SpaceX will not recognise international law on Mars, according to the Terms of Service of its Starlink internet project.

Elon Musk's space company will instead reportedly adhere to a set of "self-governing principles" that will be defined at the time of Martian settlement.

Musk revealed plans to create a self-sustaining city on Mars last week, though no timeframe is yet to be put in place for its development.

Any future colony created by SpaceX would likely use constellations of Starlink satellites orbiting the planet to provide internet connection to people and machines on the surface.

More than 800 of the internet satellites have already been launched into orbit around Earth, with tens of thousands more planned in the coming years.

A Starlink app launched in certain regions this week, following a successful beta test of the network's capabilities in parts of the US and Canada.