The Evolving Regulatory Framework for Space Resource Utilization

We are in an era of renewed interests in space resource utilization with active programmes to return humans to the moon and beyond. Outer space has been traditionally defined as a global common, beyond the national jurisdiction of any State and free for exploration and use by all States. The body of space law also recognizes the common interest of humankind in outer space. Nevertheless, there is a lack of a definite set of legal rules for making common interests real and effective. Over the time, the concept of sustainability has been extended to outer space. This paper draws attention on current developments in legal aspects of space resource utilization within the evolving concept of space sustainability. It explores to what extent these developments might likely enable a novel regulatory context that incrementally fit the common interest of humankind into space sustainability.