New Rules for Mining the Moon's Resources Take Shape by 2026

The rules for mining the moon's resources have taken shape over the past five years. Between 2021 and 2026, agreements like the Artemis Accords and new UN guidelines set clearer boundaries for extracting materials such as regolith and microbes. These changes come as countries and companies push ahead with plans to build lunar bases and harvest space resources.

The shift reflects growing activity beyond Earth, where satellites and debris already clutter orbits. Legal experts now help define what is allowed—and what remains forbidden—in the race to exploit the moon's potential.

The 2020 Artemis Accords marked a key step, with over 45 nations signing on by 2026. These agreements stress safe zones around lunar operations and require transparency in resource extraction. Two years later, the UN's Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) formed a working group. By 2024, it released non-binding guidelines for sustainable mining, though enforcement remained voluntary.

Bilateral deals soon followed. In 2025, the US and Japan signed a pact permitting commercial mining under national licences. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which bans claims of sovereignty over celestial bodies. The treaty still stands as the foundation, even as newer rules adapt to modern ambitions.

Stephan Hobe, a law professor and director of the Institute of Air Law, Space Law, and Cyber Law at the University of Cologne, has clarified the legal limits. His work distinguishes between permitted activities—like extracting resources for scientific or commercial use—and prohibited actions, such as territorial claims. His analysis helps governments and firms navigate an evolving system.

The push for lunar materials is part of a broader trend. Nations and private companies now eye resources on Mars and asteroids, too. Meanwhile, Earth's orbit grows more congested, with thousands of satellites and fragments of old missions posing risks. These challenges add urgency to the need for clear, enforceable rules in space.

By 2026, the legal framework for lunar mining is more defined than ever. The Artemis Accords, UN guidelines, and bilateral agreements provide a structure for extraction while upholding long-standing bans on sovereignty claims. As activity in space accelerates, these rules will shape how nations and businesses operate on the moon—and beyond.