Capitalize the Moon

The Space Review ^ | 01/31/05 | Sam Dinkin

[KevinDavis]

The way we think about the Moon and the amount of money we are willing to invest in the Moon are tied up in how it appears in writing and how we emphasize it when talking. A capitalized Moon is rising. The Moon needs to move beyond the timid exploration we first saw in Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon in 1865 and remain saddled with 140 years later. Once the Moon is redefined as a place to enjoy and not just to explore, the money will follow with a capital M. As we change how we think about the Moon, and look forward to what the Moon will comprise, specific opportunities for capitalization will become clear.

No one can go to see the first footprint of the Pilgrims. There is no way to see the first footprint of Columbus in the New World. The first human footsteps in Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America go unrecorded. Nathaniel Palmer’s first step onto Antarctica in 1821 is lost. That is not the case on the Moon. At Tranquility Base, everything is pretty much the way Neil and Buzz left it in 1969. That might make an excellent tourist attraction.

[KevinDavis]

I agree but we need to withdrawl from the UN Space Treaty.

[KevinDavis]

[Coyoteman]

I agree but we need to withdrawl [sic] from the UN Space Treaty.

We withdrew from the ABM treaty!

[KevinDavis]

I'm talking about the 1967 UN Space Treaty..

[DoughtyOne]

SECOND!

[Army Air Corps]

The UN, eh? Isn't that that quaint debating society in NYC? Their only concern will be how much money they can siphon off of the enterprise into their own sieve-like coffers.

[KevinDavis]

Yep....

[Coyoteman]

You wrote: I agree but we need to withdrawl from the UN Space Treaty.

I replied: We withdrew from the ABM treaty!

And you replied: I'm talking about the 1967 UN Space Treaty...

Lets try again!

A precedent has been set (under George Bush) by withdrawing from the ABM Treaty. That effort should support withdrawal from the UN Space Treaty.

Now, is there a problem with my comment?

[mhx]

We should move the UN to the Moon.

[Army Air Corps]

"We should move the UN to the Moon"

Now, why would you want to screw-up a perfectly good moon? :-). Mercury or Venus get my vote for the new UN HQ.

[KevinDavis]

DOH!!! There is an effort to have us withdrawl from the UN Space Treay!! The site is at: http://kevincdavis.net/AntiUn/index.htm

[KevinDavis]

Naw.. Uranus would be a better choice..

[womcg]

Withdraw from it, work around it, but let's get going! Where's RAH when we need him!!

[Centurion2000]

Naw.. Uranus would be a better choice..

That would be a tight fit.

[RightWhale]

is there a problem with my comment?

Treaties come with withdrawal clauses. It is not necessary for any further Congressional action to be done, the President can initiate the withdrawal process.

However, withdrawal from the Treaty is only one step. The real issue is private property rights. Until there are private property rights to celestial resources, there will be essentially no private investment in outer space development. The President's Commission report says that.