The United States has articulated its stance on the potential legal frameworks for space resource activities during the 64th session of the COPUOS Legal Subcommittee. The U.S. representative, Caitlin Poling, expressed condolences to the family and friends of former Working Group Chair Andrej Misztal from Poland and commended Vice Chair Steven Freeland of Australia for his leadership.
The U.S. delegation highlighted its participation in last year's expert meeting in Luxembourg and an international conference focused on space resources. These gatherings allowed delegates to gain insights from private sector experts about advancements in science, technology, and business cases related to space resource activities.
According to the statement, "Humankind is discovering immense benefits that humanity can reap from the extraction and utilization of resources in outer space." Such utilization is deemed crucial for sustainable deep-space exploration, including missions to Mars and beyond. The focus is on developing technologies to construct infrastructure using lunar materials and producing propellant from lunar ice.
However, there remain significant gaps in understanding regarding the Moon's resources, particularly ice concentration. The statement emphasized that further exploration and technological development are needed before a comprehensive international legal framework can be established.
The United States reiterated its view that space-based resource utilization aligns with existing United Nations space treaties. Under Article II of the Outer Space Treaty, celestial bodies cannot be claimed by national appropriation; however, ownership over extracted resources is permitted under Article I when consistent with international obligations.
The U.S. supports establishing non-binding principles to guide nations engaged in these activities towards shared values such as transparency and peaceful purposes. The Artemis Accords are cited as a foundational reference for these efforts.
Looking ahead, the U.S. plans to engage actively in drafting high-level principles informed by private sector developments and early demonstration missions. These initiatives aim to define best practices for future space resource activities.
Thank you, Chair.