Asteroid 433, Eros is lawfully owned by Gregory W. Nemitz since March 3, 2000. Orbital Development is managing the "Eros Project" for Nemitz. The Project was begun to require the US government to officially recognize his ownership of that asteroid. Nemitz estimates his property's value to be more than US$10 trillion.

When NASA permanently landed its NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft on Eros on February 12, 2001, Nemitz sent an invoice to NASA for parking and storage fees of $20, to pay for one full century of rent. Citing its interpretation of the United Nations' Outer Space Treaty of 1967, NASA refused to pay the invoiced amount.

Official Notice was then sent to the United States Department of State informing the agency that NASA had exceeded its authority and had denied Nemitz of his Rights. The Department of State officially responded on August 15, 2003 by also citing its interpretation of the Treaty, that Nemitz's "claim is without legal basis."

Related Links Eros Project Orbital Development SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express OPINION SPACE The Safety Nannies In Space Manoa - Nov 04, 2003 A few days ago a parcel arrived on my front porch. It contained a new high-intensity halogen reading lamp to replace one that died after 13 years of faithful service. When unpacked, it proved to have a sinister new feature: a six-inch-long steel loop thrusting menacingly downward from the bulb housing. The Safety Nannies had struck again!