2006-09-06 14:30:32 · 7 answers · asked by Double Bubble 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Rough and dirty answer:
No law in space. That being said, yes, there's law in space. Space (anything beyond the Earth's atmosphere) is international domain. Only international laws apply. So only the Hague would be able to try you. One big rub: International authorities would have to get you first, and space is BIG! On the other hand, they whouldn't have to try you, the international community could just as easily leave you in space rotting away. Space is big and EMPTY after all...
2006-09-06 14:37:54 · answer #1 · answered by mindar76 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Space law is a vast field with many international treaties, university degrees in the subject, and continuing work on all phases of living, working, and commiting crimes in space. See the sources for some of the treaties involved.
As for your specific question, there are as yet no specific agreements there. See the third source for a novel about murder in space. The thing is that you wouldn't get very far, everyone would know who did it, and the country of the person you murdered would probably go after you--or just throw you out the door and into instant dry-freeze and oblivion. Even if you were Bill Gates, you couldn't get very far away, so you'd be stuck.
2006-09-06 14:49:03 · answer #2 · answered by Pandak 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course there are laws in space. Haven't you ever heard of
the Space Police? They fly around in little Space Copters
enforcing the law. No law about going to space - a lot of my
friends do it all day long. If you killed me in space, my alien
soul brothers would track you down and poke your eyes out,
tie your weenie in a knot and flush you down that big space
toilet in the sky.
2006-09-06 14:49:21 · answer #3 · answered by wallyinsa 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The ugly reality of life is that anyone who has the power says what the law is, whether just or unjust. The US can claim jurisdiction anywhere it wants because no one can fight back. According to the Constitution, Federal jurisdiction extends to the District of Columbia, military bases and US assigns, like Puerto Rico. How then can one commit a "federal crime" in any individual State?
2006-09-06 14:43:56 · answer #4 · answered by Paladin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You fall under the laws of the country where your spacecraft was built. If you're in a Russian rocket you are subject to Russian laws. If you are in the space shuttle you are subject to U.S. laws...
2006-09-06 14:36:48 · answer #5 · answered by young108west 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Laws require jurisdiction to enforce. So, aside from vehicles or bases that are controlled by one particular country, and thus under the authority of that country, there's nobody to enforce the laws.
2006-09-06 14:36:57 · answer #6 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So, you want to be a space killer huh? I oughta tell your mom so she can kick your butt!!!!!
2006-09-06 15:00:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋