6 ms·

And why does anyone need permission to land on the moon?

mikeash 10y ago
From the article: The Outer Space Treaty prohibits nations from claiming sovereignty over the moon or other parts of the solar system. It also states: “The activities of nongovernmental entities in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate state party to the treaty.”
- LastZactionHero 10y ago
  Violating the Outer Space Treaty would be a cool thing to go to jail for.
  - mikeash 10y ago
    "What are you in for?" "Robbed a liquor store. You?" "Violated the Outer Space Treaty." "...huh..." I agree, if I had to go to prison for something, I'd pick that.
    - erdevs 10y ago
      True. Though what would happen if you launched your lunar vehicle from a platform on international waters? Loophole? Or do we now get to mix in Maritime Law as well as the Outer Space Treaty, which is an even cooler jail story in the making...
      - boznz 10y ago
        Just have to launch it from one of the counties that did not sign the treaty.
      - euyyn 10y ago
        That'd make you an Outer Space Pirate.
        generj 10y ago
        Mark Watney, Space Pirate.
- coldcode 10y ago
  I wonder if there are countries that didn't sign it.
  - SixSigma 10y ago
    Yes, quite a few https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty
    - soperj 10y ago
      the best is the Holy See.
      - nitrogen 10y ago
        There's an old scifi novel where a religious organization survives a nuclear apocalypse by being the only remaining organization with enough forethought to build a space rocket instead of a bomb.
      - busyant 10y ago
        Wiki says holy see signed but didn't ratify. Don't know what that means tho.
        Someone 10y ago
        Short version as I see it: many countries require their parliaments to decide on entering a treaty, but they may want to indicate their intent to enter earlier, for example during an official signing session. The UN has the official explanation, though. http://ask.un.org/faq/14594 http://ask.un.org/faq/14594: "Signature Subject to Ratification, Acceptance or Approval Where the signature is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, the signature does not establish the consent to be bound. However, it is a means of authentication and expresses the willingness of the signatory state to continue the treaty-making process. The signature qualifies the signatory state to proceed to ratification, acceptance or approval. It also creates an obligation to refrain, in good faith, from acts that would defeat the object and the purpose of the treaty. [Arts.10 and 18, Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969] Ratification Ratification defines the international act whereby a state indicates its consent to be bound to a treaty if the parties intended to show their consent by such an act. In the case of bilateral treaties, ratification is usually accomplished by exchanging the requisite instruments, while in the case of multilateral treaties the usual procedure is for the depositary to collect the ratifications of all states, keeping all parties informed of the situation. The institution of ratification grants states the necessary time-frame to seek the required approval for the treaty on the domestic level and to enact the necessary legislation to give domestic effect to that treaty." There also is such a thing as "Signature ad Referendum"

From the article: The Outer Space Treaty prohibits nations from claiming sovereignty over the moon or other parts of the solar system. It also states: “The activities of nongovernmental entities in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate state party to the treaty.”

LastZactionHero 10y ago
Violating the Outer Space Treaty would be a cool thing to go to jail for.
- mikeash 10y ago
  "What are you in for?" "Robbed a liquor store. You?" "Violated the Outer Space Treaty." "...huh..." I agree, if I had to go to prison for something, I'd pick that.
  - erdevs 10y ago
    True. Though what would happen if you launched your lunar vehicle from a platform on international waters? Loophole? Or do we now get to mix in Maritime Law as well as the Outer Space Treaty, which is an even cooler jail story in the making...
    - boznz 10y ago
      Just have to launch it from one of the counties that did not sign the treaty.
    - euyyn 10y ago
      That'd make you an Outer Space Pirate.
      - generj 10y ago
        Mark Watney, Space Pirate.
coldcode 10y ago
I wonder if there are countries that didn't sign it.
- SixSigma 10y ago
  Yes, quite a few https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty
  - soperj 10y ago
    the best is the Holy See.
    - nitrogen 10y ago
      There's an old scifi novel where a religious organization survives a nuclear apocalypse by being the only remaining organization with enough forethought to build a space rocket instead of a bomb.
    - busyant 10y ago
      Wiki says holy see signed but didn't ratify. Don't know what that means tho.
      - Someone 10y ago
        Short version as I see it: many countries require their parliaments to decide on entering a treaty, but they may want to indicate their intent to enter earlier, for example during an official signing session. The UN has the official explanation, though. http://ask.un.org/faq/14594 http://ask.un.org/faq/14594: "Signature Subject to Ratification, Acceptance or Approval Where the signature is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, the signature does not establish the consent to be bound. However, it is a means of authentication and expresses the willingness of the signatory state to continue the treaty-making process. The signature qualifies the signatory state to proceed to ratification, acceptance or approval. It also creates an obligation to refrain, in good faith, from acts that would defeat the object and the purpose of the treaty. [Arts.10 and 18, Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969] Ratification Ratification defines the international act whereby a state indicates its consent to be bound to a treaty if the parties intended to show their consent by such an act. In the case of bilateral treaties, ratification is usually accomplished by exchanging the requisite instruments, while in the case of multilateral treaties the usual procedure is for the depositary to collect the ratifications of all states, keeping all parties informed of the situation. The institution of ratification grants states the necessary time-frame to seek the required approval for the treaty on the domestic level and to enact the necessary legislation to give domestic effect to that treaty." There also is such a thing as "Signature ad Referendum"