COMMERCIAL SPACE MINING: LEGAL STRUCTURES, STRATEGIC INTERESTS, AND POLICY DIRECTIONS

Commercial space mining is rapidly shifting from speculative concept to emerging industry, driven by advances in technology, private investment, and strategic competition. This paper examines its technological and economic drivers, the expanding constellation of state and corporate actors, and the fragmented legal frameworks that leave questions of ownership and benefit-sharing unresolved. It analyses the geopolitical implications of space resource extraction, particularly its role in shaping future power hierarchies. Within this global context, Pakistan’s prospects are evaluated, highlighting gaps in capacity and governance alongside strategic opportunities. The paper argues that Pakistan’s effective entry lies in targeted legal engagement, small-scale satellite missions through partnerships, research capacity building, and investment in human capital. By linking national preparedness to broader governance debates, it advocates for inclusive, multilateral approaches that prevent space mining from deepening existing global inequalities.

 

Keywords: Commercial space mining, space resource governance, geopolitical competition, Pakistan space policy, technological capacity building