UN Sets Principles for Lunar Mining as World Powers Race to Extract Resources

The UN is laying the groundwork for lunar mining. But with world powers and private companies already racing to extract resources, who will set the rules?

, and Administrator

2025 October 2 . 5:51 AM

1 min read

In the picture there is some text present on the stone, there are some dried twigs and small plants... — In the picture there is some text present on the stone, there are some dried twigs and small plants present on the ground.

UN Sets Principles for Lunar Mining as World Powers Race to Extract Resources

The United Nations has established a Working Group to set principles for peaceful and sustainable space use, but these are not yet legally binding. Meanwhile, lunar mining faces challenges and world powers are investing heavily in research to be the first in extracting valuable resources from the Moon.

Lunar mining involves extracting resources like water, helium-3, and regolith. The Moon could become a source of valuable resources like oxygen, water, and minerals. However, the process faces challenges such as legal uncertainty and competition. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 prohibits countries from claiming sovereignty over the Moon but does not clarify the legality of selling extracted resources. Recently, Ispace, a Japanese company, has set a precedent by securing a contract with NASA to collect regolith and transfer ownership, indicating a shift in the legal landscape.

World powers like China, the USA, ESA states, and Russia are leading the way in lunar energy extraction and resource mining. Private companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are also developing technologies for lunar mining. While international agreements like the Outer Space Treaty consider the Moon as a common heritage of mankind, concrete legal frameworks for commercial extraction and resource ownership are still being discussed. The UN is working on establishing a comprehensive global legal framework for lunar mining.

Lunar mining, while promising valuable resources, faces significant challenges, including legal uncertainty and competition. The UN is actively working on establishing principles for peaceful and sustainable space use, but a comprehensive global legal framework is still under discussion. Despite these hurdles, world powers and private companies continue to invest heavily in research and technology development, racing to be the first to extract resources from the Moon.