United Kingdom - What do you get for the person who already has just about everything? Surely you've already bought that special someone their own planet or star. And if you've already been on the romantic space getaway for two, compliments of Russia's recent fee-for-service space program, well then what's next? How about a large piece of the mostly rock and regolith lunar surface? Well, that's what you'd be getting if you choose to buy into the idea published by the UK website "Getting Personal." They're selling plots of the Lunar surface for about $29.95 per acre.
Who owns the Moon?
The entire idea of buying a portion of the Lunar surface must come from a legal claim of ownership. Right? Well, in 1980 a man named Dennis Hope filed claims of ownership of the entire Moon with both Russia and the United States. His claims have never been contested by either government. It is from within that legal stance that Hope is full of hope his money making scheme will continue indefinitely.
Complete with Lunar Deed
When you buy an acre (or more) of the Lunar surface you actually get quit a lot to show for it. It's not just a lofty concept and a sheet of printed paper from a website.
Not only do you get a Lunar Deed, which gives you allodial title to the land, but also a copy of the Lunar Constitution and Bill of Rights, a map to find the plot (both from Earth observatory, as well as if you were on the surface--no kidding), a copy of the declaration of Lunar ownership which is filed with both the United States and Russian governments, a statement of ownership to all mineral and mining rights, and finally a postage-paid land registration card (presumably to receive their monthly mailer).
In addition, there is also a fact book about the moon and a printed copy of Moon Estates (a website publication supporting the whole idea of selling plots on the Moon). And all of it comes in a concise little kit designed to entice even the most thrifty of consumers.
Legal bliss
Imagine the pure satisfaction derived from filing a lawsuit against China, Russia or the United States for trespassing the next time they land a craft on the Moon - and just so happen do so in your personally owned back yard. With the map provided by the kit, you may have all the legal grounds necessary to claim trespassing. Who knows? You may even be entitled to damages and punitive fines which could reach into the tens of millions. All for only $29.95.
Luna-related facts
The surface area of the moon is about 38 million square kilometers, which is roughly the size of Asia with most of the Middle East added in. An acre is 43,560 square feet. This means the Getting Personal website could potentially rake in over $400 billion were every plot of Lunar land sold at current market prices. Who knows, if there's a run it could be more. Remember the Million Dollar Homepage website where the owner was selling one million "pixels" for a dollar each. He filled it up and made over a million dollars with that plan.
It's interesting to note that while we do have detailed photographs and topographical data of the entire Luna surface, all of NASA's manned space missions added together have only actively explored a dozen or so square miles of the surface with photographs and Lunar Rover vehicles. It might be there are areas unexplored which are as rich as California, Alaska and Virginia, rich in mining, scenary and wildlife. Probably not much wildlife up there though. Or scenary. Maybe some mining--not sure about that yet.
Return trips to the moon
In 2002, China set a goal to be on the Moon by 2010. They even wanted to create a permanent Lunar base shortly thereafter (much like we have at the South Pole today). Their pronouncement came in a similar manner to the one JFK made in 1960 about landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth by the end of the decade. We did that on July 21, 1969, just about three weeks before I was born.
Whereas the United States made good on JFK's assertion, China's plans have fallen back a little. They now include a manned trip to the Moon by 2020. However, to their success, on September 25, 2008, Beijing launched a manned space module called the Shenzhou-7. It had three astronauts on board and was launched successfully into orbit and returned by parachute after a 68-hour flight. This followed 2003 and 2005 manned flights as well.
China's next space endeavor is to build their own space station by 2017. China is the third nation to send manned missions into space (after Russia and the United States).
Space Shuttle leaves, Orion enters
The follow-on craft to NASA's current Space Shuttle fleet, which is due to be retired in 2010, is called the "Orion crew exploration vehicle." NASA also hopes to return humans to the Moon by 2020 using the Altair lunar lander atop an Ares series rocket.
The last time man set foot on the Moon was in 1972. Astronauts have described the experience of seeing the Earth from so far away as ethereal, spiritual and moving beyond words. Interestingly, not one of them ever publicly reported being scared or fearful as their home soil was seen from some 280,000 miles away. Man's resolve never ceases to amaze me.
UPDATED October 14, 2008 2:36pm:
Lower price found on competitor's website
A website called Lunar Properties is selling 2.47 acres for $29.95. I guess we have all the makins of a lunar turf war. "Hey, buddy... wanna buy some Lunar landscape?" "No thanks. Just bought some down the street."
Who owns the Moon?
The entire idea of buying a portion of the Lunar surface must come from a legal claim of ownership. Right? Well, in 1980 a man named Dennis Hope filed claims of ownership of the entire Moon with both Russia and the United States. His claims have never been contested by either government. It is from within that legal stance that Hope is full of hope his money making scheme will continue indefinitely.
Complete with Lunar Deed
When you buy an acre (or more) of the Lunar surface you actually get quit a lot to show for it. It's not just a lofty concept and a sheet of printed paper from a website.
Not only do you get a Lunar Deed, which gives you allodial title to the land, but also a copy of the Lunar Constitution and Bill of Rights, a map to find the plot (both from Earth observatory, as well as if you were on the surface--no kidding), a copy of the declaration of Lunar ownership which is filed with both the United States and Russian governments, a statement of ownership to all mineral and mining rights, and finally a postage-paid land registration card (presumably to receive their monthly mailer).
In addition, there is also a fact book about the moon and a printed copy of Moon Estates (a website publication supporting the whole idea of selling plots on the Moon). And all of it comes in a concise little kit designed to entice even the most thrifty of consumers.
Legal bliss
Imagine the pure satisfaction derived from filing a lawsuit against China, Russia or the United States for trespassing the next time they land a craft on the Moon - and just so happen do so in your personally owned back yard. With the map provided by the kit, you may have all the legal grounds necessary to claim trespassing. Who knows? You may even be entitled to damages and punitive fines which could reach into the tens of millions. All for only $29.95.
Luna-related facts
The surface area of the moon is about 38 million square kilometers, which is roughly the size of Asia with most of the Middle East added in. An acre is 43,560 square feet. This means the Getting Personal website could potentially rake in over $400 billion were every plot of Lunar land sold at current market prices. Who knows, if there's a run it could be more. Remember the Million Dollar Homepage website where the owner was selling one million "pixels" for a dollar each. He filled it up and made over a million dollars with that plan.
It's interesting to note that while we do have detailed photographs and topographical data of the entire Luna surface, all of NASA's manned space missions added together have only actively explored a dozen or so square miles of the surface with photographs and Lunar Rover vehicles. It might be there are areas unexplored which are as rich as California, Alaska and Virginia, rich in mining, scenary and wildlife. Probably not much wildlife up there though. Or scenary. Maybe some mining--not sure about that yet.
Return trips to the moon
In 2002, China set a goal to be on the Moon by 2010. They even wanted to create a permanent Lunar base shortly thereafter (much like we have at the South Pole today). Their pronouncement came in a similar manner to the one JFK made in 1960 about landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth by the end of the decade. We did that on July 21, 1969, just about three weeks before I was born.
Whereas the United States made good on JFK's assertion, China's plans have fallen back a little. They now include a manned trip to the Moon by 2020. However, to their success, on September 25, 2008, Beijing launched a manned space module called the Shenzhou-7. It had three astronauts on board and was launched successfully into orbit and returned by parachute after a 68-hour flight. This followed 2003 and 2005 manned flights as well.
China's next space endeavor is to build their own space station by 2017. China is the third nation to send manned missions into space (after Russia and the United States).
Space Shuttle leaves, Orion enters
The follow-on craft to NASA's current Space Shuttle fleet, which is due to be retired in 2010, is called the "Orion crew exploration vehicle." NASA also hopes to return humans to the Moon by 2020 using the Altair lunar lander atop an Ares series rocket.
The last time man set foot on the Moon was in 1972. Astronauts have described the experience of seeing the Earth from so far away as ethereal, spiritual and moving beyond words. Interestingly, not one of them ever publicly reported being scared or fearful as their home soil was seen from some 280,000 miles away. Man's resolve never ceases to amaze me.
UPDATED October 14, 2008 2:36pm:
Lower price found on competitor's website
A website called Lunar Properties is selling 2.47 acres for $29.95. I guess we have all the makins of a lunar turf war. "Hey, buddy... wanna buy some Lunar landscape?" "No thanks. Just bought some down the street."