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Author
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Topic: Legality of SpaceX Starship debris sales?
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thisismills
Member Posts: 407
From: Michigan
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 04-03-2021 12:55 PM
   
Has SpaceX made a public statement about releasing Starship debris? I've seen numerous photos online of people finding items on the road and beaches around the launch/landing site.Over the past month at least one person has been selling items purportedly recovered after several of the Starships prototype flights. A summary of the item listings can be seen in the seller's completed items. At this point in time, is it legal to own found pieces from these vehicles?  
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rgarner
Member Posts: 1290
From: Shepperton, United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 04-03-2021 01:03 PM
I have known SpaceX to actively seek the return of this type of property, successfully too. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 45955
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-03-2021 01:11 PM
According to social media reports, SpaceX has issued local guidance that the debris needs to be returned to the company. It has not made any statements, to my knowledge, relinquishing ownership, so sales like these are not legal. Legalities aside, it will be difficult in the future to prove that these parts were from Starship without some type of certification from the company. So anyone buying may as well be buying scrap metal. |
thisismills
Member Posts: 407
From: Michigan
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 04-04-2021 11:31 AM
Thanks for the information. I was surprised that people were paying a non-trivial amount for mostly un-identifiable pieces. Traceability is a big concern. Even with a part number, it is probably not likely that SpaceX would publish documents or provide usage history for items obtained in this way. |
NicDavies
Member Posts: 25
From: Tobermory, Argyll, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2019
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posted 04-04-2021 11:41 AM
Rather than SpaceX getting upset about this, perhaps they should be asked to clean up their mess? Or encourage others to do it for them by paying finders? After all, a common adage these days is "the polluter pays." |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1752
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 04-05-2021 06:58 AM
SpaceX will come and do so. The finder needs to let them know and they will clean it up. When something like this happens it is impossible to track and find every small piece, so they have to rely on public reporting. Pieces of Challenger still wash up onshore from time to time. |
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