The FAA wants to regulate commercial development on the moon

Reuters has obtained documents suggesting the U.S. government wants to encourage commercial development on the moon. The documents apparently state that U.S. companies "can stake claims to lunar territory" using an existing licensing process for space launches.

According to Reuters, the Federal Aviation Administration sent a letter to Bigelow Aerospace in December explaining its intent to "leverage the FAA's existing launch licensing authority to encourage private-sector investments in space systems by ensuring that commercial activities can be conducted on a non-interference basis."

Translation? Bigelow could set up inflatable habitats on the moon and have exclusive rights to those territories. Reuters notes that Bigelow could also obtain rights for lunar areas "that might be tapped for mining, exploration, and other activities."

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The FAA letter did note, though, the U.S. State Department's concern that "the national regulatory framework, in its present form, is ill-equipped to enable the U.S. government to fulfill its obligations" under the 1967 U.N. Outer Space Treaty, which includes governing activities on the moon.