Under the terms of the UN Outer Space treaty no one owns space.Anyone can launch a satellite if they abide by the terms of fair use outlined by the treaty and are licensed to do so.

All of the information I can find says no one owns space but in my own simple words I would say that the first nation, corporation (most likely) or person to place a flag and point a weapon in defense of it owns the space or space object with said planted flag upon it or in it or marking the boundary of it.

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 says that the United States and others cannot stake a sovereign claim to any of space but does not say the a corporation cannot stake a claim and hold it as its own. The treaty says only that such activity should be monitored closely.

"The activities of non-governmental entities in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party to the Treaty"

These are the countries world wide that have either signed or signed and ratified the Outer Space Treaty.



You just know the US will grant the appropriate corporation the "We said so" ability to stake a claim if it is in the economic benefit of the United States or a group of its economic allies despite doing so walks the line of violating Article 2 of this OST.

Article II
"Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means."

I feel that the US the OST say on paper that outer space should remain free of staked claims of sovereignty but when faced with economic opportunity a corporate loophole would certainly be either created and or found and used with impunity.

Once the ways and means to further explore and colonize or even semi-colonize space and the objects within it the "Wild Wild West" and the pioneering aspects of it will turn immediately into the "Wild Wild Up" and those with the deepest pockets and the biggest weapons will own space.

In a semi-related metaphor .. in my job I have to look at properties to buy so I can sell them for a profit but to buy the property and then figure a way to make money with it would be backwards and unprofitable... I *have to* find a way to make money with a property FIRST and then buy the property. The same will apply with space. Once a corporation, government or individual finds the way to make money from the ownership of space or any of the objects in space... they will buy it and do so.