Discussions on the development and planning of human missions to the Moon and Mars lead to questions as to what rules might govern such long-term missions, and who is going to enforce these rules. Current international conventions offer some solutions for such situations. But do they meet the needs of such missions? Is it possible and appropriate to transpose some existing national legislation for such missions? And if a new legal system is created for a new Martian society, on what principles should it be built? 

The aim of this thesis is to examine the issues of social organization and normative systems in hypothetical human space settlements. It will discuss what factors and social values affect the creation of such a normative system and its legitimacy. Furthermore, it will address the notion of authority in the context of possible future long-duration missions.