In this case, nobody is claiming anything. This is a simple scientific
experiment, applied against an object without claim- something like
blasting off a section of mountain in Antarctica to study it.

But someday there will be cases with more interesting implications. It
is reasonable to speculate that the future will see asteroid mining. In
that case, ownership claims _will_ be made to objects outside the Earth.



The reality is that no one really cares , other than this astrologer,
whether a country
decides to blast into, land on, poke at, survey or whatever any
extra-terrestrial body. It is generally understood
that science is a shared activity. The results can be gotten by any country
that wants them.

Mars will never be claimed as "American" soil just as the moon never was.