Elon Musk's SpaceX has decided they will not be subject by Earthbound laws once their Mars colony has been established, according to the terms of service for their Starlink project.
Photo by: RODNAE Productions/Pexels
The ToS appear on the newly-launched Starlink app which contains all the pertinent information people involved with the project, such as access to software updates and billing information.
It also contains a brief overview of how the colony will operate, reportedly adhering to a set of "self-governing principles."
The company have stipulated that SpaceX supply satellites will still be bound to the laws of the state of California, where the company are based, but anything outside of the Earth's orbit is not subject to the same laws.
Such satellites could be used to ferry supplies or to provide an internet connection to people and machines in the colony.
More than 800 internet satellites have already been launched into orbit, with tens of thousands planned in the coming years.
Musk has revealed his intent to create a self-sustaining city on Martian soil last week, but no extra details have been divulged.
The 'Governing Law' section of the ToS says: “For services provided on Mars, or in transit to Mars via Starship or other colonisation spacecraft, the parties recognise Mars as a free planet and that no Earth-based government has authority or sovereignty over Martian activities.
"Disputes will be settled through self-governing principles, established in good faith, at the time of Martian settlement."
The Earthlight Foundation's Declaration of Rights and Responsibilities of Humanity list space as "free for all, by all, for all, and to all."
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