Should Space Be Exploited For Private Gain? Or Should It Ideally Be An International

[KittyWampus]

Park, so to speak, and belong to everyone?


It's a really open question that can be interpreted any way you want.

[liberal N proud]

1. We are privatizing everything else.

So someone can get richer

I am sure some one can claim space too.

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. There really is no way to keep it International. There is simply too much space.

Governments are not able to to really exploit space in a meaningful way. Even if some governments try, as technology improves Space will be exploited for private gain. It will be corporations and businesses that move humans into space rather than governments.

[JDPriestly]

4. But who is going to pay for protecting private interests up there?

As impractical as it is to make it international, it is even more impractical to make it private. I suppose that the US was the first country or entity to reach and plant a flag on the moon. But if some other country or private business puts something up there or takes something away from there, what are we going to do about it? Nothing. Ever.

[Agnosticsherbet]

5. Protecting them from what?

Private corporations are already marshalling to exploit space. Satellites are first, but at least one group is planing on mining asteroids. Space is inimical, but it is impersonal and good design is what they need to protect themselves.

Eventually, there might be something of a national or international force like a Navy, but there is no need in the next decade or so to protect private interests in space.

There is the moon treaty, of course, (http://www.ask.com/wiki/Moon_Treaty, http://www.islandone.org/Treaties/) and some international space treaties. But they do not address or attempt to limit private enterprise from activities outside the earth.

[a geek named Bob]

3. why not both?

Personally, large corporate and national efforts don't seem to be getting it done quickly enough for my tastes...

[ChisolmTrailDem]

6. I personally claim several planets, moons, and stars. There's

enough out there for everyone to have some.