The legal status of the moon and other celestial bodies, including issues of planetary defence and planetary protection

Lately, the legal status of the moon and other celestial bodies has caught the attention of the public at large again. The question of marginal legal validity but major practical consequences of the hoax of ownership of property on the moon has been raised many times. Along with it, the possibilities for commercial exploitation are back on the table – not just for the moon, but for Mars and other planets as well. From a quite different angle, issues of planetary defence (‘defending planet Earth against incoming asteroids’) and planetary protection (‘protecting other planets against ill-considered interference by humans or human projects’) raise the same, fundamental questions as regard the legal status of such celestial bodies. Should these forever remain outside the grasp of territorial sovereignty of terrestrial states? How to deal with exploitation, settlement, environmental issues in the absence of territorial sovereignty? The legal and political aspects of any projects in this area should be analysed well before any distinct project comes about.

A dedicated set of studies in Black Holes’ portfolio contributes to its ability to provide the proper level of advise in this area.