Law and Regulation of Commercial Mining of Minerals in Outer Space (Space Regulations Library Book 7)

This monograph addresses the legal and policy issues relating to the commercial exploitation of natural resources in outer space. It begins by establishing the economic necessity and technical feasibility of space mining today, an estimate of the financial commitments required, followed by a risk analysis of a commercial mining venture in space, identifying the economic and legal risks. This leads to the recognition that the legal risks must be minimised to enable such projects to be financed. This is followed by a discussion of the principles of international space law, particularly dealing with state responsibility and international liability, as well as some of the issues arising from space mining activities. Much detail is devoted to the analysis of the content of the common heritage of mankind doctrine. The monograph then attempts to balance such interests in creating a legal and policy compromise to create a new regulatory regime. Front Matter....Pages i-xxxi Introduction and Overview....Pages 1-20 Economic and Technical Prospects of Mining on Celestial Bodies....Pages 21-94 State Responsibility and Liability for Compliance with International Space Law....Pages 95-151 Rights and Duties in the Commercial Exploration and Extraction of Mineral Resources on Celestial Bodies....Pages 153-202 Exploitation Rights: Evolving from the “Province of Mankind” to the “Common Heritage of Mankind”....Pages 203-271 Meeting the Challenges and Balancing the Competing Interests in Creating a Legal and Regulatory Framework....Pages 273-313 Concluding Observations....Pages 315-322 Back Matter....Pages 323-372 1. Introduction And Overview -- 2. Economic And Technical Prospects Of Mining On Celestial Bodies -- 3. State Responsibility And Liability For Compliance With International Space Law -- 4. Rights And Duties In The Commercial Exploration And Extraction Of Mineral Resources On Celestial Bodies -- 5. Exploitation Rights : Evolving From The Province Of Mankind To The Common Heritage Of Mankind -- 6. Meeting The Challenges And Balancing The Competing Interests In Creating A Legal And Regulatory Framework -- 7. Concluding Observations. Ricky J. Lee. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 323-368) And Index.