II 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 976 

To promote the development of a United States commercial space resource 

exploration and utilization industry and to increase the exploration and 

utilization of resources in outer space. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 16, 2015 

Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Mr. RUBIO) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation 

A BILL 

To promote the development of a United States commercial 

space resource exploration and utilization industry and 

to increase the exploration and utilization of resources 

in outer space. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Space Resource Explo5 ration and Utilization Act of 2015’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. TITLE 51 AMENDMENT. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle V of title 51, United 

3 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol4 lowing new chapter: 

5 ‘‘CHAPTER 513—SPACE RESOURCE 

6 EXPLORATION AND UTILIZATION 

‘‘Sec. 

‘‘51301. Definitions. 

‘‘51302. Commercialization of space resource exploration and utilization. 

‘‘51303. Legal framework. 

7 ‘‘§ 51301. Definitions 

8 ‘‘In this chapter: 

9 ‘‘(1) SPACE RESOURCE.—The term ‘space re10 source’ means a natural resource of any kind found 

11 in situ in outer space. 

12 ‘‘(2) ASTEROID RESOURCE.—The term ‘asteroid 

13 resource’ means a space resource found on or within 

14 an asteroid. 

15 ‘‘(3) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means any of 

16 the several States, the District of Columbia, the 

17 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 

18 Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 

19 Northern Mariana Islands, and any other common20 wealth, territory, or possession of the United States. 

21 ‘‘(4) UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL SPACE RE22 SOURCE UTILIZATION ENTITY.—The term ‘United 

23 States commercial space resource utilization entity’ 


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1 means an entity providing space resource exploration 

2 or utilization services, the control of which is held by 

3 persons other than a Federal, State, local, or foreign 

4 government, and that is— 

5 ‘‘(A) duly organized under the laws of a 

6 State; 

7 ‘‘(B) subject to the subject matter and per8 sonal jurisdiction of the courts of the United 

9 States; or 

10 ‘‘(C) a foreign entity that has voluntarily 

11 submitted to the subject matter and personal 

12 jurisdiction of the courts of the United States. 

13 ‘‘§ 51302. Commercialization of space resource explo14 ration and utilization 

15 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President, acting through 

16 appropriate Federal agencies, shall— 

17 ‘‘(1) facilitate the commercial exploration and 

18 utilization of space resources to meet national needs; 

19 ‘‘(2) discourage government barriers to the de20 velopment of economically viable, safe, and stable in21 dustries for the exploration and utilization of space 

22 resources in manners consistent with the existing 

23 international obligations of the United States; and 

24 ‘‘(3) promote the right of United States com25 mercial entities to explore outer space and utilize 


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1 space resources, in accordance with the existing 

2 international obligations of the United States, free 

3 from harmful interference, and to transfer or sell 

4 such resources. 

5 ‘‘(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days 

6 after the date of the enactment of this section, the Presi7 dent shall submit to Congress a report that contains rec8 ommendations for— 

9 ‘‘(1) the allocation of responsibilities relating to 

10 the exploration and utilization of space resources 

11 among Federal agencies; and 

12 ‘‘(2) any authorities necessary to meet the 

13 international obligations of the United States with 

14 respect to the exploration and utilization of space re15 sources. 

16 ‘‘§ 51303. Legal framework 

17 ‘‘(a) PROPERTY RIGHTS.—Any asteroid resources ob18 tained in outer space are the property of the entity that 

19 obtained such resources, which shall be entitled to all 

20 property rights thereto, consistent with applicable provi21 sions of Federal law. 

22 ‘‘(b) SAFETY OF OPERATIONS.—A United States 

23 commercial space resource utilization entity shall avoid 

24 causing harmful interference in outer space. 


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1 ‘‘(c) CIVIL ACTION FOR RELIEF FROM HARMFUL IN2 TERFERENCE.—A United States commercial space re3 source utilization entity may bring a civil action for appro4 priate legal or equitable relief, or both, under this chapter 

5 for any action by another entity subject to United States 

6 jurisdiction causing harmful interference to its operations 

7 with respect to an asteroid resource utilization activity in 

8 outer space. 

9 ‘‘(d) RULE OF DECISION.—In a civil action brought 

10 pursuant to subsection (c) with respect to an asteroid re11 source utilization activity in outer space, a court shall 

12 enter judgment in favor of the plaintiff if the court finds— 

13 ‘‘(1) the plaintiff— 

14 ‘‘(A) acted in accordance with all existing 

15 international obligations of the United States; 

16 and 

17 ‘‘(B) was first in time to conduct the activ18 ity; and 

19 ‘‘(2) the activity is reasonable for the explo20 ration and utilization of asteroid resources. 

21 ‘‘(e) EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION.—The district courts 

22 of the United States shall have original jurisdiction over 

23 an action under this chapter without regard to the amount 

24 in controversy.’’. 


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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of chapters 

2 for title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding 

3 at the end of the items for subtitle V the following: 

‘‘513. Space resource exploration and utilization ................51301’’. 

Æ 


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