Let ’s do a thought experiment . Tomorrow you wake up and you feel like Dr Manhattan and say “ I ’m tired of Earth . These People . ” The only pick is to relocate yourself to space . The Moon is right there . Or you could build a space place . Or you might have grander aspirations and create a settlement on Mars . I have pictured myself doing it . The educated and lawful space - dwell nation of Alfredoville . If money and science were no problem , could anyone block me ?
After all , we want our commission beyond Earth to embody a Utopia so adherence to laws and finally make our own subject . IFLScience spoke withProfessor Michelle Hanlon , co - director of the Air and Space Law Program at the University of Mississippi School of Law , on the current legality of build your very own infinite community .
“ The primary rule of law in space right now is the Outer Space Treaty . It ’s really interesting because it ’s not in reality a computer code of law , " Professor Hanlon explain to IFLScience . " It enjoin : ‘ Hey , we ’re all going to space , what ’s the most important thing we desire to remember about ? Keeping the peace of mind in distance ! ’ And so it is very much driven by how are we going to keep the peacefulness . "
I think a giant golden bust of me overlooking Utopia Planitia might truly explain the benevolent dictator I aspire to be.Image credit: (C) IFLScience
TheOuter Space Treatywas agreed in 1967 and is ratified by 111 countries . It is a all important piece of international legislation . It declare that everyone shall have freedom to search the macrocosm and that no country can claim district . That should put some strong constraints on what one can do in space , but it ’s not as clear - cut as this brief description might paint a picture .
The man and the world of space exploration have changed dramatically since 1967 , especially in the last few years . There are things that , since they are notexplicitlyforbidden , have been considered allow , for good example , the deployment ofmegaconstellationsthat impact us all can and are being approved by individual nations .
So where does this leave Alfredoville ? It is very much on the horizon of possibilities . There is no obvious part of the pact that forbids me or anyone from doing it . That does n’t imply that I can create a dictatorial or exploitive nation in space , however . We are contain on Earth and remain linked to it for our survival of the fittest , even in space . Neither intellectual nourishment nor people are found anywhere else , and even vital materials may only come from our planet .
“ if you have the money , you could go and you could go to Mars and you could create Alfredoville and you could have your own formula . dead , " Professor Hanlon extend . " But you ’re going to be tether to the United States , to the Earth , not inevitably to the United States , mayhap to Italy . ”
I ’m a billion dollars unforesightful of being a billionaire but if I were to have that amount of money ( and the ability to feel empathy surgically removed ) , I could legally bulge out a company town on , for illustration , Mars . I could theoretically be as exploitive as I require . I own the air and infrastructure , what are my workers gon na do ? But the links to Earth should theoretically stop me from being a tyrannical dictator .
“ The nation that you are currently trade with to get your food is going to say , well , we ’re not going to deliver food for thought unless you reassure us that all of your employee are safe and free or something like that . So as long as you have that tether to Earth , you ’re function to be bound by some national government , ” Professor Hanlon explains .
As state at the source of our thought experimentation , I believe in the rule of law so even with money and power , I will stick out by it and the contact to Earth . Otherwise , my workers should feel free to hang me upside down from the public square and rename Alfredoville " The Free Space Settlement " .
This over - the - top thought experiment is not expect to become a reality shortly . We have overlay thescientific and technical complexitiesof conciliate blank space elsewhere but it matters to empathise the legality as well . The Outer Space Treaty might be changed by agreements and behaviors that happen now , and the repercussions of those changes ( or of not cause changes ) might dissemble space geographic expedition for decades to come .
