<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Lunar legalities</h2>

The staff of Intuitive Machines were tense as the OdysseusThe most cunning of the Greek leaders. The Odyssey, an epic poem about the 10 years he spent trying to return home after the Trojan War, is also attributed to Homer. spacecraft touched down on the Moon. The private company had managed to do something only four countries had done before. But Odysseus was supposed to send back a signal - and none was showing up.

Finally, a faint signal started to come through. Odysseus was standing upright and sending back data.

Last month another private mission ended in failure. A craft called Peregrine, also headed for the Moon, developed a fuel leak.

The team behind it realised that a safe landing was going to be impossible. They decided to send Peregrine back to Earth, knowing that it would burn up on re-entry.

Its cargo included the ashes of at least 70 people and one dog. They had been put on board by two companies who advertise "space burials".

The plan was sharply criticised by the NavajoA Native American people of the southwestern United States. The Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognised tribe in the USA. Nation. Alvin Harvey complained¹ that the Moon was being exploited without proper rules:

"For us, the Moon is an ancient relative - Grandmother Moon is a term of reverence shared by many indigenousEthnic groups who are the original or earliest-known inhabitants of an area or country: for example, Native Americans in the USA. peoples - and we should be careful, diligentBeing careful and paying attention to your work. and respectful when visiting her."

An article on Space.com says this could be the moment to make binding laws about the Moon. The nearest thing we have is the Outer Space TreatyA formal agreement, usually between two or more countries. , drawn up in 1967.²

It says space must be explored peacefully and no country can claim to own any part of it. But it is not legally binding.  

One expert warns there could be conflicts between people wanting to use the Moon for different things: for example, mining and scientific experiments.³

But, he says, there is hope that laws will be developed. The UNUnited Nations. An intergovernmental organisation based in New York that aims to maintain international peace and security.'s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is looking at possible ones. An organisation called For All Moonkind is trying to protect important sites on the Moon.   

Do we need new extra-terrestrial laws?

Yes: Without laws the exploitation of space could become a free-for-all. With both governments and private companies sending craft to the Moon there is bound to be competition between them.

No: The number of people with the resources to launch spacecraft successfully is still tiny and there is plenty of room for everyone. The Outer Space Treaty and Artemis Accords are all that we need.

Or... Even if there were laws, it would be impossible to enforce them. Canada has ruled that its criminal code extents to the Moon and the International Space Station, but that is just wishful thinking.

Odysseus - The most cunning of the Greek leaders. The Odyssey, an epic poem about the 10 years he spent trying to return home after the Trojan War, is also attributed to Homer.

Navajo - A Native American people of the southwestern United States. The Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognised tribe in the USA.

Indigenous - Ethnic groups who are the original or earliest-known inhabitants of an area or country: for example, Native Americans in the USA.

Diligent - Being careful and paying attention to your work.

Treaty - A formal agreement, usually between two or more countries.

UN - United Nations. An intergovernmental organisation based in New York that aims to maintain international peace and security.