Luxembourg
is the First
European
Nation to
Offer a
Legal
Framework
for Space
Resources
Utilization
The
Luxembourg
Parliament
adopted the
draft law on
the
exploration
and use of
space
resources.
The Grand
Duchy is
thus the
first
European
country to
offer a
legal
framework
ensuring
that private
operators
can be
confident
about their
rights on
resources
they extract
in space.
The law will
come into
force on
August 1,
2017. Its
first
article
provides
that space
resources
are capable
of being
owned. The
country’s
law also
establishes
the
procedures
for
authorizing
and
supervising
space
exploration
missions
The legal and
regulatory framework
is a key action of
an overall strategy
to be implemented by
the Luxembourg
government within
the
SpaceResources.lu
initiative whose
goal is to support
the long-term
economic development
of new, innovative
activities in the
space industry.
Within this strategy
including but not
limited to the legal
regime, Luxembourg
has moreover begun
to support research
and development
projects of some
leading players in
the space mining
industry that have
already set up their
European operations
in Luxembourg.
The
SpaceResources.lu
initiative can build
on the experience
Luxembourg has
gained in sectors
that are closely
related to space
resources, and in
particular on its
strong track record
in the satellite
sector. In 1985, a
public-private
partnership effort
launched Société
Européenne des
Satellites,
today known as the
largest global
satellite operator
SES having its
operational
headquarters in
Luxembourg since its
creation 30 years
ago.
Deputy Prime
Minister, Minister
of the Economy
Étienne Schneider
said: “Luxembourg is
the first adopter in
Europe of a legal
and regulatory
framework
recognizing that
space resources are
capable of being
owned by private
companies. The Grand
Duchy thus
reinforces its
position as a
European hub for the
exploration and use
of space resources.
The legal framework
is part of the
expertise ecosystem
and the
business-friendly,
innovation-nurturing
environment that
Luxembourg is
offering to space
industry companies.
By adopting almost
unanimously the
respective draft
law, the Luxembourg
Parliament confirmed
the strong political
cross-party and
national commitment
to the
SpaceResources.lu
initiative.”
Simultaneously to
steps taken on the
national level
within the
SpaceResources.lu
initiative,
Luxembourg continues
to promote
international
cooperation in order
to progress on a
future governance
scheme and a global
regulatory framework
of space resources
utilization. In line
with this, the Grand
Duchy recently
signed a joint
statement on future
activities
concerning missions
to the asteroids,
related technologies
and space resources
exploration and
utilization with the
European Space
Agency (ESA).
Luxembourg and the
ESA agreed on the
opportunity to
further studying
technical and
scientific aspects
of space resources
exploration and
utilization
activities.
