Short answer, yes, but only because he doesn’t plan to land.
4 thoughts on “Elon’s Tesla To Mars”
Fascism.
Of course once King Elon the first decides that he wants the fanciest car on Mars, who on Earth will be in a position to stop him?
What goobernment again is asserting sovereignty over Mars to dictate what stuff can land there?
You got it peterh. Either a country signed the OST or they didn’t. If they didn’t they have no jurisdiction. If they did, they can not make any ownership claims. Regulations are an ownership claim.
As for launch, a government can only detain a person on probable cause of a crime or an actual crime. Otherwise they have no authority over a person leaving the earth.
A launch license is predicated on liability outlined in the OST, but that’s a pretty flimsy argument. At most, a govt. should only require liability insurance. Considering the low probability of damage (so the insurance might only cost about a penny!) and the fact the launcher will be held accountable even without insurance. It’s questionable if govt. should even require that.
It’s pure govt. nanny over-reach (especially since planetary protection is such a stupid argument.) Only if they find an organism fundamentally different than any found on earth will they be sure it’s not from contamination. Otherwise they can only argue about it being contamination no matter what protocols we follow.
Fascism.
Of course once King Elon the first decides that he wants the fanciest car on Mars, who on Earth will be in a position to stop him?
What goobernment again is asserting sovereignty over Mars to dictate what stuff can land there?
You got it peterh. Either a country signed the OST or they didn’t. If they didn’t they have no jurisdiction. If they did, they can not make any ownership claims. Regulations are an ownership claim.
As for launch, a government can only detain a person on probable cause of a crime or an actual crime. Otherwise they have no authority over a person leaving the earth.
A launch license is predicated on liability outlined in the OST, but that’s a pretty flimsy argument. At most, a govt. should only require liability insurance. Considering the low probability of damage (so the insurance might only cost about a penny!) and the fact the launcher will be held accountable even without insurance. It’s questionable if govt. should even require that.
It’s pure govt. nanny over-reach (especially since planetary protection is such a stupid argument.) Only if they find an organism fundamentally different than any found on earth will they be sure it’s not from contamination. Otherwise they can only argue about it being contamination no matter what protocols we follow.