Table of Contents
Policy and Law Team
Description of Relevant Law and Policies
The current regime of international space law most relevant to LEO Speedwagon will include the 1967 Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Outer Space Treaty); specifically authorized by Article 1,
“Outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be free for exploration and use by all States without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and in accordance with international law, and there shall be free access to all areas of celestial bodies. There shall be freedom of scientific investigation in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, and States shall facilitate and encourage international cooperation in such investigation.”
During any mining activities, whether it be a technology demonstration or mining being conducted on NEA and main belt asteroids, LEO Speedwagon recognizes the importance of adhering to Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty,
“States Parties to the Treaty shall pursue studies of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, and conduct exploration of them so as to avoid their harmful contamination and also adverse changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter and, where necessary, shall adopt appropriate measures for this purpose. If a State Party to the Treaty has reason to believe that an activity or experiment
planned by it or its nationals in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, would cause potentially harmful interference with activities of other States Parties in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies.”
The approval of House of Representatives (H.R.) 2262, U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, or Public Law No. 114-90, on 25 November 2015 marked historic domestic legal protection for space mining companies. The US was the first nation to provide legal protection of its commercial space industry to prospect, extract, and return minerals from a celestial body without national appropriation by claims of sovereignty. This act authorized commercial recovery of resources free from harmful interference while under jurisdiction of the federal government. It also stated clearly that U.S. citizens have the right to retain the extracted material from asteroids and celestial bodies but not the right to own or keep the entire asteroid or celestial body. This abides by Article II of the Outer Space Treaty,
“Outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.”
Relevant Law and Policy Resources
- United Nations Treaties and Principles on Outer Space Text of treaties and principles governing the activities of States in the exploration and use of outer space, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
- 1979 Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies
- H.R. 2262 U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act To facilitate a pro-growth environment for the developing commercial space industry by encouraging private sector investment and creating more stable and predictable regulatory conditions.
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea An analog to potential procedures and standards in space law.
- Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act To establish an interim procedure for the orderly development of hard mineral resources in the deep seabed, pending adoption of an international regime relating thereto.An Analog to potential procedures and standards in resource mining in space.
- Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects Liability Convention
- Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space Registration Convention
- International Space Station: Space Station Assembly