Natural Resources of the Moon and Legal Regulation

Things may be considered as resources of some sort to the extent that they are perceived to have a beneficial potential. In this sense, a wide variety of phenomena may be regarded as resources. Hence, the category of natural resources of the Moon includes the unpolluted environment, for instance. A more limited concept of lunar natural resources would restrict them to mineral resources and other material substances that can be derived from the Moon. Humans have found a variety of such resources on the Moon that they are eager to exploit (technology permitting). There may still be also new resources to be found, such as minerals, energy sources, organic and non-organic substances. To avoid undue speculation on an already complicated issue, this chapter will concentrate on the legal regulation of human activities involving resources of the more traditional type, i.e., known resources relating directly to the soil of the Moon.