starting point for a mission to Mars, it looks like Charles Chilton was way ahead of his time. Anyone remember "Journey Into Space" on the BBC Light Programme? (now Radio 2, I think)
Ignore the towels, soap and shower hats....nick the space suits...
Derek
'My Auntie Mabel told me I'd make a great soldier, though I don't know how 30 years working in a biscuit factory had qualified her to make that judgement.....' Eddie Nugent