Prisons on the Moon & Mars are Coming Soon

Soon after humans begin regularly going to the Moon and Mars, even before establishing a permanent station without permanent staff or residents, someone is going to commit a crime there. Just like how humanity has to prepare for the inevitable massive asteroid strike, and the inevitable supervolcano explosion, NASA and the U.S. government must begin preparing for that fact that inevitably, people will commit crimes in space.

There are at least three aspects of space justice that NASA, and the U.S. government in general, need to consider: legal status, transportation costs, and life support costs.

The first humans to stay on the Moon and Mars will need to learn from humanity’s experience in Antarctica, where two prominent examples are instructive. In 1996, an American staffer attacked a chef with the sharp end of a hammer. According to subsequent news reporting, the attacker was confined to a hut until FBI agents arrived. Years later, a drunk Russian stabbed another drunk Russian. After the attacker sobered up, he voluntarily surrendered himself to authorities. Thankfully no one died.

According to American arrangements, each station has one, and usually only one, law enforcement officer: the station chief, who is a deputised U.S. Marshall. Other nations likely have similar arrangements. Although typically not stationed in Antarctica, as a practical matter military personnel who happen to be there providing support could also provide law enforcement services, though the legalities of such…