There is a brand new law that has recently been signed by US President Barack Obama. Details tell us that President Obama signed a space mining legislation law that will give United States space firms the right to own and sell natural resources mined from asteroids and other space bodies. However, this new law is having many experts scratching their heads as they believe this to be dangerous and even potentially illegal.
THE DANGER/LEGALITY IN SELLING NATURAL RESOURCES MINED IN ASTEROIDS
Some lawyers and scientific experts have spoken their minds about why they feel this legislation law was a critical mistake. A few unnamed experts have pointed out that this new law could conflict with the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. They mentioned how the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 declares that states should avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies, and also that celestial bodies and outer space, in general, are not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation. Ram Jahku, a professor from the Institute of Air and Space Law, also agreed with these experts in expressing their belief that this new law basically contradicts the Outer Space Treaty. Others have also pointed out that the space mining could damage the environment surrounding the Earth as well. Many experts are no doubt frustrated and confused by this new law to sell natural resources mined from asteroids and other space bodies, but there are some who agree.
The U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology is one of the institutes who sees no problem with this new law. They have went on record as stating that they have denied any violation of the country’s international obligations. It should also be mentioned that many U.S entities have been wanting space resource extraction for some time now. Many space mining firms have expressed their interests of this for years now according to details. This already seems to be a law that has multiple sides having different opinions, so which side are you on?
