Apparently, back sometime last century, it occurred to the international community that, if satellites etc. were going to become commonplace, space needed dividing up and to belong to people. Britain, trying to own as much space as possible, pointed out that they were responsible for the Crown Dependencies, and ought to get space for them too, which the British would administer.

Except that the Manx government, in more recent years, said to the UK government "Well thanks for administering our bit of space for us, but we'll take it back now and administer it ourselves". The UK government realised that they couldn't refuse - and we now administer our own bit of space, licensing satellites etc. and earning money from it.

Now comes the really weird bit. Space was not dished out so that you own the bit above yourselves, but as a sort of patchwork to ensure reasonable bits for all. And you know which bit belongs to us? Well, if you live in the middle of the USA, just look upwards.

Yes, that's right - if you want to put a satellite into geostationary orbit over somewhere in the vague vicinity of Nebraska or Kansas you have to get it registered with the Isle-of-Man government and pay us rent!!