Exploitation of Natural Resources of the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies: A Proposal for a Legal Regime

The exploitation of natural resources of the Moon and other celestial bodies represents one of the most fascinating developments in the fields of space law and space related activities. The mining and use of extraterrestrial mineral resources may not only contribute to the betterment of conditions of people on Earth but may also enable the realization of projects such as those envisaging a permanent human presence on the surface of the Moon and other celestial bodies. The exploitation of lunar and other celestial bodies’ resources, however, requires an appropriate legal framework for it to develop in an orderly and peaceful manner, taking into consideration also such broader public concerns as regards security, safety and the environment. The current legal regime regulating activities in outer space lacks the required specific rules to govern the extraction and use of natural resources of the Moon and other celestial bodies once being removed from their original location. This book tries to fill this gap by proposing a legal regime aimed at regulating the mining and exploitation of extraterrestrial natural resources for commercial purposes.