Srinagar, September 4, 2023
In an intriguing development, Rupesh Masson, a prominent Jammu-based businessman and educationist, has made headlines by purchasing a plot of land on the moon. This acquisition comes hot on the heels of India's Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully soft-landing near the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023.
Masson, aged 49 and serving as the regional director of UCMAS for Jammu and Kashmir and Leh, revealed this lunar acquisition during a recent interaction with reporters. He disclosed that he had acquired a piece of land situated on "Luna Earth's Moon, Tract 55-Parcel 10772," more commonly recognized as "Lacus Felicitatis" or the "Lake of Happiness."
This extraordinary purchase was facilitated through The Lunar Registry, an entity located in New York City, and the transaction was duly certified on August 25, 2023. Masson's reaction to his lunar acquisition was a mixture of happiness and bewilderment, as he humorously commented, "I am happy and also confused at the same time whether if I bought the land or not."
Masson clarified that his decision to buy lunar land was primarily driven by the elation shared by countless countrymen over Chandrayaan-3's successful lunar landing. He emphasized that it was essentially a lighthearted endeavor, undertaken "just for fun." The documents confirming the purchase of one acre of lunar land are in his possession, and he duly paid the required fee.
The current market rate for a plot in Masson's chosen lunar location stands at ₹2,405 per acre ($29.07/acre), as indicated on the respective website. It's worth noting that there are various other lunar locations available for purchase, including the Sea of Rains and the Bay of Rainbows, among others.
The International Lunar Lands Registry (ILLR), established in 1999, has been pivotal in providing a standardized and simplified system for registering claims to real property on the moon. Notably, Masson joins the ranks of celebrities like Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who also own lunar property.
While Masson's purchase may appear whimsical, he remains optimistic about the possibility of eventually visiting his lunar land. He views the moon as a symbol of hope for the future and suggests that it could serve as a psychological escape for humanity in the face of the challenges posed by climate change.
This intriguing acquisition adds a unique twist to the ongoing fascination with lunar exploration and celestial real estate, emphasizing the boundless human imagination and curiosity about the cosmos.
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