Artemis Accords and Resource Mining in Outer Space

This book explores the timely intersection of international law, space exploration, and global equity, focusing on the implications of the Artemis Accords. As humanity embarks on a new era of space exploration, driven by technological advancements and geopolitical competition, the Artemis Accords represent a pivotal milestone in shaping the legal frameworks for outer space activities. These non-binding agreements, established by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, facilitate international cooperation in civil exploration and the peaceful use of the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. The Accords outline a structure for resource mining on the Moon while emphasizing peaceful exploration. However, they also raise questions about governance, ownership, and accountability, particularly regarding private enterprises and international competition.

The book critically examines the potential for space resource mining to perpetuate global inequities, drawing parallels with historical patterns of colonialism. It emphasizes the need for more equitable frameworks that allow nations, including those from the Global South, to benefit from space exploration. The contributors, experts in space law and policy, provide diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of resource mining in outer space, addressing ethical and environmental considerations to promote sustainability. Through case studies and analysis, the book offers innovative solutions for ensuring a just and inclusive future for space exploration, making it an essential resource for legal scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in space law and global equity.

Prof. (Dr.) Sandeepa Bhat is working as a Professor of Law and the Director of the Centre for Aviation and Space Laws at the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata. He has the teaching and research experience of over twenty-one years after completing his master’s degree with first rank and double gold medals in 2003. His seven Major Research Projects are sponsored by the World Bank, ISRO, the WB Judicial Academy, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Government of West Bengal. He holds the unique feat of being the first Indian to be inducted as the UNIDROIT Correspondent for India. He has been a member of four distinguished international bodies, including the American Society of International Law. Dr. Bhat has published seven books on aviation and space laws and four books on medical law. In addition, he has published more than seventy articles in the journals of international and national repute (substantially on aviation and space laws). He is the recipient of the inaugural Sachdeva Award for Space Law 2022 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to space law. He has presented over 190 papers in international and national conferences, including the coveted International Astronautical Congress, as well as in international conferences held at Austin, Cambridge, Changsha, Charles Town, Istanbul, Jakarta, Paris, Seoul, Sharjah, Singapore and Southampton. He is a Listed Arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Space Enterprise, IASL, Moscow. He also has the distinction of being a member of the Indian Space Research Organization’s Expert Group for drafting the National Space Act for India.

Adithya Variath is an Assistant Professor at Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University, India. He pursued an MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy at the Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford as an Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development’s Elizabeth Moir Scholar. Before moving to Oxford, he was an Assistant Professor of Law and the founding Coordinator of the Centre for Research in Air and Space Laws at Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai (MNLU-M), India. He was also the Academic Supervisor of the TradeLab Law Clinic and a Member of the Research Council at MNLU-M. He also serves as the Editor of the Indian Review of Air and Space Law. His research focuses on space law, aviation law, emerging technologies, and global institutional design.