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From: al@ames.UUCP (Al Globus)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Private space miners
Message-ID: <1248@ames.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-Nov-85 20:15:35 EST
Article-I.D.: ames.1248
Posted: Thu Nov  7 20:15:35 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Nov-85 06:35:04 EST
References: <> <823@nmtvax.UUCP>
Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA
Lines: 25

>      If I were to build a spacecraft, as a private company, which was 
> capable of travel to the asteroid belt, are there any enforceable laws
> out there that would prohibit me from mining rare earths, gold, platinum,
> and the like and returning earthside to sell the product?

I don't think so, but I'm no lawyer.

> 
>      I do recall the UN has an Outer Planets Treaty, and that there is
> also one that claims all extra-terrestrial resources to be "common human
> heritage".  

The so-called Moon Treaty was not ratified by the US Senate.

> I think there was also an international treaty restricting the
> role of spaceflight to individual governments, 

No, but there is something along the lines of governments being
responsable for regulation of satellites launched from their soil.

> as well as a United States
> law prohibiting private spaceflight. 

No.  As a matter of fact, it is official US policy to encourage private
spaceflight.  Thank Mr. Reagan for that.