Space Mining and Its Regulation

This book reviews the current and possible future regulatory oversight of the state and non-state actors now engaged in or planning to become engaged in the exploration and possible exploitation of space related natural resources, whether they be liquid, gaseous, or mineral. An increasing number of countries are also becoming involved in space-related activities that were previously carried out primarily by the US and the USSR (now the Russian Federation). The European Union and its individual member states, Japan, China and India in particular are assuming increasingly important roles in space as in many other areas. Even the United Arab Emirates has announced plans to send a future robotic mission to Mars. As such, exploration, exploitation and utilization of space natural resources are no longer matters to be considered within the exclusive domain of competition and decision-making between the US and the Russian Federation. It is significant to note that, in addition to this new international context, the exploitation of space natural resources is also no longer confined to the traditional domains of science and technology. 

Regulatory issues abound. These endeavors and how they might be regulated by international treaties, standards, codes of conduct or other means have become a truly international political issue. As a consequence, topics dealing with common concerns – sharing of resources, environment protection, and pollution – easily raise difficulties, as they require different states to agree on common principles having a direct impact on their sovereignty and financial interests. There is yet another new paradigm in the conduct of space activities. While in the past, space activities traditionally fell under the exclusive domain of governmental entities, the last few years have seen the emergence of the private sector of "space entrepreneurs". This poses several challenges for the pre-existing governance regime whose foundations are steeped in the classical State-based conception of international law. As a result, the text examines adequacies and ambiguities in treaty provisions and national laws, currently accepted practices involving the exploration and exploitation of space natural resources that will grow in importance in the coming decades.

Prof.? Ram S. Jakhu is Associate Professor at the Institute of Air and Space Law, Faculty of Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, where he teaches and conducts research in international space law, law of space applications, law of space commercialization, government regulation of space activities, law of telecommunications and Canadian communications law, and public international law. He is a member of the Global Agenda Council on Space of the World Economic Forum and a Fellow as well as the Chairman of the Legal and Regulatory Committee of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS). In 2007, he received a “Distinguished Service Award” from the International Institute of Space Law for significant contributions to the development of space law. He is managing editor of the Space Regulations Library series and a member of the editorial boards of the Annals of Air and Space Law and of the German Journal of Air and Space Law. He served as the first Director of the Master’s Program of the International Space University, Strasbourg, France, 1995–1998. He is a widely published author and editor of an award-winning book, National Regulation of Space Activities. His academic degrees include a B.A.?as well as an LL.B. from Panjab University, an LL.M. also from Panjab University in International Law, an LL.M. from McGill University in Air and Space Law, and a Doctor of Civil Law (on Dean’s Honours List) from McGill University in Law of Outer?Space and Telecommunications.? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Dr. Joseph N. Pelton?currently serves as a member of the Executive Board of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety. He is the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Vice President and Dean of the International Space University as well as the Director Emeritus of the Space and Advanced Communications Research Institute (SACRI) at George Washington University. Dr. Pelton also served as Director of the Accelerated Masters of Science Program in Telecommunications and Computers at the George Washington University from 1998 to 2005. Dr. Pelton was the founder of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation and remains as the Vice Chairman on its Board of Directors. Pelton is a widely published and award winning author with over 30 books written or co-authored or co-edited with colleagues. His book Global Talk was nominated for a Pulitzer and won the Eugene Emme literature award. Dr. Pelton is a full member of the International Academy of Astronautics, an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a Fellow of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS). He was the Founding President of the Society of Satellite Professional International (SSPI) and a member of the SSPI Hall of Fame. He has served as President of the Comsat Alumni and Retirees Association (COMARA). Until recently he was as President of the International Space Safety Foundation. He received his degrees as follows: BS from the University of Tulsa, MS from the New York University and his doctorate from Georgetown University.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??

Dr. Yaw O. M. Nyampong is working as Senior Legal Officer, Pan African University, African Union Commission, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also served as the?Executive Director (Academic Associate) of the Centre for Research in Air and Space Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. From 2010 to 2013, he was ?post-doctoral research fellow at the Faculty of? Law where his research focuses on the environmental aspects of space exploration and use, particularly how to address the problem of space debris. ?Aside from his academic laurels and research experience, Dr. Nyampong has extensive practical experience in the field of air and space law, having worked as an international consultant on a number of air law-related assignments for the International Civil Aviation Organization and the World Bank Group. Dr. Nyampong has attended and spoken at numerous air and space law workshops and conferences around the world and has written and published several scholarly articles and book chapters on issues of contemporary relevance in the field. ?He holds both a Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) degree and a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Air and Space Law from the Institute of Air and Space Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He also holds Qualifying Certificate in Professional Law from the Ghana School of Law (2000), and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon (1998). He is a member in good standing of the Ghana Bar Association and the Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario). ?