Moon Agreement

The Moon Agreement, 1979 sets principles for governing exploration and use of the Moon, including its natural resources. It treats the Moon and its resources as the common heritage of mankind and requires a future international regime for resource exploitation. The Agreement entered into force in 1984.

Status of lunar resources

Under Article 11, the Moon and its natural resources cannot be subjected to national appropriation through sovereignty claims, use, occupation or any other means.

• The Moon's surface, subsurface and natural resources in place cannot become the property of a state, international organization, non-governmental entity or natural person.
• Placing personnel, spacecraft, equipment or installations on or below the Moon does not create ownership rights.
• States may collect and remove lunar samples for scientific investigation and may use reasonable quantities to support their missions.

International regime for exploitation

States Parties must establish an international regime, with appropriate procedures, when exploitation of lunar resources is about to become feasible. The Agreement states the governing objectives but does not itself create a detailed licensing authority or mining code.

• The regime must ensure the orderly and safe development of lunar resources and their rational management.
• It must expand opportunities for using those resources.
• Benefits must be shared equitably among States Parties, with special consideration for developing countries and countries contributing to lunar exploration.
• States Parties must inform the UN Secretary-General, the public and the scientific community, to the greatest feasible extent, about resources they discover.

Wider governance principles and India

Lunar activities must be conducted for peaceful purposes, with due regard to other states and the lunar environment. States must avoid harmful disruption of the environmental balance and retain international responsibility for national activities, including those undertaken by non-governmental entities.

• The Agreement applies its rules to the Moon and, unless specific legal norms apply, to other celestial bodies within the solar system other than Earth.
• India signed the Agreement in 1982 but has not ratified it, so it is not a State Party.