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A better way to promote space settlement in our lifetimes
The Space Review ^ | 09/07/04 | Alan Wasser

Posted on 09/07/2004 7:05:16 PM PDT by KevinDavis

I’d like to commend Sam Dinkin for his excellent recent article (See “US public land policy and applications for the Moon and Mars”, The Space Review, July 26, 2004.) Mr. Dinkin is certainly correct that land ownership could, and should, be “used to pursue the goal of getting settlers to the frontier as quickly as possible to help develop and secure it.” But, unfortunately, there are several serious flaws in his plan to have the US auction off lunar land for it’s own financial benefit.

(Excerpt) Read more at thespacereview.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: space; unspacetreaty
To be quite honest, I don't think we should worry about the UN space treaty. The UN is going down.
1 posted on 09/07/2004 7:05:23 PM PDT by KevinDavis
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To: RightWhale; Brett66; xrp; gdc314; sionnsar; anymouse; RadioAstronomer; NonZeroSum; jimkress; ...

Space Ping! This is the Space Ping List! Let me know if you want on or off this list!


2 posted on 09/07/2004 7:06:18 PM PDT by KevinDavis (Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
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To: KevinDavis

"serious flaws in his plan to have the US auction off lunar land for it’s own financial benefit."

And since WE have spent the money and lives to get there those would be....???????????

Help them out here... those would be????????


3 posted on 09/07/2004 7:14:39 PM PDT by JSteff
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To: KevinDavis
Please add me to your space ping list.

E.S.

4 posted on 09/07/2004 7:27:36 PM PDT by Entropy Squared
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To: KevinDavis
Heinlein said it before (in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress).

The first folks to get to a place and who are able to stand on it and fight successfully, are going to own it.

The League of Nations United Nations (whoever) will have to have spacecraft to say otherwise!

5 posted on 09/07/2004 7:28:51 PM PDT by Coyoteman (I'm an archaeologist. I Work For A Living!)
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To: KevinDavis

The UN Outer Space Treaty actually has nothing to do with the UN. It's just an ordinary treaty.


6 posted on 09/07/2004 7:35:33 PM PDT by RightWhale (Withdraw from the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty and establish property rights)
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To: Coyoteman

That's not how things work. But, there is a way things can work once we get out of that Treaty.


7 posted on 09/07/2004 7:37:47 PM PDT by RightWhale (Withdraw from the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty and establish property rights)
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Bump for later.


8 posted on 09/07/2004 7:45:13 PM PDT by Liberty Tree Surgeon (Buy American, the Nation you save may be your own)
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To: RightWhale
That's not how things work. But, there is a way things can work once we get out of that Treaty.

You may be right, at present. But somebody will figure a way to bust loose from this rock and there will be no way to put Humpty Dumpty back together again!


ps. Whoever does so, please give me a call.

9 posted on 09/07/2004 7:59:55 PM PDT by Coyoteman (I'm an archaeologist. I Work For A Living!)
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The Dinkin-Wasser Discussion has gone too far down the wrong path. Here are a few comments that may or may not clarify the issues:
have the US auction off lunar land for it’s own financial benefit.
First, there is not much chance it could raise revenue for the US.

No reason not to, except for that pesky Treaty.

Among other things, the Outer Space Treaty (and several other international agreements) clearly prohibit any claims of national sovereignty on the Moon or Mars, etc.”
Only the UN Outer Space Treaty has been signed by the US. That Treaty acknowledges sovereignty of every signatory by their act of signing. Such an act of alienation is defective and impossible and acknowledgement of sovereignty should be reasserted immediately.

it has so many good features, like banning nuclear weapons in space.
This is the only good point and even this one is irrelevant.

If we did withdraw and attempted to auction the land, not another nation on Earth would recognize our lunar land deeds as valid.
Other countries do not have to recognize our lunar deeds, but several would do so immediately.

the US still would have no right to that land until and unless it went up and settled it
This is not the basis of ownership by either public or private agency.

To open the space frontier in our lifetime, we must get private enterprise to invest billions in space development
This is true. Investment would be happening now if private ownership existed in space.

a limited (but still very large) claim to lunar land around the base would be legally “recognized” by the US government. Recognition means the government would acquiesce to, or decide not to contest, the claim, but not assume any sovereignty over it.
The State would assert sovereignty. Here is no other basis for private ownership of land.

The other way Congress could provide such an incentive is through establishing a system of recognized property rights in space
Yes, do it now, but do it right, that is, the ordinary way. Do not follow the Dinkin-Wasser plans; do not try to circumvent the Treaty. The Treaty is fundamentally defective and void as it stands. Withdraw from the Treaty and set up a land office for registration of private claims following the usual custom of three prerequisites.

10 posted on 09/07/2004 9:29:12 PM PDT by RightWhale (Withdraw from the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty and establish property rights)
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