The Lawfulness of Space Mining for Commercial Exploitation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21271/ZJlP.21.35.6Keywords:
Space Mining, Outer Space, international space treaties, commercial exploitation, national lawsAbstract
Developed countries are now more interested in using and mining outer space for commercial purposes, and have therefore enacted legislation to regulate their activities in this regard. The factor that has prompted the major powers, is the presence of valuable natural resources; thus, they are working to mine those resources and bring them to the Earth. Although it is stated in the international space agreements that “government or private entities cannot possess outer space (such as the moon and other celestial bodies)”, without mentioning these resources. Additionally, outer space must be used for the benefit of all mankind. In recent years, developed countries and private entities have been seeking investment in outer space, but they may face a significant obstacle in terms of the absence of legal protection for property rights and sovereignty problems in outer space. The article is an analytical study that describes the international treaties and national laws regarding the lawfulness of space mining for commercial purposes. The study analyses the legal impact of the lack of sovereignty on the property rights in outer space. The study's main finding is the necessity to amend the international space agreements so that they are harmonious with technological developments and mankind's ambitions, exerting efforts to remove ambiguity in the existing international agreements regarding the commercial exploitation of outer space, as well as to invite countries around the world to draft the texts of the new international outer space agreements or to review existing outer space treaties, in a way that gives an opportunity to the countries of the world to access outer space without discrimination and increases cooperation between them in this regard.
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