A Chinese company has had its licence suspended after it tried to make money by selling land on the moon, state media reported on Monday.
The Beijing Lunar Village Aeronautics Science and Technology Company managed to sell large swathes of pristine lunar property before being shut down, the Xinhua news agency said.
The company, claiming to act on behalf of an entity referred to as the Lunar Embassy in China, charged 298 yuan ($37) for each 0,4ha on the moon, according to the report.
Each lucky new owner of lunar soil was issued a ”certificate” that ensured property ownership including rights to use the land and minerals up to three kilometres underground, Xinhua said.
Li Jie, CEO of Lunar Embassy, said that 34 clients bought 20ha of land on the moon in the first three days after his company became operational last month. – Sapa-AFP