The letter writers are among more than 1,200 Germans who purchased moon lots from U.S. entrepreneur Dennis Hope, who claims legal ownership of the moon under a loophole in the 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty. No national governments have yet recognized Hope’s claim to the real estate, and it is possible that rival companies have sold overlapping lots to different customers. Hope’s company offers one-acre lots for $19.99.

I do worry that the future space station might be built on my lot. So I would like to inform you that I might allow the U.S. government to do so, but only if I am paid for that area. If this should happen, I would be ready to enter into negotiations with the U.S. officials.