Are we legally allowed to leave Earth?

I just thought of something. Let's just say you built a spaceship that was capable of intergalactic travel and you keep it a secret for now.

During your test flights going further and further out into space you find a planet similar to Earth and it's able to support human life.

Upon returning to Earth, you show your invention and discovery to the world (for the sake of the story). You prove that your spaceship is capable of intergalactic travel. Showing how the spaceship works is up to you. Showing it or not showing it will most likely open up new paths. (But again, for the sake of the story you keep it secret).

Let's just say you wanted to leave Earth and live on the new planet instead. You also allowed others to join you.

So you and about 100 people announce you're leaving Earth to live on the new planet. Is there anything, anyone can do to stop you from doing this?

We have laws to prevent us from venturing to certain areas on Earth. Are there laws to keep people on Earth and not venture out into space?

If you had the capability to travel intergalactic, can the law even touch you? You'd be able to go anywhere do anything at anytime. Unless of course the military already have this technology and hunted your ass.

But for this story they don't. What do you think?



















[edit on 7-3-2010 by tim1989]

International Space, no laws, just Ethics.

I'm sure there are some people that would like to stop you, depends really on what you and they are up to in space. I even believe that the whole space tourism industry will fail miserably, due to the militarization of space and classified material that is floating above our heads. It could be seen as a national security threat, you flying around up there, with a spacecraft capable to harvest nuclear warheads from satellites etc...

Trickiest part is getting off the planet.

There are laws and regulations for rocket launches.

www.seanet.com...

reply to post by Vicodin



Not entirely true. Space Law is starting to become pretty big business. Most of it concerns sattelites and possible space debris. I am sure there would be area's in orbit considered off limit, you know being too close or on an intercepting path.

However i don't believe there are laws prohibiting something as in the OP though. Not telling anybody about it would be suicide, first sight of a rocket launch on the radar and the Americans or anyone else for that matter would blow you out the sky quick smart.

But assuming you get past all that i think you would be in the clear, until you end up setting some kind of future precedent up for the next lot who want to try it.

Lucas Predicted the Future if we all have the chance to have our own "ship" somehow, it would be Stars Wars. Chasing each other to the end of universe, if we as a specie want to divide & conquer so much and we have all these theories that we have reptilians greys and so on "Other Species" The Space would only be as earth, Controlled, Poverty not in countries but in planets, probably Gangster Planets and so on Green Peace Groups saving almost extinct "alien" Save the Universe,, or something.

But it feels we are doomed to stay, we are not done with our "Job" yet, here on this planet. Means maybe we have a spiritually needs to finnish the job, or we havent mined all the gold yet, or someone is coming back soon checking up on us.

Peace.

Personally, nobody can own space! If you want to build a space ship then go for it, just get lots of unedited and photoshopped pics I am sure many countries would try and stop you and probably would.

Legality is relative to the wishes of the people on Earth. If I built my own spaceship, then screw legality, I'm leaving this planet.

My spirit or whatever it is has left earth a couple of times.

I'm quite sure the means were illegal, although one time I left while I was sleeping and so that couldn't have been induced illegally.

On a little more serious note, as the above poster stated, space law is becoming a wild frontier so I would put my two sheckles down on a resounding "NO".

We only have 600,000+ laws governing us. That's not nearly enough so space must be the next frontier for the lawyers to invade. They will have it all subdivided and sold off to the highest bidder as soon as they can.

Originally posted by RadarMan
Legality is relative to the wishes of the people on Earth. If I built my own spaceship, then screw legality, I'm leaving this planet. [/quote


Yep!Thats the spirit!!!!!

I think it depends on where you originate from. In the utopian socialist countries, your ship, and YOU, would be confiscated as property of the State. You would be forced to cooperate with the government, sharing all of your knowledge of the workings of the ship, or you would be shot. Also, remember, socialized countries are so wonderful to live in that they have to build walls with armed guards in order to keep all the happy people from escaping. You are not allowed to leave without permission from your government, and they would never let you leave with something like that.
Here in America you would have to get off the ground before all of the environmentalist wackos who think the world is going to end tomorrow, and all of the religious nutjobs who think you could take them to their savior who's hiding behind a comet, could get to you and destroy your ship before it could take off. That, of course, assumes that your ship doesn't emit any carbon...

Don't forget about weapons and stealth. You'll be needing it in space.

Originally posted by mblahnikluver
Personally, nobody can own space!

I disagree no1 can own the earth yet they do?

OP,
What a strange Question, Its not something I ever thought about actually, Kudos for an original Question.
I doubt there is any direct law regarding civilians leaving earth, Infact didnt a school teacher go abourd the shuttle that blew up.?
There are probly plenty of laws that would stop you indirectly though as chadwickus points out.
I dont think there is any adgenda or conspiracy to prevent it should a civilian
wish to do so
be able to afford to do so
not convene any laws in the building or launching of said craft/rocket.

You should check out a fun movie called 'The astronaut Farmer'

www.imdb.com...

What was that movie that starred Billy Bob Thornton? He built his own rocket and orbited the earth. Sounds kind of like that. lol. Nice thought to have though.

Yup, thats him. Was funny as when the first launch went kablooie!

There are plenty of ET people that suggest earth is currently under quaratine...so if thats true, it might be difficult getting past, say, the moon.

Legally it would be no different than leaving to go anywhere out of country. I imagine if and when things develop to a degree where people have their own spaceships, it would need some regulations. leaving not soo much as returning from some alien world (dont want to bring back some zetan superflu virus).

The moon treaty could be built up upon to start the regulation. As it stands, not many nations have signed onto it...some of the rules are pretty tough also.

Bans any military use of celestial bodies, including weapon testing or as military bases.
Bans all exploration and uses of celestial bodies without the approval or benefit of other states under the common heritage of mankind principle (article 11).
Requires that the Secretary-General must be notified of all celestial activities (and discoveries developed thanks to those activities).
Declares all states have an equal right to conduct research on celestial bodies.
Declares that for any samples obtained during research activities, the state that obtained them must consider making part of it available to all countries/scientific communities for research.
Bans altering the environment of celestial bodies and requires that states must take measures to prevent accidental contamination.
Bans any state from claiming sovereignty over any territory of celestial bodies.
Bans any ownership of any extraterrestrial property by any organization or person, unless that organization is international and governmental.
Requires all resource extraction and allocation be made by an international regime.

This is an interesting subject that you have brought to light. However there are many answers to this and the one that rings true is this......We will never be able to leave, we have become prisoners from our own devices. If there ever was a way to venture then do you think that the likes of you and me will be allowed to go? or do you think that the upper classes and the rich will be the ones to go forward? We are pinned here by the greed of those running the governments worldwide, they dont want us to know the truth regarding everything. We only know what we are allowed to know. We are forced from birth to learn from books and tv shows etc etc. Do we actually know anything at all? or is it just enough that we have learnt to quell the boredom?
I believe that we all trully know who we are but have forgotten due to the brain washing systems that surround us globally, and that one day we will remember and awaken and live how we are supposed to, in peace and harmony.

I beleive they had suggested doing nuke/atomic test on the moon at some stage, I wonder why they didnt?

You know the ol saying, if it is not illegal , than it is legal.

I am sure one would be burdened by licenses permits and fees though.

A good place to start would be to go to the website for spaceshipone and find the page of the costs of developing and getting permits for making a space ship.

But if money were not an issue at all and a group could pay all the fees, permits, and licences then I am sure nobody would have a problem with a bunch of people heading toward the stars.

I have a hunch people are already right now planning on this very thing !