UniBase#no.6173 – Exposure
Celestial bodies
The letter to 52 experts
Answers from Elon Musk and SpaceX employees
SpaceX
- General Counsel David Anderman, 10/2020
- "I knew in high school in Oakland that I wanted to be a lawyer. I was on the debate team and loved it. My father was a lawyer and litigator.“
- "I was actually focused on constitutional law and the First Amendment at the University of Pennsylvania. I took film as a joint major because I liked it, and it turns out I went to work for a film company.“
- "We deal with incredibly interesting things all the time. I've never seen a company as mission-aligned as SpaceX. All 8,000 employees top to bottom understand the mission is to get to Mars.“
- "Elon said his plan is to retire on Mars and to die on Mars, just not on impact.“
- "We want to transport colonists to Mars. Our goal is to be able to send 1,000 starships with 100 people in them every two years. We'll start with 100, then a couple hundred, then 100,000, then a million until we have a truly sustainable colony. It will happen in my lifetime. Faster than you think.“
- "I'm actually working on a constitution for Mars. No country can claim sovereignty over heavenly bodies.“
- "I think SpaceX will move to impose our own legal regime. I think it will be interesting to see how it plays out with terrestrial governments exerting control. I do think we are going to have a pretty important role to play in what works and what laws apply.“
- SpaceX Service Terms, 2020
- "For Services provided on Mars, or in transit to Mars via Starship or other colonization spacecraft, the parties recognize Mars as a free planet and that no Earth-based government has authority or sovereignty over Martian activities. Accordingly, Disputes will be settled through self-governing principles, established in good faith, at the time of Martian settlement.“
Legal bases
- Outer Space Treaty of 1967
- Art. II: Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.
- Art. III: States Parties to the Treaty shall carry on activities in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international co-operation and understanding.
- Art. VI: [...] The activities of non-governmental entities in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appro-priate State Party to the Treaty. [...]
- Art. VIII: A State Party to the Treaty on whose registry an object launched into outer space is carried shall retain jurisdiction and control over such object, and over any personnel thereof, while in outer space or on a celestial body.[…]
- Art. IX: [...] A State Party to the Treaty which has reason to believe that an activity or experiment planned by another State Party in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, would cause potentially harmful interference with activities in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, may request consultation concerning the activity or experiment.
- Charter of the United Nations
- Art. 1: The Purposes of the United Nations are
[…]
3. To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; […]
- Art. 1: The Purposes of the United Nations are
In Solar System
UniBase Overview
