Protection Without Borders (1 Letter) Re "To Preserve History on the Moon, Visitors Are Asked to Tread Lightly" (Jan. 10): Current historic preservation regulations in the United States do indeed focus exclusively on historic properties in states and territories. Proponents of protecting extraterrestrial historic properties might look to the Department of State as a model for protecting historic properties not otherwise eligible for regulatory protections. Under Secretary Condoleeza Rice, the State Department established its own registry of historic properties that deserve particular care because of their historical significance. If NASA adopted a similar approach for historic properties in space, then formal protection and care of these properties could be integral to NASA's long-range planning for our future. John Robbins Washington