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Martian Parks

Protected areas on Mars

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There should be “National Parks” on Mars to preserve places of natural beauty (such as Apollinaris Patera volcano) or historical interest (like the Viking landing sites). These places should be fenced off and there should be little guard houses at the entrances.

By designating such parks, we can ensure that nobody builds a golf course in the middle of West Candor Chasma or walks all over the bounce marks left by Opportunity’s airbags.

—	AO, Jan 29 2004

Moon treaty http://www.iasl.mcg.../spacelaw/moon.html
[AO, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

1966 UN declaration http://www.oosa.unv...paceLaw/lpostxt.htm
"Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies" [kropotkin, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

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mystery tours to The Beagle landing site.

—	po, Jan 29 2004

Likewise the Moon.

—	krelnik, Jan 29 2004

Are there already any earthly agreements who has jurisdiction over other planets or is it still on a first come first grab basis? Like the old days, "I ... take this land for king/queen ..."

—	kbecker, Jan 29 2004

The 3 steps to owning the moon...
1 Get rich.
2 get several ICBMs.
3 Go to moon.

—	my-nep, Jan 29 2004

The UN Moon Treaty (see link), which also applies to other planets, says that we all have to share the various celestial bodies, and not do any horrendous damage. I didn’t notice anything in there about protecting sites of historic or natural importance, so, for instance, there’s nothing to stop somebody from landing a probe right on top of Armstrong’s footprint.

—	AO, Jan 29 2004

kbecker: the main documents regarding sovereignty over extraterrestrial real estate are the Outer Space Treaty of 1966 and the UN Moon Treaty of 1979. The former is ratified by most nations and states "Outer space and celestial bodies are not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means." The later treaty makes similar claims, but is only ratified by 9 nations, not including the USA, Russia. or China.

—	kropotkin, Jan 29 2004

Strike what I said before. Article 7 paragraph 3 of the 1979 treaty makes a provision for designating “international scientific preserves” for areas of “special scientific interest,” but it’s vague and doesn’t necessarily include sites that have historical or cultural importance.

—	AO, Jan 29 2004

No relationship to Bert Parks.

—	normzone, Jan 29 2004

Thanks for the links. -- //not including the USA, Russia. or China// That gets me worried. Will there suddenly be the old Europe or weak UN gain, when Spirit finds oil on Mars? What if Marsians have weapons of Mars destruction?

—	kbecker, Jan 29 2004

just so long as you keep your hands off Europa...

—	Space-Pope, Jan 29 2004

I think this is more or less already underway. NASA took the first steps in this direction by renaming landers after they've landed. There are three of them up there now, the Sagan, Columbia and Challenger Memorial Stations (formerly Pathfinder, Spirit and Opportunity landers respectively). I can imagine that future Mars explorers who come across these areas will hold the grounds somewhat sacred.

—	waugsqueke, Jan 29 2004

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