# Does the USA own the Moon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 19, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765 "2015-09-19T14:01:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/21 "2015-09-19T21:36:53Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > You know, I’ve had it with you people who give so much credit to Lucas. You know who did all the real design work for the look and feel of the space mission? Ralph McQuarrie. Seriously, take a look at the early concept art he did for Apollo, back when Lucas was still wanting to name the first moon astronaut “Annikin Starkiller” instead of “Neil Armstrong”. McQuarrie did all the iconic visual design for the mission and deserves at least co-creator credit. Meh. All McQuarrie did was use photos of [Vasquez Rocks.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasquez_Rocks) ---
**Author:** ![goisrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@goisrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goisrael)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/22 "2015-09-19T22:28:56Z")
Private property is a lie, its not possible for anyone to own anything. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/23 "2015-09-19T22:31:20Z")
Molon labe ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/24 "2015-09-19T22:49:25Z")
Off to MPSIMS ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/25 "2015-09-19T22:54:43Z")
> [@user\_hostile](#): > > When I looked at Apollos Eight’s picture showing an alleged “[Earthrise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthrise)”, it was immediately obvious that I’d been airbrushed into the photograph of Earth. You’re delusional. That was actually [Waldo](http://duncan.co/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/waldo-vancouver-high-resolution.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/26 "2015-09-20T00:25:44Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > a liar _ **and** _ a coward …and a thief. That’s the best punch I’ve ever seen on video. He could have been a boxer. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/27 "2015-09-20T00:30:35Z")
I own the Moon (Earth’s large natural satellite). Larry, Lord of the Selenites. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/28 "2015-09-20T00:58:46Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > I own the Moon (Earth’s large natural satellite). > > Larry, Lord of the Selenites. I think these people are disputing your claims: [http://lunarembassy.com/](http://lunarembassy.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/29 "2015-09-20T01:20:07Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > I own the Moon (Earth’s large natural satellite). > > Larry, Lord of the Selenites. Wait… I have this receipt… ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/30 "2015-09-20T01:28:23Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > You’re delusional. > That was actually [Waldo](http://duncan.co/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/waldo-vancouver-high-resolution.jpg). Son, who do you think **user\_hostile** is in real life? ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/31 "2015-09-20T01:51:29Z")
The American moon landings were clearly faked. The first actual landings were by the British astronauts Wallace and Gromit, who brought back Wensleydale cheese, rather than a load of old rocks that could have been from anywhere. Watch the documentary film _A Grand Day Out_ for proof. I’ve not heard of any conspiracy theorist doubting its veracity. So the Moon belongs to Britain. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/32 "2015-09-20T02:01:44Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > …and a thief. That’s the best punch I’ve ever seen on video. He could have been a boxer. He’s a West Point man – the Academy’s PE requirements for men include one semester of boxing. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/33 "2015-09-20T09:10:31Z")
After all these years, don’t we (the United States, that is) get to claim ownership by adverse possession? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/34 "2015-09-20T13:24:10Z")
In no real sense does the US own the moon (they don’t own anything really - but that’s a different issue). They did visit it yes, and perhaps a claim could be made that they have a bit of the property, to the extent that they could throw a axe from the door of the lunar spacecraft and where it lands established their property line. But they abandoned their dwelling so that is also on very shaky ground, and that claim of property would go to the person, not the nation. But there is no practical way to effect ownership as they can not get there, nor stop anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/35 "2015-09-20T13:40:38Z")
[Obligatory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6MOnehCOUw) ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/36 "2015-09-20T17:13:43Z")
While everybody knows the landings were faked, hardly anyone knows that Kubrik fought tooth and nail to cast Peter Sellers as Armstrong, Jack Nicolson as “Buzz” and the voice of HAL9000 as Collins. Eventually NASA won out by casting unknowns, but Kubrik almost quit over the livid disagreement in artistic license. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/37 "2015-09-20T17:28:08Z")
It’s absolutely silly to think that the special effects state of the art would hold up to modern eyes. Event current CGI would likely be realized as fake. Clearly the only explanation is that the video was done with not yet invented CGI techniques and provided by a time traveler. I subscribe to the theory that Pixar uses spare cycles in their rendering cluster to crunch the numbers for the physicists who eventually discover time travel in exchange for a substantial grant of rights to use of the time travel intellectual property. Buzz Aldrin actually had his nickname suggested by the time traveler because of a marketing tie-in to Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 10. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/38 "2015-09-20T18:39:06Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > After all these years, don’t we (the United States, that is) get to claim ownership by adverse possession? First year law school: A Hooker ON Every Corner. Possession must be actual, hostile, open and notorious, exclusive, and continuous. Since we haven’t been there since 1972 a country could claim adverse possession against us if they established something there.\* \*Assuming that we are just joking about owning the moon. We signed a treaty. See Post #2. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/39 "2015-09-21T09:01:37Z")
> [@XT](#): > > No. > > The only one so far. And since we haven’t been back, ownership, even if it were that easy, would be more a theoretical thing. [We did go back, several times.](http://www.universetoday.com/55512/how-many-people-have-walked-on-the-moon/) (We as in humanity - I’m not American). I mean, the original movie was so successful they had to make some sequels. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765/40 "2015-09-21T14:18:10Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > [We did go back, several times.](http://www.universetoday.com/55512/how-many-people-have-walked-on-the-moon/) (We as in humanity - I’m not American). > > I mean, the original movie was so successful they had to make some sequels. Right…and from your link: > [@](#): > > And since 1972, no person has been either on the Moon or in lunar orbit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765.md?page=3)