Is the moon considered part of the United States?

Question

If not, who owns the moon?

Answer 1

No one, according to the International Space Treaty, no nation can own anything outside the Earth.

Answer 2

The "Outer Space Treaty", formally known as the "Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies", is a treaty that forms the basis of international space law. Currently, 98 countries are states-parties to the treaty, while another 27 have signed the treaty but have not yet completed ratification.

It explicitly forbids any government from claiming a celestial resource such as the Moon or a planet since they are the "common heritage of humanity".

However, if the US were to place a colony on the moon, there is a good likelihood that it would claim sovereignty over that portion of the lunar landscape and classify it as US territory. Would that be violating the treaty? Maybe, but it probably wouldn't be challenged unless another country wanted to stake claim to that particular location (for example, if natural resources were to be discovered that would be worth mining).

Answer 3

I'll step around the philosophical part of Earth/Moon 'ownership', commenting only, "Do the fleas own the dog, or does the dog own the fleas?"

I could see where Eminent Domain could come into play in the old world sense, "Finders Keepers." After all, it's the American way. :)
However, even though we were there first and planted our signature on it, I'd still say it is not for any one country to 'own'. Once it gets to the point that we, as a species, are able to make persistent trips there, then we may have to have a specific governing body (likely the U.N.) make a decision on who gets control over the land resources there. As ugly as that debate would be, I think it would be worse if we just plopped ourselves down on it and said, "Mine, mine, mine!"
In my opinion, we do have first dibs on the choice real estate since we were there first.

As for the 40 year old treaty.... Since when did the government stand by its' treaties when it was in it's own best interests not to?

Answer 4

Consider some astrophysicists' research suggesting that the moon was a part of the eart blown away from it during a cataclysmic impact, I would interpet that as "the earth owns the moon" since it might be more than likely the moon is part of earth.
But if no one "owns" the Earth then supposedly no one would own the moon then.

Answer 5

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty (Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies) specifically prohibits any nation from establishing sovereignty over a celestial body. It also preserves the moon and other celestial bodies for peaceful purposes.

Answer 6

No, the moon is not considered part of the United States, or is it owned by any other country. Numerous other countries have sent probes to the moon for research, and they do not need permission fromt the US to do this. Just because the US landed there first does not mean it is ours, just like no one owns Mars or Jupiter, etc.

Answer 7

The moon and planets cannot be claimed as territory. A UN resolution was passed a couple of years ago saying this.

Legally, nobody owns the moon. Eventually someone will probably try and establish a colony and maybe even ownership up there.

Answer 8

The moon, like other objects in space, are part of the galaxy and do not belong to anyone. Just because American astronauts once walked the surface of the moon and placed a flag there, doesn't mean we own it. Who do we think we are anyway? Not everything is meant to be owned.

Answer 9

Well, some time last year, the casino at which I work had a slot tournament which they held on the 12 full moons during the year. I know you're thinking wait, there's 13 full moons in a year, but they had a plan. On the 13th full moon, they had a tournament of champions for the ones who had won the previous 12 tournaments, and the grand prize? An acre of the moon. I'm not sure who exactly owns it (but if it's first-come, first-served, I guess it would be the U.S.) but I am certain that exactly ONE individual in the U.S. owns an acre of it.

Answer 10

properly, ..., first issues first ... The "Apollo" Missions weren't a hoax. See the 1st link below for honestly photos from above the moon of Astronaut Foot Paths, Lunar Lander Bases, and test programs left on the moon. The U.S. landed men on the moon and delivered them back. it is not a hoax it a historic fact and is backed up via the photographic info, aspects delivered back from the Lunar floor, and the boys who went there walked there, orbited, and back. Now, the Moon does not belong to any united states of america. The UN, on October 10, 1967, located in rigidity a treaty entitled "Treaty on concepts Governing the events of States interior the Exploration and Use of Outer area, consisting of the Moon and different Celestial bodies" which between different issues states "The treaty explicitly forbids any government from claiming a celestial source such because of the fact the Moon or a planet, for the reason that they are the essential background of mankind. paintings. II of the Treaty states that "outer area, consisting of the Moon and different celestial bodies, isn't subject to national appropriation via declare of sovereignty, via skill of use or occupation, or via the different skill""

Answer 11

As soon as we can get people to permanently stay on the moon, then we'll make it the 51st. state. We need people in order to tax them for goods and services. If the Chinese succeed in keeping people up there, then it will be a province of China. Otherwise, the moon is up for grabs.