The Moon Remains a Legal Wild West for Commercial Launches

Space law expert Steve Mirmina argues no US agency has the authority to regulate what private companies send to the lunar surface. Services like $3,495 pet-ash memorials and advertising payloads are already a reality, with nearly 500,000 pounds of objects left on the Moon.

• Celestis sends pet ashes to the Moon for $3,495
• Nearly 500,000 pounds of objects now sit on the lunar surface
• The FAA regulates launches but not payloads on the Moon
• 118 countries are parties to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty