Is the Moon American?

Question

I am happy, and a little bit frightened, to see that I may have started an avalanche about Man on the Moon. Does planting the Stars and Stripes on this piece of rock mean that the US own every right to e.g. sell me a cold beer, should I pass by some day?

Like Sputnik, like Jurij Gagarin, the landing on the Moon was felt by anybody excactly as Neill Armstrong said: One great step for Humanity.

Answer 1

Yes. The red craters are Republican and the blue craters are Democrat. There are no other colors of craters.

Astronauts who land in one color of crater will hate the astronauts who land in the other color of crater because Rush Limbaugh and Al Francken have told them to hate each other.

I'll be in a crevice between two of the biggest craters. I'll be in one of those inflatable environmental chambers. There'll be a wet bar, live jazz, lots of smart, young , decent people who are more into friendship than hate. Look closely, you won't see us on any lunar map.

Stop in, the first one is on the house!

Answer 2

The outer space treaty explicitly forbids any government from claiming a celestial resource such as the Moon or a planet. The US has signed the outer space treaty.

However, the six US flags on the Moon are there by order of the US congress because there is some chance that it will give the US some legal rights anyway.

This is not to be confused with the Moon treaty, which the US has not signed. The outer space treaty basically says nobody owns the Moon, while the Moon treaty basically says that the combined governments of the Earth own the Moon.

Answer 3

Nope, afraid not. Under the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, aka the Outer Space Treaty, no government can claim a celestial resource (such as the moon or any planet). According to Article II, "outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means....". The Treaty has been signed by most of the nations of the world, including the United States and Russia. Under international law it falls under the legal concept of res communis, meaning it has the same status as say the open sea.

Answer 4

The Moon should be made another country and the Government can be appointed by means of vote participated by all the countries in Earth. As there is a scarcity of space in Earth they may want to shift or move people from Earth, or they can have a Resort in Moon to spend the vacation.

Answer 5

No. Actually there is a treaty between several nations that declares the moon a joint property between them. Included in the treaty are the USA, Japan, France, Korea, Germany, and Russia. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of it at this late hour, but if you look for it you will find it.

Answer 6

The Moon is universal !
The debate is around because the americans put an american flag there .

Betcha 10 bucks that flag says
'Made In China ' !!

Tee Hee

Answer 7

No, it belongs to no one. But we are all coming together from different nations to eventually inhabit there. Also, the USA has a flag there because it was the FIRST country there and it's just marking that the USA has been on the moon. That's all.

Answer 8

Sorry, No Nation can claim any celestial body according to 1967 Treaty.

http://www.state.gov/www/global/arms/treaties/space1.html


TREATY ON PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF STATES IN THE EXPLORATION AND USE OF OUTER SPACE, INCLUDING THE MOON AND OTHER CELESTIAL BODIES

Signed at Washington, London, Moscow, January 27, 1967
Ratification advised by U.S. Senate April 25, 1967
Ratified by U.S. President May 24, 1967
U.S. ratification deposited at Washington, London, and Moscow October 10, 1967
Proclaimed by U.S. President October 10, 1967
Entered into force October 10, 1967

Article I
The exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind.

Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be free for exploration and use by all States without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and in accordance with international law, and there shall be free access to all areas of celestial bodies.

There shall be freedom of scientific investigation in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, and States shall facilitate and encourage international co-operation in such investigation.


Article II
Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.


In the ARTICLE II it clarifies and answers your question.

THOUGH...
Despite it refers to "national appropriation" there nothing mentioned to "individuals".... So, an indoividual can claim any celestial body. There are many who have claimed big areas in the moon, Mars and Venus, as well Galaxies.....Check in the Arhimedes site. In the claims office.

http://www.permanent.com/archimedes

Answer 9

No ...
Several nations have already agreed to the moon being
international property..
Although only english is spoken on the moon...

Answer 10

Its still up for grabs. If you can get up there and build a self supporting settlement you could probably have 200,000 acres to yourself.