Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 11-14 July 2014

Space Property Rights Bill In US Congress Could Facilitate Commercial Lunar Development

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US Representatives (L-R) Bill Posey (R-FL) & Derek Kilmer (D-WA) Introduce ‘American Space Technology For Exploring Resource Opportunities In Deep Space (ASTEROIDS)’ Act Of 2014; Bill Would Promote Private Exploration & Protect Commercial Rights Of Space Enterprises By Clarifying That Resources Mined From Asteroids Are Property Of Entity That Obtained Them, Ensuring US Companies Can Conduct Operations Without Harmful Interference; Act Specifically Addresses Asteroid Mining Yet Will Have Strong Influence On Moon Enterprise / Property Rights Issues

Image Credit: Planetary Resources, us.gov

 

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 16-19 May 2014

Space Lawyers Outline Challenges Of Commercial Lunar Development At ISDC

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USA-Based Commercial Entities Seeking To Explore, Settle In And Exploit Resources Of Space / Moon May Be Hindered By International Law, Predominance Of Countries That See Space As Shared Resource; Boston Attorney Rosanna Sattler Says Country Of Origin Will Need To Be Responsible For Their Endemic Enterprises, International MoUs Allowing Specific Commercial Activities May Be Easier To Achieve Than A Whole New International Treaty; Other Experts Such As Art Dula Believe Private Companies ‘Absolutely Have The Right’ To Mine / Develop Moon, Asteroids, Etc.

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, Excalibur Almaz, Here & Now

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 28 Feb – 3 Mar 2014

Who Owns The Moon?
International Missions, Commercial Aspirations

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Successful China Moon Mission Indicates Property Rights / Mining Claims Not Far Off Says Richard Holdaway (R) Of UK Rutherford Appleton Lab; Several Commercial Enterprises Also Making Business Cases For Moon Mining; Richard Bilder (L) Of University Of Wisconsin-Madison Says Process Of Setting Up Legal Regime Should Be Started Soon Before 1 or More Countries / Companies Have Special Stake / Interest; Holdaway Notes Nations Likely To Become Partners & Lunar Resources Will Further Space Exploration, Improve Life On Earth

Image Credit: NASA, CNSA, law.wisc.edu, stfc.ac.uk

Wednesday / 19 February 2014

Bigelow Trailblazing Path For Commercial Lunar Development

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Bigelow Aerospace Request To FAA Office Of Commercial Space Transportation Is Attempt To Start Discussion On Space / Lunar Property Rights Says Director Of DC Operations Mike Gold; Company Seeking Organic Zone Of Operation Around Future Lunar Habitat In Which No Other USA Entities Would Be Able To Enter; Robert Bigelow Says Moon Mining More Sensible Than Asteroid Harvesting; Commends NASA For Moving From COTS Model To SAA / BAA Customer Model To Support Commercial Space

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace

Wednesday / 5 February 2014

Space Property Rights: Viable First Steps To Advance Commercial Space Initiatives

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Space Advocates Berin Szoka (T) & Jim Dunstan (B) Outline Plan To Advance Space Property Rights In Near Term; USA Government Should Recognize Ownership Of Extracted Resources By Commercial Space Enterprises, & Bar Interference From Other USA Companies; Territorial Rights Would Be Limited In Scope, Contingent On Ongoing Operations; Need To Clarify Which Government Agency Has Jurisdiction Over Lunar / Asteroid Activities; Remind Global Community That Space Is Vast: Plenty For All Who Make Effort

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, Space Frontier Foundation, Picasa

 

 

Wednesday / 8 January 2014

Moon Ownership Questions / Implications Highlighted By London Art Exhibit

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Lunar Property Rights Debate Prominent Issue With Chang’e-3 / Yutu Heralding Start Of Permanent Lunar Surface Operations & GLXP Teams Confirming 2015 Launch Plans; 37.9 Million Square Km Of Surface Area, Vast Resources Position Moon As Attractive New Frontier For Individuals, Corporations, Nations; Group Of Artists Led By IAF ITACCUS Co-Chair Nicola Triscott (Inset) Opening ‘Republic Of The Moon‘ Exhibition In London To Spur Debate About Moon Ownership 

Image Credit: The Arts Catalyst, Bargehouse, nicolatriscott.org

Wednesday / 4 December 2013

Preserving Historic Lunar Sites From Rising Tide Of Moon Exploration

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With China Moon Landing Fast Approaching & Commercial  Missions Soon To Follow, US Legislators Propose Bill To Qualify Apollo Sites As National Park; Space Law Experts Henry Hertzfeld (R) & Scott Pace Say This Action May Violate UN Outer Space Treaty, Suggest Government Officials Open Dialogue To Establish Ground Rules For Respecting Mission Sites / Equipment / Artifacts; May Also Help Ease Strained International Relations

Image Credit: NASA, CNSA

Thursday / 14 November 2013

Bigelow Report: COTS Model & Property Rights Can Facilitate Lunar Base

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Report Prepared By Robert Bigelow Under NASA Space Act Agreement Recommends That NASA Pursue A Partnership With Industry To Develop Beyond LEO / Cislunar Space; Permanent, Semi-Commercial Lunar Base Achievable & Affordable In Next 10 Years; Private Companies / Individuals Would Need To Acquire Property Rights On Moon / Other Bodies If Plan Is To Be Viable; Bigelow Already Applying To FAA / AST For Review Of Lunar Property Rights Policy

Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace, NASA

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 27-30 September 2013

Who Owns The Moon?
Space Law Rising In Importance

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Dawning Of New Space Exploration Era, Both Commercial And Public, Raising Questions / Issues Of Space Law; Journal Of Space Law Editor, Professor Joanne Gabrynowicz Addresses Issues Of Jurisdiction, Crime In Space; Notes Origin Of Space Law Comes From Philosophy Of Rocket / Astronautics Pioneers, Not Maritime Or Antarctic Law; Moon Seen As Most Likely Site Where Land Claim Or Criminal Disputes Could First Arise

Image Credit: NASA, tonybones.com, olemiss.edu

Weekend Edition / Fri-Mon 10-13 May 2013

Preserving Tranquility Base & Other Artifacts Of Human Drive To Explore Space

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New Efforts To Protect Off-Earth Objects, Sites Of Significance Arise Out Of Society For American Archeology 78th Annual Meeting; Space Session Co-Chairs Beth O’Leary UNM Las Cruces / Lisa Westwood CSU, And Further Analysis At The Space Review, Suggest Evolving Legal Framework To Protect Without Claiming Sovereignty, Multilateral Transparency; Similar To Antarctica, Int’l Waters

Image Credit: NASA, NMSU