US Congress Moon Mining Act Will Bypass International Treaty

A new piece of legislation by the name of The U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act has just passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This legal document would "facilitate commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by United States citizens" – this means we could fly to our Moon, for example, and take home a bunch of space rocks for our very own. Believe it or not, this appears to fly well with previous laws which include the international Outer Space Treaty of 1967.

California Representative Kevin McCarthy spoke at the U.S. House of Representatives this week with remarks on the 2015 The U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act. There he called upon past hurdles the human race had overcome – like the breaking of the sound barrier – to bolster friendliness toward this new legislation.

He also suggested that the United States is a nation "uniquely called to explore The Final Frontier." Star Trek style.

One piece of this legislation promotes "the right of United States citizens to engage in commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources free from harmful interference, in accordance with the international obligations of the United States and subject to authorization and continuing supervision by the Federal Government."

The legislation would also allow United States citizens to take and own resources found on asteroids.

"A United States citizen engaged in commercial recovery of an asteroid resource or a space resource under this chapter shall be entitled to any asteroid resource or space resource obtained, including to possess, own, transport, use, and sell the asteroid resource or space resource obtained in accordance with applicable law, including the international obligations of the United States."

As for the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 – that appears to be just dandy. Unless you count the part that suggests that "outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means."

Of course that pretty much includes the taking and using of resources as well – unless someone decides by their own law that it doesn't? We're guessing this is going to be the sort of thing where another United Nations agreement isn't going to be held in extremely high regard when it comes to "getting there first," as it were.

For a look at the full bit of new legislation, head over to Congress.gov and give the paper a gander.