Ep 6. Who Owns What in Outer Space?

In this episode of Xploration Outer Space, entitled "Who Owns What in Outer Space?", viewers are taken on a journey through the legal and ethical questions surrounding space exploration and ownership. Host Emily Calandrelli leads the discussion on the current treaties and policies surrounding space ownership, including the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015.

The episode delves into the concept of "space mining" and the ownership of resources found on celestial bodies such as the moon and asteroids. To explore this, the show introduces viewers to Planetary Resources, a company that is aiming to mine asteroids for precious metals with plans to introduce a new era of space exploration. Xploration Outer Space also discusses the ethical implications of resource extraction in outer space.

The show also delves into the tricky topic of space debris and who is responsible for cleaning it up. With several thousand objects currently orbiting the Earth, including defunct satellites and old rocket stages, the issue of space debris has become increasingly important. Emily Calandrelli talks to experts about the dangers of debris colliding with operational satellites and how countries and companies can manage the problem.

Finally, the episode concludes with a discussion on the new space race: private and government-funded companies vying for control over missions to Mars. With SpaceX, NASA, and other organizations itching to be the first to land humans on Mars, the topic of ownership of the red planet becomes a focal point of the episode. Viewers will gain a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities surrounding space exploration and ownership thanks to the informative and thought-provoking discussions presented in this episode of Xploration Outer Space.