So what if someone had a baby on the Moon? Or even in the middle of a space travel?

Of course, it doesn't seem we are going to have a situation like that in the next 5 or 10 years considering our currently catastrophic global economy where NASA itself is getting fund cuts. But perhaps in 20 years, with luck, we'll reach the point where mankind will have to review current space laws, because by the looks, they are obviously, almost outdated.

Aside money issues, we can actually be considerably optimistic about the idea of advanced Space exploration and perhaps permanent Human settlement in other celestial bodies in the near future.

Technology itself becomes more advanced day by day, private companies join a field previously dominated by National and intergovernmental companies, such as NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, Planetary Resources, are a few examples of private companies with different purposes acting exclusively on Space. With launch and operational costs going down, new projects revealed by NASA and more players joining Space exploration, we can indeed expect Humans to actually permanently colonize other celestial bodies at some point.

http://www.spacex.com

And with that, comes the babies.

Its still unclear how micro gravity or the absence of it affects infant development, theories suggest suggest the baby would be born the same way if it had developed inside a woman living on a 1G environment, Earth's, but then face problems related to muscle and bone development right way, since there are no forces acting against them to encourage further growth. Simple tasks such as standing up and lifting an object are basically effortless, thus, biologically speaking there are no reasons for muscles and bones to develop.

Moreover, biologic limitations still apply even to adult humans, there are ways to generate simulated gravity in space, with centripetal force for example. In theory, Humans would be able to live with that as well as on Earth without needing the constant exercising ISS (International Space Station) cosmonauts need to do.

This image is ©1998 Science Joy Wagon - Website

In the Moon, at least with our current technology, simulated gravity is not possible. But hey! Its the Moon! It has a little bit of gravity, 1/6 of Earth's or about 17% of what we have on Earth. Its not a lot, but Astronauts wouldn't need as much exercising, and the effects would be less severe than living on micro gravity.

© copyright Sydney Observatory - Website

Unfortunately, Humans outside Earth's surface can also suffer from genetic and cellular mutation as well as illness derived from harmful radiation, naturally present in outer Space. That means babies may undergo a bad development process and even die prematurely.

Although having children in Space doesn't seem like a good idea, it will eventually happen, if Mankind doesn't destroy itself in the following decades before it expands its boundaries to the ultimate barrier, obviously. With some special care, we can overcome these inconveniences even with current technologies, let alone our technology in 20 years and beyond!

Now talking about law... will a baby born on the moon, or in the middle of a Space travel, have a Nation back on Earth?

Paragraph 15 from the Universal Declaration of Human rights states that everyone has the right to a nationality. At some extent, outer Space laws are similar to maritime laws, this means each country is responsible of what happens within the inside of its vessels. But will that apply to an ISS or distinct module manufactured by several countries? Or even the ISS itself?

What if it happens on a Lunar base ?

According the Article II of the outer Space Treaty, ratified by 62 countries; "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."

So, technically speaking, Lunar ground can not be of national property. Whoever, its up to discussion whether a base would be considered a "vessel", and then, considered an "extension" of a nation.

The biologic and law implications are rather pertinent, but theres even a harsher possibility out there. The possibility that an Human born outside Earth, the Moon, Mars or any other celestial body more specifically, might not be able to live healthily on Earth, at all!

Earth is home to millions of different forms of life, including harmful ones, like germs; bacteria and viruses. An Human used to artificial atmosphere wouldn't develop a strong immune system, and would be easily infected by the larger amount and variety of foreign bodies present in Earth's air. Sure, the person born outside Earth would be exposed to other Humans and most likely develop a basic immune system, but yet, too weak to actively defend the organism against the much larger variety and quantity of microscopic invaders on Earth, since its largely populated not only by more Humans but many non-microscopic forms of life, hosts of these invaders.

While it is possible to stimulate the body through vaccination, its unknown whether it would be enough. Alongside the infection problem, theres the gravity problem.

Simulated gravity can be effective at this point, but not on the Moon since its implementation is logistically impossible. The Moon has a very small fraction of Earth's gravity, while Human development in these conditions may be possible, subject to some side-effects, a permanent trip back to Mankind's place of origin will most likely be impossible. Easy tasks would be much harder to perform, and a having a healthy life could be a challenge.

In our current knowledge, a person born on the Moon wouldn't have a body adapted to live on Earth, thus, making the Moon and outer Space their permanent homes.

©2011-2013 ~gunsbins at Deviantart - Check out the author at Deviantart!

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