The Outer Space Treaty provides the basic framework of international space law, and is formally known as the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. Articles I and II are particularly relevant to space mining.
The Moon Agreement reaffirms and elaborates on many of the provisions in the Outer Space Treaty and is formally known as the Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. The U.S. is not a signatory to this agreement. Article 11 is particularly relevant to space mining.
U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act
Asserts that U.S. citizens are “entitled to any asteroid resource or space resource obtained ... in accordance with applicable law, including the international obligations of the United States.”
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