Setting foot on the Moon… Priceless.
For everything else… there’s Mastercard.
Actually, isn’t there an agreement on the books that the Moon is not the territory of any given natino? Given that, I suppose I could see how it might thus not be considered having ever left the US (or at least, having never set foot on a foreign land).
if they would have to go through customs because of the special situation there would likely be a thorough search. they would likely refer to it as a space probe.
Things can go wrong and spacecraft may have to land in unexpected places. There have been many splashdowns in international waters - what if they land closer to a foreign ship and get picked up? Imagine the fuss Iran or North Korea would kick up if it was anywhere near them. Of course it could have been even more complicated when these things were actually happening more often. There have been many splashdowns near Cuba and I doubt they would be very welcoming to an American astronaut landing in their territorial waters in the 60s without even a passport. It’s just one less complication.
Yes, it’s the Outer Space Treaty.
Also I found this thread and this one on another forum which appears to have been started by a Doper, Nanoda. Unfortunately they don’t offer much more information than what is already in this thread.
Actually I think that’s not a joke. I’ve seen a few mentions of that declaration.
Let’s just call that a whoosh (I really really really hope it is) and call it a day. Astronauts are aviators, and if any group likes to poke fun at authority, it’s them.
As someone noted up thread, If there was ever an April first thread, this should be it.
Indeed - but this isn’t what was being asked about in the OP.
Or even sailors on a US-registered fishing boat, who go outside the territory of the USA on the ocean, and then come back to port. They certainly don’t have to go through customs!
It’s a silly question.
In the case of sailors on a US Navy ship, I imagine it is similar to American military personnel traveling commercially to get from one base to another. We show our military ID and a copy of our orders, and that is usually acceptable to get us through customs (I imagine that for such places where that wouldn’t work, we’d be issued passports).
For sailors on fishing boats, I don’t now how that generally works.
EDIT: For the sailors, I mean, of course, when they inevitably go ashore in a foreign port, such visits being the only reason anyone would sign up to live in such cramped conditions and be made to dress like they do. 
Just wait until we’re all hip-deep in Illegal Martian Immigrants, & you’ll all see how funny it is.
Juuuust wait!
This is robert_columbia’s “thing.” It’s like he’s Skald the Rhymer crossed with Dick Wolf.
Next time James Cameron goes down, can we get a Customs guy to refuse him re-entry to the surface?
From Fish Cheer’s cite:
Does the ISS have an official country of registry? I’d think that’d undermine the whole “International” part of it. But if not, whose laws apply on board? Are there different laws in the different compartments?
Presumably they come to some kind of agreement between states, perhaps a treaty between the participating nations.
Believe it or not, it seems like yes thats the answer. The laws of the country that put up that module apply to each module.
“This extension of national jurisdiction determines what laws are applicable for activities occurring on a Partner’s Space Station elements (e.g. European law in the European Columbus Laboratory).”
Wow a murder occurring on the ISS would certainly be a messy legal affair and make for a pretty interesting novel / film idea.
Years ago when I went on a short gambling boat cruise (going outside US territorial waters) I seem to remember there was some kind of perfunctory customs and/or immigration check when we returned; had to show IDs at least. It must have been very perfunctory, though, as I hardly remember anything about it.
I’m surprised at everyone scoffing at the OP, though. Isn’t it a very germane question now that practical space tourism may be imminent?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t a US naval vessel an extension of US territory? Maybe sailors don’t have to go through customs on their return because technically they never left.
Remember, the only silly questions are the ones not asked.
And don’t even get me started on those asked here.
Oh, so that’s what those fucking Tau Cetians are so goddamn anal about. Jezz— first you kidnap some poor guy who stocks the beer cooler at Walmart while he’s out frog fishing with his brother, and then you all spastic about whether or not he’s packing any contraband. Some people have just got to get a grip.