Save the Moon!

Available for over a year

Professor Chris Riley speaks to space lawyers, scientists and commercial spaceflight entrepreneurs and argues that we need to act now to preserve the Moon for all mankind. There is a new race to the Moon. Companies around the world are competing to get there first and anyone with enough cash can book their place on a lunar break. Alongside tourism, there are commercial interests. The Moon contains valuable rare minerals as well as a potential source of fuel. The Moon is under threat. It is supposed to belong to all of us yet thousands of people have already bought lunar plots. One former astronaut believes he can legally claim ownership of a piece of lunar soil. As the Moon opens for business, so does the potential for commercial exploitation. What can be done to save it? Producer: Sue Nelson A Boffin Media production for BBC Radio 4.