Lord British's Lost Lunar Rover Found, After 37 Years 193
Lanxon writes "The guy behind Ultima Online once bought an old Russian rover, despite it being lost on the moon somewhere. And now, using images released by NASA, it has been located on the moon's surface after nearly four decades of being MIA, reports Wired. Richard Garriott, who created the Ultima Online multiplayer game, bought the Lunokhod 2 in a Sotheby's auction in New York in 1998. And so new was the discovery of his lost possession, he hadn't even heard that the craft had been discovered when Wired spoke to him."
(Richard Garriott is also well known as Lord British.)
Re:Proof he owns the moon. (Score:4, Interesting)
Well, a Grumman employee snuck a picture if his daughter onto Eagle's descent stage, and one of the astronauts lefts a bible on a rover seat, and another left a memorial [to fallen astronauts] statute... And that's just the ones we know about.
So Garriot's claim is tenuous at best.
conspiracy theories (Score:4, Interesting)
you gotta love conspiracy theories surrounding the US moon landings.
For those, still not sure, check out these pics from the Harsh Mistress herself [nasa.gov], look for example at Apollo 14 photos, there are footstep trails visible. Ain't it cool?
Re:Proof he owns the moon. (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm sorry you have such a huge chip on your shoulder and are annoyed at however the land that I live on got into the hands of my countrymen.
Big whoop. If you want it, come get it. Just carry a big gun and be willing to die in the attempt. And don't be surprised if you do die. I'd prefer that you not kill anybody, my family in particular, but if you are that big of an ass I can't stop you anyway.
All land is "stolen land" after a fashion if you really get down to it. The question is really over who can enforce a "civilizing" force upon that land and keep people from having to kill each other ever other year to maintain possession of that land. Even the so-called native peoples of America or elsewhere have often moved or had land change hands even before they got there in the first place. This is all a moot argument.
My point about the Moon or any extra-terrestrial real-estate is that the same principles apply, and some silly group like the Lunar Embassy is a joke that won't really be recognized in the future except as perhaps an "initial claimant" on the property.
I'm not sure how it is going to happen, but at some point in the future blood will be spilled to defend some piece of real estate off of the Earth. In addition, there will be some folks who will be willing to offer "protection" from those who would be bullies. These may be private corporations, sovereign entities like some of the larger governments on the Earth, or perhaps something else dreamed up by those living in space.
As for my personal claim to the Moon, I'll claim the eastern rim of the Tycho crater. Still, there is no way for me to enforce that claim until I get there and try to kick off any squatters. So tell me, what is the difference between a squatter and the person who holds the title? I still say it is whoever has the bigger gun.