Upon reading the text of the treaty, I thought it was clearly a violation.  But reading <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.sciencerecorder.com&#x2F;news&#x2F;2015&#x2F;11&#x2F;18&#x2F;u-s-space-mining-bill-run-afoul-outer-space-treaty&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.sciencerecorder.com&#x2F;news&#x2F;2015&#x2F;11&#x2F;18&#x2F;u-s-space-min...</a> shows that there is a debate with opinions split on whether it violates.<p>My belief remains that if you set up mining on an asteroid, you&#x27;ve appropriated it &quot;...by means of use or occupation...&quot;.  And this the USA has agreed to not do, nor to let its nationals do.