Contemporary Legal Challenges in Mars Colonization: a Comprehensive Analytical Review of Regulatory Frameworks (2024–2025)

INTRODUCTION. The study presents a comprehensive analytical review of legal challenges in Mars colonization, examining the evolution and systemic gaps in international space law. It analyzes existing legal mechanisms, from the 1967 Outer Space Treaty to the latest initiatives, including the Artemis Accords and the updated 2024 COSPAR policy. The relevance of this research is determined by the rapid development of space technologies and the growing interest in Martian missions from both state space agencies and private companies. The purpose of the research is to identify potential problems in the legal regulation of relations related to the possible colonization of Mars. To achieve this goal, the authors solve the following main tasks: to investigate the sources of international space law that are potentially applicable to a Martian colony, to identify the problems of legal regulation of a Martian colony, and to propose mechanisms for their solution. The authors emphasize that establishing a sustainable, meaning self-sufficient and capable of long-term development, colony on Mars is impossible without forming a clear and comprehensive legal framework that regulates all aspects of human presence on the planet – from issues of jurisdiction over settlements, their inhabitants, and space objects and resource utilization to planetary protection and resolution of potential conflicts.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive application of formal legal and comparative legal methods. The empirical basis of the study consists of international legal instruments in the field of space law, national legislation in the space sphere, documents of international organizations, and materials of arbitration practice on space disputes.
RESEARCH RESULTS. The study establishes that the key principle of non-appropriation of celestial bodies (Outer Space Treaty of 1967) creates a legal conflict with the practical need for territorial control for future settlements. Regulatory gaps were identified concerning the use of in-situ resources (ISRU) while complying with planetary protection requirements and the legal status of children born on Mars. The analysis shows that unilateral acts (U.S. and Luxembourg laws on resource extraction) and new multilateral initiatives (the Artemis Accords) conflict with universal norms of space law. Legal precedents, such as the Kosmos-954 satellite incident, demonstrate the limited applicability of existing liability mechanisms to complex Martian missions.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The study shows that the legal regulation of Martian colonization presents an unprecedented challenge for the international community. Successful implementation of the Martian program requires the creation of a comprehensive legal framework that takes into account both the technical and scientific aspects of Mars exploration, as well as the socio-economic factors of international cooperation. The key elements of this framework should be: a clear definition of jurisdiction over Martian settlements, resource allocation mechanisms, a dispute resolution system, and Mars environmental protection protocols.

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