SpaceMiningData
National statuteUnited StatesIn force

U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015, Title IV (Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015)

U.S. statute (Pub. L. 114-90, Title IV) providing that a U.S. citizen engaged in commercial recovery of a space resource is entitled to resources obtained, in accordance with applicable law and U.S. international obligations; it disclaims any U.S. sovereignty or ownership over celestial bodies and creates no specific licensing procedure for resource recovery.

Facts

Level
National statute
Scope
National
Country
United States
Citation
Pub. L. 114-90, title IV, §402(a), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 721; 51 U.S.C. 51301-51303
Adopted
2015-11-25
In force
2015-11-25
Status
In forceCodified at 51 U.S.C. 51301-51303; the Office of the Law Revision Counsel page shows text in effect on September 24, 2026.

Resource provisions

A paraphrase followed by the source wording.

51 U.S.C. 51303 entitles a U.S. citizen engaged in commercial recovery of an asteroid or space resource to possess, own, transport, use and sell the resource obtained, in accordance with applicable law including U.S. international obligations. 'Space resource' means an abiotic resource in situ in outer space (includes water and minerals). Sec. 403 disclaims U.S. sovereignty, exclusive rights, jurisdiction or ownership over any celestial body.

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. [1]

Open evidence gaps

  • The statute tasks the President to promote recovery 'subject to authorization and continuing supervision by the Federal Government' but does not itself establish a resource-recovery authorization process; no U.S. resource-specific authorization instrument has been issued as far as primary sources show.

Sources

6 sources
  1. [1]51 U.S.C. 51303: Asteroid resource and space resource rights
    Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of RepresentativesLegislationAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle 51 U.S.C. 51303
    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.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Public Law 114-90, U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act (enrolled text)
    U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo)LegislationPublished 2015-11-25Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: name, citationarticle Title IV, sec. 401
    This title may be cited as the ``Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015''.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Public Law 114-90 - sec. 403 disclaimer of extraterritorial sovereignty
    U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo)LegislationPublished 2015-11-25Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Title IV, sec. 403
    It is the sense of Congress that by the enactment of this Act, the United States does not thereby assert sovereignty or sovereign or exclusive rights or jurisdiction over, or the ownership of, any celestial body.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]Public Law 114-90 - enactment date
    U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo)LegislationPublished 2015-11-25Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: adopted date, in force date
    Approved November 25, 2015.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]Public Law 114-90 - 51 U.S.C. 51302(a)(3)
    U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo)LegislationPublished 2015-11-25Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle 51 U.S.C. 51302(a)(3)
    subject to authorization and continuing supervision by the Federal Government
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  6. [6]Public Law 114-90 - 51 U.S.C. 51301 definitions
    U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo)LegislationPublished 2015-11-25Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle 51 U.S.C. 51301(2)
    The term `space resource' means an abiotic resource in situ in outer space.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.