I got cited in this article. Writing in National Review, economist Alex Salter talks about what parts of the Outer Space Treaty might apply to Elon Musk’s claim that Mars is a “free planet.” In past writings I have pointed out that the treaty requirement that countries authorize and continuously supervise their citizen’s activities in space requires Congress to pass a law to become enforceable. In other words, the treaty may impose some obligations on the U.S. government to regulate in outer space, but until it sets up a law to fulfill any such obligations, the private sector has leeway.
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