---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 51303"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "51303"
heading: "Asteroid resource and space resource rights"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/51303"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Programs Targeting Commercial Opportunities"
  - "Chapter 513 — Space Resource Commercial Exploration and Utilization"
---

# §51303. Asteroid resource and space resource rights


A [United States citizen](/usc/51/51301.md?p=3) engaged in [commercial](/usc/51/50501.md?p=3) recovery of an [asteroid resource](/usc/51/51301.md?p=1) or a [space resource](/usc/51/51301.md?p=2-A) under this chapter shall be entitled to any [asteroid resource](/usc/51/51301.md?p=1) or [space resource](/usc/51/51301.md?p=2-A) obtained, including to possess, own, transport, use, and sell the [asteroid resource](/usc/51/51301.md?p=1) or [space resource](/usc/51/51301.md?p=2-A) obtained in accordance with applicable law, including the international obligations of the [United States](/usc/51/50501.md?p=14).


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 114–90, title IV, § 402(a), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 721.)