Genaro Cajardo Vega The name of the Chilean lawyer and poet, originally from the city of Talca (255 kilometers from the capital), one fine day in 1954 he proudly left a notary’s office, through which he announced himself. Owner of Moon: “Since before 1857, owned, […] “The only satellite of the star, Earth, with a diameter of 3,475.00 kilometers, is called the Moon,” the paper says.
Similarly, an American name Tennis hope Since 1980, it has been dedicated to selling plots on the Moon, Mars, Mercury and other celestial bodies. His business was registered in the name Embajada Chandran, Artists, public figures and even politicians have called in to buy, paying anywhere from $34 to $1,000 in exchange for a “certificate of ownership” engraved with the plot’s address. Also with buyer’s name, additional $2.50.
Although each character’s motives are different, the two engage in equal parts comedy and controversy, but ultimately their strange actions pay off. A shared passion for humanity: Make some kind of contact with our nearest celestial body.
The space race between 1955 and 1975, when the world was awestruck by the arrival of man on the moon, paints a backdrop. Trying to capture the satellite. However, the fact is that fortunately this and the rest of the elements of space, They cannot belong to anyone. As for their resources, the issue is no longer so clear cut.
Why haven’t we returned to the moon since 1972?
To understand this, we need to go back 1967It was two years ago that Neil Armstrong made history Place an American flag on the moonAfter landing with Apollo 11 in the Pacific Ocean.
In a situation where the superpowers announced their intentions to explore a natural satellite — one of which, the Soviet Union, had already achieved it — it was the United Nations that anticipated and created it. Space TreatyIt clearly stated: “Outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall not be the subject of national appropriation by reason of claims of sovereignty, use and occupation or in any other manner.”
“One giant step for mankind”
Armstrong’s moon landing speech, perhaps one of the most famous of the 20th century, They were not chosen at random: And even though the astronaut was sent into space by the United States, once he got to the satellite, they wanted to emphasize the benefit of the event to all of humanity, as established in the aforementioned agreement.
The moon does not belong to anyone, you have to go back to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 to understand this.
Regarding the flag placed in the lunar sphere, Juan Manuel de Faraminon GilbertJohn University professor and co-director of the Astrondus Chair in Space and Astronomy, explains to National Geographic: “In this case, it’s about A symbolic gesture of arrivalEverest climbers may also put up a flag, but that doesn’t mean we’re talking about sovereignty.
Now, after this historic event which repeated itself from time to time till 1972, Interest in exploring the moon has not waned, but the opposite. Missions such as the China National Space Administration’s (CNSA) Chang’e have confirmed that we have the technological means to approach the Moon. Availability of natural resources on lunar terrain Water, as well as the possible presence of silicon, iron or titanium, etc. are opened up A new window of interests For countries leading space research.
No one can conquer the moon: what about its resources?
At the time the Outer Space Treaty was drawn up (1967), issues related to the extraction or use of the Moon’s resources were far-fetched, so the document This aspect has not been accurately observed.. But this is only the first of “five international agreements relating to outer space activities”.
The lunar surface remains a mystery, but it is known to hold hundreds of billions of dollars in untapped resources.
Years later, in 1979, The Moon PactIt included a new nuance: “It is practically a copy of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, except for Article 11, which presents a critical error, which states that ‘The Moon and Its natural resources They are the common heritage of mankind”, states Elisa Gonzalez FerreiroPresident of the Spanish Association of Aeronautics and Space Law (AEDAE)
Thus, it is shown 2023 update Status of international agreements related to outer space activities, this latest agreement Its predecessor did not receive international support: “Article 11 of the 1979 Convention, upon ratification of the International System of Resource Exploitation, Equitable share in profits By the States Parties to the Convention, which also takes into account developing countries…, this undoubtedly reduces business and private initiative, and this is the fundamental reason why there are few ratifications,” asserts González.
The 1979 Moon Treaty did not receive international support like its predecessor, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
While the Outer Space Treaty speaks of the “welfare of mankind,” the Moon Treaty speaks of the “common heritage of mankind.” None of these concepts can control the dynamics of exploitation in practiceThe second places more restrictions on the interests of certain states or already speculating institutions, for example, How Moon Mining Can Work.
A new era in space exploration
The year 2023 is full of examples of the tilt of nations, especially world powers. Using the moon as a short-term place to land, explore, or live. Five missions were launched to our satellite this year, some unsuccessful: JapanWith his Hakuto-R Mission 1 and SLIM; Russiawith Luna-25; America con Nova-C IM-1 y Peregrine Mission 1; oh IndiaAlong with the Chandrayaan-3 programme, it became the fourth to reach a satellite.
Vikram Lander, from India’s Chandrayaan-3 programme.
This scenario is unofficially called the “new space race,” and it’s undoubtedly been put on the table Renewed interests For the period 1955 to 1975. In this sense, in 2020 NASA released Artemis ContractsThe United States is a set of founding documents Practical principles for guiding collaboration In inter-state space exploration, including those participating in the Artemis project.
Although the Artemis Pact, this Spain has already signed up and other European countries, They do not have the status of an international treatyIt is based on the first UN Convention on Outer Space Activities of 1967, and not on the 1979 Moon Treaty.
shall be deemed to be signatory States Artemis Contracts Not the signatories of Moon Pact“, Juan Manuel de Faraminon notes; which brings to light what are the current attractions of lunar exploration. “I have to say that the Artemis agreements, that is a personal opinion. They have become a shortcut Avoid the idea of a common heritage of humanity and open the spigot so that states and corporations can access the Moon’s resources. According to your own interests“, he mentions.
A scene like the others, but with vague explanations
If a State fails to comply with a treaty to which it has expressed its consent, Other signatory states must respond Although the consequences will depend on the nature of the articles infringed, for such non-compliance.
The near side of the moon.
In the case of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the principle of non-national reservation Does not affect ownership of extracted resourcesHence the ambitions of current space exploration programs”In the most obscure field of legal interpretation“, highlights the professor.
However, in the face of these interests, the president of AEDAE points out: “There are working groups in the international community that study best applicable guidelines. Rational, safe and sustainable exploitation resources in celestial bodies and especially in the Moon”.
Outer space is a common place, a universally commonThat is what it means Cannot be subject to the sovereignty of any state. Thus, according to Article 136 of the Law of the Sea Convention of 1982, the resources of the “common heritage of mankind” are similar to the regulations applicable in the area of the seabed and ocean floor. With respect to this parallelism, as expressed in Article 11 of the Moon Treaty, Faraminon concludes: “Both articles are discredited By the majority of large states that have the technological and economic capacity to exploit it for their own benefit. “That’s the way things are.”
