for more
information on the Smithsonian's study. The
author's reply included a copy of the Declaration
and permission to quote from it. It follows:

Astrolaw: Carrying Human Rights into Outer Space

On the occasion of the Bicentennial of the
Constitution of the United States of America and
in commemoration and furtherance of its values,
we the undersigned petitioners,

Bearing witness to the exploration and inevitable
settlement of outer space;

Recognizing the universal longing for life,
liberty, equality, peace and security;

Expressing our unshakable belief in the dignity
of the individual;

Placing our trust in societies that guarantee their
members full protection of the law, due process
and equal protection under the law;

Reaffirm our faith in fundamental freedoms;

Mindful, as were our nation's founders, of the
self-evident truth that we are endowed by our
Creator with certain inalienable rights;

Recognizing the responsibility of a government
to protect the rights of the governed to exist
and evolve;

Do assert and declare in this petition the
intrinsic value of a set of First Principles for
the Governance of Outer Space Societies and,
at the beginning of this third century of nationhood
under our Constitution, resolutely urge all people
of the United Sates of America to acknowledge,
accept and apply such First Principles as hereinafter
set forth.

ARTICLE I

The rule of law and the fundamental values embodied
in the United States Constitution shall apply to
all individuals living in outer space societies under
United States jurisdiction.

Appropriate constraints upon and limitations of
authority shall be defined so as to protect the
personal freedom of each individual, such as
the right to reasonable privacy, freedom from
self-incrimination, freedom from unreasonable
intrusion, search and seizure, and freedom from
cruel and unusual punishment.

Toward this end, the imperatives of community
safety and individual survival within the unique
environment of outer space shall be guaranteed
in harmony with the exercise of such fundamental
individual rights of speech, religion, association,
assembly, contract, travel to, in and from outer
space, media and communications, as well as the
rights of petition, informed consent and private
ownership of property.

The principles set forth here should not be
construed to exclude any other such rights
possessed by individuals.

ART