ETH Global Lecture Series: Who Owns the Moon?

After millennia of being awed by the night sky and centuries of studying the patterns of stars and planets, the vast resources of space are within our grasp. Last year, the global space industry skyrocketed launching 3,000 satellites, interplanetary probes, landers, and much more. In the United States, SpaceX was responsible for almost 90% of these launches and now more than 70 other countries are demonstrating space capabilities. As a result, complex legal and ethical questions emerge about territory, resource rights, sustainability, equity, and the preservation of the space environment.

Join Michelle Hanlon, a leading voice in space law and Executive Director of the Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi, as she takes us through the intricacies of space law – exploring the human boundaries that exist as we travel the Universe.

In Hanlon’s presentation, you will discover:

• The importance of safeguarding historic sites on the Moon and beyond—not just as a tribute to our past, but as essential stepping-stones for our future explorations.
• The gaps in space law specifically, the differing obligations that space law imposes on scientific and commercial activities, as well as governmental and private actors.
• The intergovernmental treaties and agreements that form the backbone of space law, and how they are set to gain unprecedented significance in our increasingly crowded and competitive cosmic landscape.
• How we can navigate this exciting frontier responsibly and ethically, ensuring that our ventures into space enrich not only our own species but the entire universe.