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This work investigates the permissibility and viability of property rights on the - lestial bodies, particularly the extraterrestrial aspects of land and mineral resources ownership. In lay terms, it aims to ?nd an answer to the question "Who owns the Moon?" The ?rst chapter critically analyses and dismantles with legal arguments the issue of sale of extraterrestrial real estate, after having perused some of the trivial claims of celestial bodies ownership. The only consequence these claims have on the plane of space law is to highlight the need for a better regulation of extraterrestrial landed property rights. Next, thebook addresses theapparent silenceofthelawinthe?eldofextraterr- trial landed property, scrutinizing whether the factual situation on the extraterrestrial realms calls for legal regulations. The sources of law are examined in their dual dimension - that is, the facts that have caused and shaped the law of extraterrestrial real estate, and the norms which express this law. It is found that the norms and rules regarding property rights in the celestial realms are rather limited, failing to de?ne basic concepts such as celestial body.
List of contents
Is the Moon for Sale?.- The Sources of Landed Property Rights in Outer Space.- The Object of Landed Property Rights in Outer Space.- The Relationship Between Property and Sovereignty in Outer Space.- The Commons Regime: Everybody's and Nobody's.- Homesteading the Final Frontier.- The Common Heritage of Mankind: Reaping Without Sowing.- Property Status of Extraterrestrial Samples and Extracted Resources.- Conclusion.
About the author
Virgiliu Pop is a researcher at the Romanian Space Agency and is one of world's specialists in the area of space property rights. A member of the International Institute of Space Law, Virgiliu Pop has authored several acclaimed papers in the field of space law and policy, and was interviewed by prestigious media outlets as diverse as New Scientist, Space.com/MSNBC, The Space Show, La Tercera (Chile), Ta Nea (Greece), Geo Magazine (Germany) and several publications in his native Romania.
Summary
This work investigates the permissibility and viability of property rights on the - lestial bodies, particularly the extraterrestrial aspects of land and mineral resources ownership. In lay terms, it aims to ?nd an answer to the question “Who owns the Moon?” The ?rst chapter critically analyses and dismantles with legal arguments the issue of sale of extraterrestrial real estate, after having perused some of the trivial claims of celestial bodies ownership. The only consequence these claims have on the plane of space law is to highlight the need for a better regulation of extraterrestrial landed property rights. Next, thebook addresses theapparent silenceofthelawinthe?eldofextraterr- trial landed property, scrutinizing whether the factual situation on the extraterrestrial realms calls for legal regulations. The sources of law are examined in their dual dimension – that is, the facts that have caused and shaped the law of extraterrestrial real estate, and the norms which express this law. It is found that the norms and rules regarding property rights in the celestial realms are rather limited, failing to de?ne basic concepts such as celestial body.
Additional text
This book was awarded by The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) in 2018 with the Social Science Book Award
“Virgiliu Pop, in his contribution to Volume 4 of the Space Regulations Library brings to bear centuries old real property legal theories with the modern day space race. … Pop’s work delves deep into the chasm of one of the most underdeveloped areas of property law … . Ultimately, Who Owns the Moon! deserves a close inspection by anyone interested in the fascinating interplay between the law and what was once science fiction but may soon be reality.” (Chris Kalantzis, Journal of Space Law, Vol. 37 (2), 2011)
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This book was awarded by The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) in 2018 with the Social Science Book Award
"Virgiliu Pop, in his contribution to Volume 4 of the Space Regulations Library brings to bear centuries old real property legal theories with the modern day space race. ... Pop's work delves deep into the chasm of one of the most underdeveloped areas of property law ... . Ultimately, Who Owns the Moon! deserves a close inspection by anyone interested in the fascinating interplay between the law and what was once science fiction but may soon be reality." (Chris Kalantzis, Journal of Space Law, Vol. 37 (2), 2011)
