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7 months ago in Space Law By Shraddha

If space debris crashes into your farm, can you keep it?

Okay, hypothetical: a chunk of an old rocket lands in my field. Am I allowed to sell it on eBay? Does maritime salvage law apply?

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By Raghu Answered 2 months ago

Nope, you cannot keep it, and maritime law has nothing to do with it. Space objects—functional or not—remain under the jurisdiction of the country that launched them. Forever. That's the Outer Space Treaty. And if it causes damage, the Liability Convention says the launching state pays up. So, no finders-keepers. You just get a cleanup crew and maybe a check from a foreign government.

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