The Canadian House of Commons approved, the day before yesterday Thursday, a bill that includes amendments to the Criminal Code allowing trials regarding crimes committed on the moon or in space.

One of the amendments states that any member of a Canadian space crew who commits, outside Canada and during a space flight, any act, whether an action or omission, which if committed within Canadian territory would constitute a crime punishable by law, shall be considered as if they committed this act in Canada.

The bill, which was approved by the House of Commons with a majority of 181 votes to 144, aims to allow prosecutions related to crimes that occurred during space flights or on the surface of the moon.

Canadian authorities will also prosecute foreign crew members if they commit acts that endanger the life or safety of a Canadian crew member or if they commit these acts inside a Canadian vessel.