International Space Law for the Commercial Exploitation of Space Resources

Abstract Driven by geopolitical and commercial motives, humanity is on the verge of establishing an ongoing presence on the Moon. In order to sustain a permanent human presence on the Moon, it will be necessary to exploit lunar resources, including water, fuel, oxygen, and building materials. The international legal regime governing the utilization of space resources remains unclear. While many governance models have been proposed, the resolution of a clear, internationally agreed framework is required to provide certainty to commercial actors prior to the imminent landing of several missions planned for this decade. This chapter concludes that the international legal framework does not prohibit the extraction and use of space resources, but that detailed guidance is lacking. It considers existing plans for space resource utilization and argues that, as such activities are imminent, it will be vital to clarify international laws, including addressing issues of sustainability and benefit sharing.