ABSTRACT
The future of humankind and the understanding of the conditions of our existence depend partly on the knowledge of the mysteries of the cosmos. The immenseness and complexity of the cosmos surpass the bounds of human thinking. However, similarly to the subjugation of the Earth, mankind endeavours to enforce their passion for possession, despite all international rules, in outer space as well. In the backdrop of the international regulatory environment, the authors intend to decipher: To what extent can nations and private entities (e.g. space tourists) appropriate the fruits of the exploitation of outer space? They examine this issue by focusing on the tendency that an increasing number of travellers to outer space intend to explore, collect, buy or invest into the acquisition of assets for peaceful purposes in the near future. The authors approach the problem via internationally recognised legal norms incorporated into the Moon Agreement. The Outer Space Treaty serves as the guiding law concerning the regulation of proprietary relations and the problems of the recovery of resources in outer space by humankind. This chapter expounds how certain States, unilaterally, seek answers to the problems raised by the commercial space industry, specifically, proprietary relations proceeding from commercialisation.
