CANADA MAKES MOON CRIMES ILLEGAL
In April, Canadian Parliament proposed a measure that will make it illegal for Canadian astronauts to commit crimes on the Moon or while in orbit. The measure reads: “A Canadian crew member who, during a spaceflight, commits an act or omission outside Canada that if committed in Canada would constitute an indictable offense is deemed to have committed that act or omission in Canada.” The bill adds that the same is true for crimes committed “on the surface of the Moon.”
Canada recently joined NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency as members of the Lunar Gateway project – a mission to launch a small, international space station into orbit around the Moon, in order to support lunar surface operations such as the upcoming Artemis mission.
“The basic rule is that ‘each partner shall retain jurisdiction and control over the elements it registers and over personnel in or on the Space Station who are its nationals,” said the ESA. “This legal regime recognises the jurisdiction of the Partner State’s courts and allows the application of national laws in such areas as criminal matters, liability issues and protection of intellectual property rights.” In other words, a Russian who breaks a law in space is subject to Russia’s law, an American to US law and so forth.