Space Activities
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A/AC.105/705 A/CONF.184/BP/16 Office for Outer Space Affairs United Nations Office at Vienna Space Activities of the International Organizations A review of the activities and resources of the United Nations, its specialized agencies and other international bodies relating to the peaceful uses of outer space UNITED NATIONS New York, 1999 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No. E.99.1.24 ISBN 92-1-100821-2 Foreword Since the beginning of the space age, over 40 years ago, humanity has made significant progress in the development and use of space science and technology to address human needs. Many satellites have been placed in orbit and now provide daily data that are used for forecasting the Earth's weather and management of natural resources and disasters, as well as for environmental monitoring. Other satellites provide communication linkages that have greatly enhanced economic and social development while bringing countries closer together. Many challenges remain, however. Unsustainable patterns of production and consumption are putting increasing pressure on the Earth's environment. The physical interaction mechanisms among oceans, land, atmosphere and solar radiation are not fully understood. Natural disasters cause damage totalling billions of dollars and significantly set back development programmes. Large segments of the world population, in particular in rural areas of developing countries, are in need of education and health services. Improved space capabilities and international cooperation could assist in dealing with those and other important issues, thus promoting economic and social progress. Recognizing the need for constructing a practical, well-defined framework for future international cooperation in space activities, the United Nations decided to convene a Third Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE HI), to be held in Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999. While UNISPACE HI will focus on promoting effective means of using space technology to assist in solving problems of regional and global significance, as well as strengthening the capabilities of countries in using space applications for development needs, particular attention will also be given to the role that the United Nations and its agencies can play in the coordination of programmes that could utilize space technology applications for development purposes. The present edition was produced in conjunction with preparations for UNISPACE HI to provide an updated overview of organizations both within and outside the United Nations system engaged in space-related activities, their past work and events, current programmes and future plans beyond the Conference. As this publication documents, there are currently a great number of ongoing international, regional and bilateral cooperative activities serving the interests of all nations. iii Preface In response to a request by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in May 1964 the Secretariat prepared a working paper reviewing the activities and resources of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other international bodies relating to the peaceful uses of outer space. In November 1964, on the recommendation of its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, the Committee decided that the review should be issued at least once every two years. Six reviews appeared between 1964 and 1970. In June 1970, the representatives of the United Nations and the specialized agencies on the Inter-Agency Working Group on Programmes and Activities Relating to the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space of the Administrative Committee on Coordination proposed that the review should be revised and printed at least once every three years and that annual supplements should be issued to bring the information up to date. In September 1971, the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space welcomed the arrangements made by the Secretary-General to issue the review in printed form for wider circulation, with annual supplements to be issued thereafter. The first such review was published in 1972 (A/AC. 105/100) and a complete revision of the 1972 publication, covering activities up to the end of 1975, was published in 1977 (A/AC. 105/193). A revision covering activities up to the end of 1985 was published in 1986 (A/AC. 105/35 8).1 Annual reviews of the space activities of the United Nations and the specialized agencies are submitted to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in a series of documents entitled "Coordination of outer space activities within the United Nations system", the most recent of which is the report of the Secretary-General of 18 May 1998 (A/AC. 105/700). Many of the other international organizations active in space also submit annual reports on their activities to the Committee. In 1993, a further updated version of the activities of the United Nations and international organizations was issued (A/AC. 105/521).2 The present review, which is a thorough revision of the 1993 version and covers the period up to the end of 1998, is intended, like the earlier versions, to serve as a reference guide, providing a general overview of the organization, past activities, current programmes and future plans of the various international bodies involved in cooperative efforts in the peaceful uses of outer space. The review has been prepared by the United Nations with the cooperation of the other organizations covered, whose cooperation the Secretary-General gratefully acknowledges. 'United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.I.2. 2United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.I.30. v CONTENTS Paragraphs Page Chapters I. UNITED NATIONS 1-276 1 A. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 1-68 1 B. Office for Outer Space Affairs 69-101 12 C. United Nations International Drug Control Programme 102-152 17 D. Secretariat of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction 153-167 24 E. Economic Commission for Africa 168-182 29 F. Economic Commission for Europe 183-193 32 G. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific 194-227 35 H. United Nations Environment Programme . 228-247 41 I. United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research 248-276 46 H. SPECIALIZED AGENCIES AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS 277-518 52 A. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 277-314 52 B. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 315-346 59 C. International Civil Aviation Organization 347-354 65 D. World Bank 355-367 67 E. World Health Organization 368-381 69 F. International Telecommunication Union 382-448 71 G. World Meteorological Organization 449-469 84 H. International Maritime Organization 470-496 88 I. World Intellectual Property Organization 497-506 91 J. International Atomic Energy Agency 507-518 94 HI. OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 519-681 97 A. European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites ... 519-537 97 B. European Space Agency 538-574 99 C. European Telecommunications Satellite Organization 575-588 104 D. International Mobile Satellite Organization 589-624 106 E. International Organization of Space Communications 625-637 113 F. International Telecommunications Satellite Organization 638-681 115 vii Paragraphs Page IV. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 682-902 123 A. Association of Space Explorers 682-710 123 B. International Academy of Astronautics 711-734 127 C. International Astronautical Federation 735-756 134 D. International Astronomical Union 757-773 138 E. International Council for Science 774-856 141 Committee on Space Research 832-856 151 F. International Law Association 857-863 157 G. International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 864-894 162 H. International Space University 895-902 170 Annex. List of selected United Nations documents relating to outer space 173 viii I. UNITED NATIONS A. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 1. History and organization J ^0213*+ 1. In 195 8, shortly after the launching of the first artificial sate!1iteT the General Assembly decided to establish an aoVhoc Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in order to consider: (a) the activities and resources of tiie United Nations, the specialized agencies and other international bodies relating to the peaceful uses of outer space; (b) international cooperation and programmes in the field that could appropriately be undertaken under United Nations auspices; (c) organizational arrangements to facilitate international cooperation in the field within the framework of the United Nations; and (d) legal problems that might arise in programmes to explore outer space. Practical proposals for international cooperation included exchange of information on space research, coordination of national space research programmes, and assistance in the implementation of such programmes. In 1959, the General Assembly established the^pommittee as a permanent body and reaffirmed its mandate in its resolution 1472 (XIV) A of 12 December 1959. The Committee has two subcommittees, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee andtheLegal Subcommittee. ^ 2. The Committee currently comprises 61 member States: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba,1 Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia,1 Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru,1 Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic