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Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 16, 2015
Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015
Directs the President, acting through appropriate federal agencies, to:
facilitate the commercial exploration and utilization of space resources to meet national needs;
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
discourage government barriers to the development of economically viable, safe, and stable industries for the exploration and utilization of space resources in manners consistent with the existing international obligations of the United States; and
promote the right of U.S. commercial entities to explore outer space and utilize space resources, in accordance with such obligations, free from harmful interference, and to transfer or sell such resources.
Defines "space resource" as a natural resource of any kind found in place in outer space.
Directs the President to report recommendations for: (1) allocating responsibilities relating to the exploration and utilization of space resources among federal agencies, and (2) any authorities necessary to meet U.S international obligations with respect to the exploration and utilization of space resources.
Declares that any asteroid resources obtained in outer space are the property of the entity that obtained them.
Requires a U.S. commercial space resource utilization entity to avoid causing harmful interference in outer space. Authorizes such an entity to bring a civil action for appropriate relief for any action by another entity subject to U.S. jurisdiction causing harmful interference to its operations with respect to an asteroid resource utilization activity in outer space.
People & committees
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] · D–WA
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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