In the jittery 1980s, overshadowed by nuclear war apprehensions, an American named Dennis Hope leaped into the spotlight, claiming he had outsmarted the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and owned the Moon. He soon turned a profit by vending ‘Moon land’. But, as Africa Nova peels back the layers of this tale, Hope emerges not just as a quirky character but a shrewd entrepreneur, weaving a tapestry of half-truths and tales that have likely made him a millionaire by selling mere pieces of paper.
Crafting a Celestial Claim
Facing financial strife post-divorce, Hope had an epiphany: “I looked out the window, saw the moon, and thought, ‘Hey, there’s a load of property!’”. His research at the local library revealed that the 1967 Outer Space Treaty forbade countries from staking a claim on celestial bodies. A brainwave hit: the Treaty didn’t say individuals couldn’t!
Hope’s audacity had him registering a claim at “his local US Governmental Office for claim registries”. To his delight, with a bit of convincing, an officer stamped his claim, seemingly granting him the Moon’s proprietorship.
A Masterful Salesman Emerges
Hope penned letters to the UN and Russia, asking them to contest his claim. Met with silence, he embarked on his lunar land sales venture. He marketed acres of lunar real estate, raising prices over time. His sales pitch? He had sold swathes of celestial land to prominent names like Tom Hanks, George Lucas, and even former U.S. Presidents. If that wasn’t enough, he boasts of sales to corporate giants like Hilton and Marriott.
Beyond mere sales, Hope claims leadership of the “Galactic Government”, in liaison with 30 earthly governments. He adds, cryptically, that the USA is inching closer to recognizing his celestial rights.
Unraveling the Moon Myth
Hope’s argument revolves around a supposed loophole in the Outer Space Treaty. A deep dive reveals this to be mere clever marketing. The Treaty’s Article VI mandates state authorization and supervision over non-governmental entities in space.
Legal space enthusiasts (yes, space law is a thing, thanks to the International Institute of Space Law founded in 1960) argue that Hope’s moon deeds are mere novelties. They highlight that Hope has never received proper authorization from any Treaty signatory for his space exploits.
Hope’s defense? An alleged approval from a ‘U.S. Governmental Office for claim registries’. Yet, no such federal office exists that would sanction claims of extraterrestrial land. His copy of the approval, fraught with typos and odd titles, hardly helps his cause.
While he labels his Lunar Deeds as a “novelty”, Hope is quick to assert their legitimacy. He contends that each deed is uniquely registered, and the land’s value remains intact. He even shares that a large chunk of his clientele takes this venture quite seriously.
The Veracity of His Wealth
Hope’s sales figures are out of this world, with claimed property on the Moon, Mars, Venus, Io, and Mercury. If we do the math with his rates, he should, theoretically, be among the world’s elite, financially. He even mentions a declined $50 million offer for the Moon’s North Pole in 2011, pointing to his staggering wealth.
Hope’s claims range from owning $6 quadrillion worth of Helium 3 on the Moon to owning extensive mineral resources on various celestial bodies – including the rich methane deposits in Uranus. (Yes, we chuckled at the Uranus joke too!)
In truth, only Hope and the IRS know his real earnings. Yet, considering Hope hasn’t held a conventional job since 1995, and coupling that with the potential from his lunar sales, one could argue he’s surpassed the American Dream.
The Real Moon Claimant: Richard Allen Garriott de Cayeux
Think you can stake a claim on the Moon? Well, Richard Allen Garriott de Cayeux might have the upper hand. As the only person with a genuine claim to property currently on the Moon, he shelled out $68,500 in 1993 to snag the Lunokhod 2 and Luna 21 lander from an auction. “I bought Lunakod… from the Russians,” he boasts. His unique claim to celestial real estate gives him the audacity to quip, “In the name of Lord British, I demand the moon!”
Interestingly, Garriott isn’t just any moon enthusiast; he’s the son of an astronaut and has also journeyed to space himself, spending a cool $30 million for 12 days on the International Space Station in 2008. And for your gamers out there, the term “massively multiplayer online role-playing game” (MMORPG) is largely attributed to him. So, if you’re thinking of planting your flag on the Moon, remember Garriott has already made his mark!
Breaking Down the Gas
Let’s debunk a common myth: not everyone has methane in their flatus. Contrary to popular belief, only about a third of people have detectable levels of this gas in their farts. And those who do? It mostly appears after consuming significant amounts of fiber. During a small study with ten participants, their farts were almost entirely nitrogen once the fiber was removed. But with fiber, methane content dipped to just 3.6%, with hydrogen and nitrogen being the major constituents.
So why do some people produce methane while others don’t? It boils down to the type of microorganisms in the digestive system. Only three – Methaniobrevibacter smithii, Methanospaera stadmagnae, and Methannobrevibacter oralis – have been identified as human methane producers. Interestingly, heredity might play a part. A large proportion of Nigerians and South Africans are methane producers, but the numbers dip drastically for Norwegians and those in Minneapolis. Furthermore, if your parents are prolific methane producers, you likely will be too, with studies showing a 95% probability in such cases.
The prospect of lunar land ownership might sound absurd, yet the odyssey of Dennis Hope and other moon enthusiasts raises more questions than answers about property rights beyond Earth. Hope’s audacious claim, a mix of entrepreneurial flair and cosmic aspiration, has garnered both admiration and skepticism. While no one, not even Hope, has legitimately claimed the moon, it raises the query: Can one individual stake their claim on a celestial body?
Stepping into this convoluted space, we encounter Richard Allen Garriott de Cayeux, whose claim is the most tantalizing yet. His purchase of the Lunokhod 2 and Luna 21 lander pushes boundaries and challenges conventions. Unlike most, he doesn’t merely dream; he acts, spending millions on an actual space voyage. But even his claims, as strong as they might seem, encounter the legal challenges set by treaties, which assert that no nation may lay claim beyond Earth.
The crux of this odyssey isn’t just about staking claims but understanding the challenges of jurisdiction, ownership, and rights in the vast expanse beyond our planet. As humans, our innate urge to explore and own faces an enormous challenge: how do we navigate ownership in a realm that remains largely untouched and uncharted by human hands?
At the heart of this narrative is a tug-of-war between ambition and reality. Hope’s and Garriott’s endeavors illuminate the complexities, both legal and moral, of venturing beyond terrestrial borders.