International legal prospects for using natural resources of the moon and other celestial bodies

The article discusses the existing international laws and national legislation in the field of exploration and development of the Moon and other celestial bodies, as well as the prospects for the improvement of such laws and regulation framework. The highest emphasis is laid on the analysis of the current approaches to interpretation and application of the provisions on natural resources in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and in the 1970 Moon Agreement on the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. The national legislative initiatives of the U. S.A., Luxemburg and the United Arab Emirates within the specified range of problems are reviewed; the latest initiatives of the United States in the area of contract rights are discussed, first and foremost, agreements between governments, which are harmonized with the American legislation on outer space mining (Artemis Accords). The specific nature of activities connected with natural resources of celestial bodies defines the role of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in the amendment of the universal international laws on natural resources of the Moon and other celestial bodies. The possible alternative ways of the international space law development in terms of natural resources are discussed, and a conceptual proposal is formulated for the Russian Federation to to apply the optimized method of protection of its interests in this diversified environment of the international laws and rights connected with space mining and use of space mineral resources.

 

Keywords: International Space Law, Outer Space Treaty, Moon Agreement, principle of non-appropriation, juridical nature and status of natural resources of celestial bodies, space mining activity.
For citation:

Vylegzhanin A. N., Yuzbashyan M. R., Alekseev M. A. International legal prospects for using natural resources of the moon and other celestial bodies. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(3-1):155—172. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_31_0_155.

Acknowledgements:
Issue number: 3
Year: 2021
Page number: 155-172
ISBN: 0236-1493
UDK: 341.229
DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_31_0_155
Article receipt date: 29.10.2020
Date of review receipt: 08.12.2020
Date of the editorial board′s decision on the article′s publishing: 10.02.2021
About authors:

Vylegzhanin A. N., Dr. Sci. (Law) , Professor, Head of the Department of International Law, danilalvy@mail.ru;
Yuzbashyan M. R., Ph.D. in International Law, Asst. Professor at the Department of International Law, m_you@mail.ru;
Alekseev M. A., Specialist of the Information and analysis center of ensuring near-Earth space activities safety, alekseevx@mail.ru;
1 Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) MFA Russia, Moscow, Russia; JSC «TsNIIMash», Korolev, Moscow Region, Russia.

 

For contacts:
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