SpaceMiningData
Executive instrumentUnited StatesIn force

U.S. Executive Order 14335 (13 August 2025): Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry - Sec. 5 novel space activity authorization

Executive order directing the Secretary of Commerce to propose an individualized mission authorization process for activities covered by OST Art. VI that no existing U.S. regulatory framework clearly governs. The Office of Space Commerce opened a voluntary, non-binding 'Space Commerce Certification' pilot in August 2026. Neither mentions space resources expressly.

Facts

Level
Executive instrument
Scope
National
Country
United States
Citation
Executive Order 14335 of August 13, 2025, 90 FR 40219 (August 19, 2025); OSC notice 91 FR 53849 (August 20, 2026)
Adopted
2025-08-13
In force
2025-08-13
Status
In forcePublished at 90 FR 40219; implementing pilot notice at 91 FR 53849 (20 August 2026) states a pilot certification has no direct legal effect.

Resource provisions

A paraphrase followed by the source wording.

No express resource provision. Relevant because the United States still has no statutory mission authorization process for novel in-space activities such as resource extraction; Sec. 5 directs one to be proposed, and the 2026 pilot is voluntary and without direct legal effect.

the Secretary of Commerce shall propose a process for individualized mission authorizations for activities that are covered by Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, but not clearly or straightforwardly governed by existing regulatory frameworks [1]

Open evidence gaps

  • Whether space resource extraction missions will be treated as 'novel' activities under this process is not stated in either document.

Sources

3 sources
  1. [1]Executive Order 14335 - Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry (90 FR 40219)
    Federal RegisterLegislationPublished 2025-08-19Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary, resource provisionsarticle Sec. 5
    the Secretary of Commerce shall propose a process for individualized mission authorizations for activities that are covered by Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, but not clearly or straightforwardly governed by existing regulatory frameworks
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Notice of Mission Authorization Pilot Program (91 FR 53849)
    Office of Space Commerce, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (Federal Register)Government recordPublished 2026-08-20Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: status, resource provisions
    Grant of an SCC during this pilot phase, on its own, will have no direct legal effect.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Notice of Mission Authorization Pilot Program - deadline
    Office of Space Commerce, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (Federal Register)Government recordPublished 2026-08-20Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: status
    Space operators interested in participating in the SCC framework pilot program must submit expressions of interest no later than October 5, 2026.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.