President Donald Trump signed a proclamation declaring space open to exploration and development by Americans, while reaffirming the U.S. goal of establishing a lasting human presence beyond Earth. (Foto: Instagram)
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Tuesday, Nov. 3, declaring the solar system and space beyond Earth to be the domain of all humanity. The document also reaffirmed the U.S. government’s intention to lead space exploration and establish a permanent human presence beyond the planet.
The proclamation says American citizens may explore, develop and use space, including by establishing settlements, provided their activities comply with U.S. law and the country’s international commitments. It describes the solar system and space beyond Earth as open to exploration, development, use and the establishment of a permanent presence by Americans.
Trump said his administration would seek to lead human expansion beyond Earth. He said the United States intends to build facilities, develop resources and maintain a lasting presence in space, both to expand American exploration and to strengthen national security. In the document, he said the country would lead the exploration, development, use and settlement of those new frontiers.
The proclamation comes as the United States and China pursue plans for renewed crewed missions to the Moon. The United States aims to land astronauts there by 2028, while China is working to send astronauts to the lunar surface by 2030. Both countries also plan to expand the duration of human stays on the Moon.
The principle that space should be a domain of all humanity predates Trump’s statement. It is reflected in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, an international agreement established during the Cold War and the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The United States, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom were among the agreement’s original signatories, and it took effect in October 1967. After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Russia became its successor state under the treaty.
The agreement was created to set rules for countries’ activities beyond Earth as new technology opened possibilities for space exploration. It established that space should be used for peaceful purposes and sought to prevent competition between major powers from becoming a territorial contest over the Moon and other celestial bodies. The treaty bars countries from claiming sovereignty over or otherwise appropriating space, the Moon or other celestial bodies, including through occupation. It also says space exploration should benefit all countries regardless of their level of development and protects freedom of access and scientific investigation.
The treaty further prohibits placing nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies, and limits the use of the Moon and other planets to peaceful activities. It also holds countries responsible for space activities conducted by their governments as well as by private companies and organizations.
