INDIAN MAN BUYS A ‘PLOT IN MOON’, EXPECTS TO TRAVEL WITH FAMILY BUT WHAT THE LAW SAYS?

Indian man, Rajeev V. Bagdi has claimed that he has bought a plot in Moon and he wishes to travel to space, especially after the successful launch of ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2. According to the reports, Rajeev had bought a plot of land on the moon in 2003 for $140 from New York-based Lunar Society International. He also expressed his happiness over India’s second successful lunar mission in 11 years.

Rajeev told people were initially mocking at him and called him a lunatic for buying land on Moon in 2003. However, he was very positive about his decision saying the moon will soon be the place for human beings to live on in the future. Though he had invested on moon considering his future generation, he seemed happy about the progress of Chandrayan 2 which would make his dream of travelling to the moon very soon in the near future.

“When I purchased the plot, I thought at least my coming generation will benefit from it, but now I am hopeful I will be able to go to the moon with my family,” Rajeev was quoted as saying by IOL. He owns an Ayurveda store and also a keen observer of the share market. He also says, “At least our future generations would feel grateful for the foresightedness of their forefathers”.

But according to “Outer Space Treaty” that was designed by the Soviet Union, the United States and the United Kingdom on Jan  27, 1967, “Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.” Therefore, Rajeev’s claim has raised doubts if he would be allowed to own his property since private ownership of land on the moon looks impossible.