Military Activities by Human Settlements on the Moon and Mars: Legal and Policy Issues

Paper number

IAC-06-D4.1.04

Author

Mr. Ricky J. Lee, Ricky J. Lee & Associates, Australia

Year

2006

Abstract

Once the goal of creating human settlements on the Moon and Mars, presently a favourite feature of many science fiction novels and films, become a reality, one of the more sobering thoughts to be had in this real and/or imaginary development of such settlements must be the possibility of military activities conducted by the human settlements.  Indeed, while the demilitarisation of the Moon and Mars have long been held to be a sacred requirement of international space law, the inherent rights of societies to arm themselves and defend their settlements from foreigners have long been recognised in law as well.

A self-sufficient settlement on the Moon or Mars is likely to wish to arm or at least fortify itself against the possibility of attack by a hostile power on Earth or from a rival settlement.  Similarly, the settlement may wish to resort to armed force against a rival settlement, targets in lunar or Martian orbit, targets in Earth orbit or even targets on the surface of the Earth.  Even if such a settlement had no desire for military capabilities in the early days of the settlement, it is unlikely that this would remain the case as the settlement evolves.

This paper addresses the issues concerning military activities by human settlements on the Moon and Mars, with particular attention to the legality of specific military activities such as self defence, use of force, and military use of satellite applications (including dual use applications).  Further, particular attention will be paid to the legal and policy differences between different models of human settlements on the Moon and Mars, namely one created by a single country or its national, one created by an intergovernmental organisation and one created as a multinational private venture.

Abstract document

IAC-06-D4.1.04.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-D4.1.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.