[Kzyxtalk] Major Tom, Space Law, and Space Commerce

[Dennis OBrien]

[For those on this list with a show or other media outlet, please consider having me as a guest so I can present this emerging issue and explain the need for action.  Suggestions on how to move forward are welcome.]
To All Those with an Interest in Space Law and/or Space Commerce:
I am aretired attorney who has written a book on the above subjects.  MajorTom is a riveting drama wrapped around a legal/policy analysis.  It is a realistic, near-future story of twoChinese taikonauts and their U.S. counterparts who get caught up in the race toestablish the first permanent human settlement on the Moon. Their idealismconflicts with national leaders who want their own country’s economic systemand political philosophy to dominate. At stake is humanity’s destiny as weleave our home planet and begin our journey to other celestial bodies. Who willprevail? Lastmonth, the current U.S. administration set its marker: “We willalso ensure, lastly, that the rules and values of space exploration are writtenwith American leadership and American values.” – Vice-President Mike Pence,speaking at the announcement of a Presidential Directive focusing NASA’smission on returning humans to the Moon, 12/11/2017 “The UAGshall provide advice and recommendations on matters including, but not limitedto . . . Strategies to ensure U.S. leadership in the economic development ofouter space.” - Charter of the National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group,12/6/2017 Major Tom is one part political thriller, onepart science fiction, and one part romance.  It entertains the reader while exploring thefuture of space exploration and commercial development.  What began as a clever story based on a song quicklyevolved into a passionate plea for the future of humanity.  A must read for those interested in the nextgreat conflict - and the next great cause. I haveattached the first seven chapters (of twenty), plus the speech of the leadcharacter to a fictional space treaty conference.  These are enough to lay out the competinginterests, analyze the current legal framework, and present the benefits ofadopting the Agreement Governingthe Activities of States on the Moon and OtherCelestial Bodies, sometimes called the Moon Treaty.  You may use and share this material freely;it is written to educate and inspire as many people as possible.  Anyone who wishes to read the rest of thenarrative can purchase the book at Amazon.com. Proceeds will be used to fund further educational efforts. Thank youfor your time and interest, and for your work in this field.  As Major Tom said at the end of her speech, “Therewill be only one time when humanity leaves its home world, only one chance tocreate a new pattern that will lead each of us, and all of us, to our bestdestiny.  That time is now.  Please join in this effort to restore hopeand create a better world – and a better universe – for all of us. “Thankyou very much for your time and attention. May we all find the wisdom, strength, and courage to do what is right.” Sincerely, DennisO’Brien DennisO’Brien is a retired attorney and former member of the NASA-Hastings LawProject in San Francisco. His 1985 treatise, OTV: An Argument for the Independent Trader, argued for moreinvolvement of private enterprise at a time when NASA was committed to usingthe Space Shuttle for almost all U.S. activity in space. Although rejected atthe time because it limited NASA to public policy missions, the treatisepredicted the current public-private model for the exploration and developmentof outer space.
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