Fancy a piece of the moon? Find out the truth behind the claim of selling lunar land.
Introduction
Have you ever dreamed of owning land on the moon? Well, a man named Dennis Hope has been selling land on the moon for the past 35 years, or so he claims. But is it really true? Let's delve into the fascinating story behind this intergalactic venture and uncover the legal obstacles surrounding it.
The Claim: A Man Named Dennis Hope Sells Land on the Moon
If living in a 1,700-square-foot space with three other people doesn't align with your space aspirations, you might be enticed by the idea of purchasing lunar property. According to some social media users, Dennis Hope has been selling land on the moon for over three decades, making millions in the process. But is there any truth to this?
'Lunar Property' is a Failure to Launch
In the 1980s, Dennis Hope, who was freshly divorced and unemployed, turned to an unconventional avenue to seek fortune - real estate on the moon. He believed that he had discovered a legal loophole in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty that would allow private citizens to lay claim to celestial bodies such as the moon.
Scott rides the LRV, which was the first car on the moon.
Hope sent a declaration of ownership to the United Nations in November 1980, outlining his intentions to subdivide and sell the moon. However, his interpretation of the treaty was flawed. Tanja Masson-Zwaan, president of the International Institute of Space Law, clarified that the treaty applies to governments and their private citizens, rendering Hope's claim invalid.
Despite this setback, Hope hasn't given up on his lunar ambitions. On his website, he boasts of having sold over 600 million acres of land not only on the moon but also on Jupiter's third moon, Mars, Venus, and Mercury. However, experts assert that purchasing pieces of paper from Hope does not grant people ownership of the moon.
Our Rating: Missing Context
Based on our research, we rate the claim that Dennis Hope has been selling land on the moon for the past 35 years as missing context. While Hope has indeed sold millions of dollars worth of "lunar property," his claim is not legally valid. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty applies to private citizens as well, according to space law experts.
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