Well, of course, because nothing screams “wild frontier of space” like adhering to a decades-old rulebook!
This treaty, signed during the Cold War, basically sets the groundwork for how nations should play nice in space.
Even commercial companies like SpaceX aren’t off the hook; they have to toe the line because their home country’s government (cough, the U.S.), is responsible for making sure they do.
The treaty outlaws things like weapons of mass destruction in space – because no one wants to see a Death Star – and promotes peaceful activities, saying “Hey, let’s not start an international incident up there.”
SpaceX and their ilk have to get the thumbs-up from their respective governments, ensuring they don’t mess up space for everyone else.
So yeah, even Elon Musk has to play by those ancient cosmic rules when he’s out there having a space walk.
