Does NASA have the right to launch a missile to the moon?

Question

I saw a couple articles about this, and the blast will be bright enough to see with the naked eye. My question is if they are sure that the blast will not affect anything, including the lunar orbital path, the atmosphere of the moon, or even its ecological impact on our earth as a factor of the amount of natural resources it will take to send it out there. Is there actually a UN council set up to approve NASA's actions?

http://www.geekologie.com/2006/04/nasa_moon_missile_probe.php

I saw a couple articles about this, and the blast will be bright enough to see with the naked eye. My question is if they are sure that the blast will not affect anything, including the lunar orbital path, the atmosphere of the moon, or even its ecological impact on our earth as a factor of the amount of natural resources it will take to send it out there. Is there actually a UN council set up to approve NASA's actions?

http://www.geekologie.com/2006/04/nasa_m...

In an interesting side note, China is sending its first man to the moon within about a year of this event.

Answer 1

There is an international UN treaty regarding the use of space, the moon and planets.

But not all nations signed it.

You can read about it at the link below:

Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies

http://www.state.gov/t/ac/trt/5181.htm



Nobody actually 'owns' the moon, so anyone who can arrange to get there may do so if they wish.

As for effecting the ecology of the Earth or changing the orbit of the moon in any perceptible way, those concerns are closer to science fantasy than reality.

We can't damage the moon's atmosphere because the moon has no atmosphere - it's a nearly total vacuum, like in space.

There's very little we can do at present to 'harm' the moon in any serious way.

The moon is like a small planet that is 100 percent desert, no air, and temperatures that would boil water in the sun and shadows so cold that you would freeze to the bone in seconds. We couldn't do much to make it any more hostile an environment than it already is.

Nothing to worry about.

Answer 2

The moon won't care, its just another crater.

Its not an actual explosive device. The probe they are launching is a solid metal projectile launched at high speeds.

It will only make a football field sized crater so i doubt it will do any REAL damage. So its really no different from a meteor hitting the moon (which happens a lot)

Answer 3

Is this a serious question?

The notion that a visible fireball explosion could manifest itself in the vacuum of space is derisory.

But to answer your question, Yes- NASA owns the moon, silly... They can shoot rockets at it whenever they want!!! sheesh.

Answer 4

Oh don't believe everything you hear and read.

Answer 5

no