The problems with an international legal framework for asteroid mining

Abstract

Asteroid mining has been the topic of both future and legal studies for nearly half a century. It wasn’t until recently, however, that a legislative action would take place. The US commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act (H.R.2262-US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2262/text) has accomplished a major breakthrough, even though it was preceded by the unsuccessful ASTEROIDS Act (H.R.5063-ASTEROIDS Act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/5063). It has been a beacon for other nations, such as Luxemburg (Oriane Kaesman “Luxembourg and the Space Mining Industry”. https://www.oximity.com/article/Luxembourg-and-the-Space-Mining-Indust-1, Draft law on the exploration and use of space resources. https://www.gouvernement.lu/6481974/Draft-law-space:press.pdf) or the UAE to create its own legislature regarding the ownership or extraction of extraterrestrial resources. Even the EU commission and ESA will address the idea of space mining, as the aftermath of 2016‘s Citizens’ Debate (Results of the ESA Citizens’ Debate. http://www.citizensdebate.space/results).This chapter was originally published as an article, available at http://www.academia.edu/32453498/The_problems_with_an_international_legal_framework_for_asteroid_mining_by_Kamil_Muzykag.