Global recession hits moon sales

Lunar property prices have felt the affect of the global recession, say officials who sell land at the Lunar Embassy in Prague.

United Nations member states signed a treaty in 1967, banning countries from claiming rights for ownership of space matter, but attempts to close the loophole allowing individuals or firms to do so has failed to gain support.

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Space, the final frontier. It's been a mystery for decades, with many a story published on the historic 1969 man taking first steps on the moon.

Now though, a new revelation is gaining momentum. Yes, approximately four decades later, property is the new buzz-word, and like all things at the moment, it's going down.

It seems that the global recession is hitting Prague's Lunar Embassy also.

SOUNDBITE: MOON EMBASSY SPOKESMAN FILIP RAJCHART SAYING (Czech):

"Yes, the reason why we cut the prices is the financial crisis. We want to encourage sales. We really didn't expect the sales to drop. They were particularly significant in January and February."

In 1967, the United Nations did try to get a treaty banning countries from claiming rights for ownership of space matter, but attempts to close the loophole failed.

Since 1980, some 18 lunar embassies have opened around the world, offering ownership of land on the moon, Venus and Mars.

Jaroslav Bartunek is one of only a few customers who have visited the embassy.

SOUNDBITE: MOON LAND BUYER, JAROSLAV BARTUNEK, SAYING(Czech) :

"I am buying a piece of land on the moon for my daughter who is just turning 18. I simply can't give her more as a father."

To boost sales, the embassy has cut prices down by 20 percent, offering land patches for 799 Czech Crowns (39 U.S. dollars), down from 999 (48 U.S dollars).

So after the purchase, the new lunar land owner receives three documents - a Lunar Deed, confirming one acre of land, a Lunar Codex and a map of the Moon with the marked claim of ownership.

The land owner can also buy a Galactic Passport, to boldly go where no man has gone before, they just have to arrange how to get there.