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OFFICE FOR AFFAIRS

2017 Annual Report

UNITED NATIONS

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS Annual Report 2017

Foreword iii

About us iv

Highlights of 2017 10

Focus: UNISPACE+50 preparations 16

Partnership agreements 22

Awareness-raising and capacity-building activities 26

Administrative information 36

UNITED NATIONS Vienna, 2018 ST/SPACE/72

Cover image: Northeast Syrtis Major Region of Mars

© United Nations, March 2018. All rights reserved.

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Photographs ©: ESA, NASA, Sierra Nevada Corporation, UN Photo, UNIS, UNOOSA.

This publication has not been formally edited.

Publishing production: English, Publishing and Library Section, United Nations Office at Vienna. Foreword

throughout the year for UNISPACE+50, including flagship events for the UNISPACE+50 thematic priorities.

UNISPACE+50 will bring together the broader space community, including representatives from industry and the private sector. UNOOSA sees considerable value in partnerships and contributions from industry and the private sector in promoting the benefits of space for effectively addressing challenges before humanity. The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in 2017 acknowledged the growth of the space sector and endorsed increased engagement by the Office with the private sector and industry. The Office The year 2017 was an opportunity for the United is now working to implement procedures for such Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to partnerships. consider both the history and future of human activities in outer space. A personal highlight for me in 2017 was an increased focus by the Office on gender mainstreaming in the We joined the international community in celebrating space sector. In partnership with UN Women, the the sixtieth anniversary of Sputnik-1, the first artificial Office held a “Space for Women Expert Meeting” to in space, and reflecting on the remarkable gather decision makers and experts from around the scientific and technological progress in space since. world to share ideas for improving the involvement of We also marked 50 years of the Outer Space , the women and girls in science, technology, engineering foundation of international . The Treaty is an and mathematics, especially in developing countries, important commitment from the international commu- and for the use of and science in the nity to preserve space peacefully, for everyone, and for achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5: the generations to come. “Gender Equality”. I was also honoured to publically declare my commitment to gender equality by becom- It was also a historic year for space activity, with nearly ing an International Gender Champion. 500 functional space objects launched or deployed in orbit or beyond in 2017. This was nearly double This emphasis on the value of diversity is also a the number from 2016. 2017 was also the fortieth year reminder of what we can achieve when we work of registration under the Convention on Registration of together. As we focus on the future and a successful Objects Launched into Outer Space, and for that reason UNISPACE+50 summit, the Office and I are commit- we have focused in depth on this important transparency ted to working closely with all partners in the interna- and confidence-building tool further in this Report. tional community to bring the benefits of space to everyone, everywhere. With regard to the future of space activities, in 2017 the Office increased its preparations for UNISPACE+50, the first United Nations global space summit of the twenty- first century. In June 2018, the international community will gather in Vienna for UNISPACE+50, the fiftieth anniversary of the first UNISPACE conference, and set out the future course of global space cooperation. The Ms. Simonetta Di Pippo Office undertook a number of preparatory activities Director, Office for Outer Space Affairs

iii About us The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) promotes international cooperation in the peace- ful use and exploration of space, and in the utilization of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development.

Space is an invaluable tool that can help the inter­national community achieve the SDGs

1 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

Roles and responsibilities

UNOOSA is the sole United Nations office space-based technology subjects, space law and responsible for implementing the United Nations policy, as well as on questions relating to inter­ Programme on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. national cooperation in space activities and on The Office supports all United Nations Member United Nations space-related activities. States in establishing legal and regulatory frame- works to govern space activities and assists in The UNOOSA Programme on Space Applications strengthening the capacity of developing countries (PSA) builds capacity and promotes cooperation in to use space science, technology and applications for space science and technology. UNOOSA provides development by helping to integrate space capabili- capacity-building, education, research and develop- ties into national development programmes. ment support and technical advisory services on topics that include basic space sciences, basic space The Office serves as the secretariat for the General technology and human space technology. The Office Assembly’s only committee dealing exclusively also promotes Global Navigation Satellite Systems with international cooperation in the peaceful uses and integrated space technology applications in of outer space: the United Nations Committee on areas such as global health, disaster management, the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), climate change, humanitarian assistance, environ- established in 1959. The Committee has two mental monitoring and natural resource manage- subsidiary bodies: the Scientific and Technical ment. Additionally, through its United Nations Subcommittee (STSC), and the Legal Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Subcommittee, both established in 1961. The Management and Emergency Response Committee reports to the Fourth Committee of (UN-SPIDER) programme, UNOOSA supports the General Assembly, which adopts an annual United Nations Member States in accessing and resolution on international cooperation in the using satellite data for disaster recovery, risk reduc- peaceful uses of outer space. tion and emergency response.

UNOOSA discharges the Secretary-General’s Furthermore, UNOOSA is the executive responsibilities under international space law, secretariat of the International Committee on including maintaining the United Nations Register Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG), which of Objects Launched into Outer Space, the only promotes voluntary cooperation on civil satellite- existing treaty-based tool supporting TCBMs based positioning, interoperability, navigation, (transparency and confidence-building measures) timing and value added services. UNOOSA is also in outer space activities. UNOOSA also services the permanent secretariat to the Space Mission the sessions of the United Nations Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG), which Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer considers asteroid impact mitigation. Space Activities (UN-Space). UNOOSA prepares and distributes reports, studies The Office works closely with and publications on various fields of space science, United Nations Member States technology applications and international space to support their capacity- law. These documents and reports are available building efforts in space through the UNOOSA website. activities and their develop- ment of national space infra- UNOOSA is located at the United Nations Office structure. The Office does this at Vienna (UNOV), and has satellite offices in by organizing workshops on Beijing and Bonn, .

2 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: ABOUT US

NABL STAI E DE SU VE E LO H P T M D E N N A T

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On 25 September 2015, United Nations Member States agreed on a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. On 1 January 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda officially entered into force.

Space is an invaluable tool that can help the inter­national community achieve the SDGs. With space science, technology and applications, we can: • monitor climate change and pollution • survey crops, land cover and soil moisture • observe desertification and droughts • respond to disasters • map diseases and public health emergencies • learn remotely • enable smart cities and transportation • achieve gender equality ... and much more

The SDGs provide an additional framework for the work of UNOOSA. UNOOSA is employing new, more holistic and tangible approaches to its traditional capacity-building role to help Member States, particu- larly developing countries, use space to address the targets enshrined in the SDGs in a cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary manner.

3 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

Organizational structure of the Office

COMMITTEE, POLICY AND LEGAL AFFAIRS SECTION Mr. Niklas Hedman PROGRAMME ON SPACE APPLICATIONS DIRECTOR BEIJING Ms. Simonetta Di Pippo

SPACE APPLICATIONS SECTION UN-SPIDER BONN Mr. Luc St. Pierre

VIENNA OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL THE DIRECTOR COMMITTEE ON GLOBAL NAVIGATION Ms. Natercia Rodrigues SATELLITE SYSTEMS

4 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: ABOUT US

2017: Forty Years of Mandatory Space Object Registration with the United Nations Secretary-General

Believing that a “mandatory system of registering their treaty obligations, including registration of objects launched into outer space would, in space objects with the Secretary-General. particular, assist in their identification and would contribute to the application and development of In 2007, the General Assembly adopted resolution international law governing the exploration and use 62/101, which made recommendations on how of outer space”, States adopted the Convention on States could enhance their registration practices. Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space The resolution suggested ways to harmonize in 1975, which then entered into force in 1976. registration data provided to the Secretary-General Subsequently, in April 1977, the United Nations and types of additional information (such as when Secretary-General received the first information to a space object is “decommissioned”) that would be be included in a new United Nations Register of of interest to nations. The resolution also encour- Objects Launched into Outer Space established aged all States that carry out space activities to under the Convention. register their with the Secretary-General.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs After 40 years of mandatory registration, over is responsible for discharging the Secretary- 50 States and two international organizations have General’s obligations under the , principles registered over 91 per cent of all satellites, probes, and General Assembly resolutions governing landers, crewed and space station flight activities in outer space. Drawing on nearly six elements launched into Earth or beyond since decades of expertise in this area, the Office provides 1957. Currently, of the approximately 4,600 technical assistance to States and international satellites in Earth orbit, nearly 2,000 are intergovernmental organizations in implementing operational.

Functional space objects launched and registered by launch year

9,000

8,000

7,000

6,000

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Objects launched Objects registered

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Number of satellites and other In 2017, a record 489 satellites (launched in 2017 space objects registered in 2017 and earlier) were registered with the Secretary- General by 28 States and one international inter- State of registry Functional* Non-functional** governmental organization. Sixty-four spent 1 stages and inter-satellite structures were also 2 registered under the Convention. 28 1 14 Satellite registration in the 60s and 70s

China 56 The first United Nations Register of Objects 8 Launched into Outer Space was established in 4 30 1961. The General Assembly requested that 13 7 space nations voluntarily register their satellite 3 with the Secretary-General to help the newly established COPUOS develop laws governing 1 activities in humanity’s newest frontier. The first 15 Register was superseded by the Convention’s 1 Register in 1976. However, the first Register is 2 still used by States who have not joined the 1 Convention to register their space objects with 1 the Secretary-General. 3 1 Republic of Korea 4 Russian Federation 26 1 1 1 1 1 7 284 27 2 6 SUBTOTAL 489 64 TOTAL SPACE 553 OBJECTS

**Functional space objects: satellites, probes, landers, crewed spacecraft and space station flight elements. **Non-functional space objects: rocket boosters, upper stages, payload adapters, shrouds, other launcher elements and .

6 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: ABOUT US

In 2017, a record 553 space objects were registered

7 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

Total space objects registered 1957–2017

UNITED KINGDOM 78 INDIA 88

FRANCE 141

JAPAN 203

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF 260

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 2,547

8 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: ABOUT US

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY GERMANY 57 CANADA 70 46 BELGIUM 32 27 23 Republic of Korea 23 Brazil 19 Sweden 15 14 13 12 Norway 11 Spain 10 9 Denmark 9 9 Indonesia 8 United Arab Emirates 8 EUMETSAT 7 Czechia (including ) 6 6 5 4 Pakistan 4 4 Austria 3 Israel 3 3 Peru 3 3 South Africa 3 2 RUSSIAN FEDERATION (INCLUDING USSR) Belarus 2 3,491 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 2 2 2 Philippines 2 Uruguay 2 (Bolivarian Republic of) 2 (Plurinational State of) 1 1 1 1 Mongolia 1 Papua New Guinea 1 Slovakia 1 1

9 Highlights of 2017

10 The year 2017 was characterized by celebrations of the history of human activity in space alongside preparations for the future of inter­ national cooperation in space. It was also a year of important developments in the key work areas of UNOOSA, and the establishment of new initiatives for bringing the benefits of space to humankind.

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Highlights of 2017

International Asteroid Day

After the General Assembly proclaimed International Asteroid Day, in December 2016, UNOOSA celebrated the first such day on 30 June 2017 with a social media campaign and a video message by Increased engagement the Director. Through International Asteroid Day, UNOOSA aims to Universidad del Valle de with private sector and publicly highlight the global work Guatemala selected for industry undertaken in this area by UNOOSA, KiboCUBE COPUOS and Member States. Partnerships, including with the broader UNOOSA and the Japan Aerospace space community, are essential for the Exploration Agency (JAXA) selected a work of UNOOSA and for the achieve- team from the Universidad del Valle de ment of the SDGs. At its sixtieth session, Guatemala for the opportunity to develop in June 2017, COPUOS endorsed and launch a cube satellite from the Kibo greater engagement by UNOOSA with module of the International Space Station the private sector and industry. In the under the UNOOSA-JAXA KiboCUBE latter part of 2017, UNOOSA began programme. As the successful candidate developing procedures to appropriately of the second round of KiboCUBE, the engage with the private sector and Universidad del Valle de Guatemala team industry. plans to use its CubeSat to test equip- ment for monitoring the concentration of harmful algae blooms over inland bodies of water.

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Space for Women

UNOOSA began work on its Space for Women project by convening a Space for Women Expert Meeting in New York from 4 to 6 October 2017, in coopera- Call for interest for the tion with UN Women. The meeting proposed orbital mission brought together experts from around the world to consider how to get more During the International Astronautical women involved in the space sector and Congress in Adelaide in 2017, UNOOSA encourage more women and girls into and the Sierra Nevada Corporation science, technology, engineering and issued a Call for Interest for a proposed mathematics education and careers, orbital space mission using the particularly in developing countries. This Corporation’s Dream Chaser® space- event highlighted the need for greater craft. The mission would allow countries gender awareness, as well as for to have payloads or experiments flown in supporting the future of youth and their low-Earth orbit that contribute to the engagement through a multi-stakeholder achievement of one or more of the and multidisciplinary approach. SDGs. Through the Call, UNOOSA and Sputnik-1 sixtieth Recommendations that emerged from SNC provided details of the proposed the Expert Meeting are being incorpo- mission and sought to assess interna- anniversary rated into the Office’s Space for Women tional interest in the mission. The Call Project, currently under development. UNOOSA joined the space community in was open for seven weeks, and resulted celebrating in 2017 the sixtieth anniversary in 150 expressions of interest from 75 of the launch of Sputnik-1, the first artificial countries, covering all 17 SDGs. satellite, in 1957. The Office supported the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations in Vienna in an exhibition about Sputnik-1 in the Rotunda of the Vienna International Centre during the annual COPUOS session. The Director of UNOOSA also joined the United Nations Secretary-General and the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations in speaking at a celebration of the Sputnik-1 anniversary at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

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Highlights of 2017

First and Fourth Committee joint panel

A joint half-day panel discussion of the First Committee and Fourth Committee of the General Assembly on possible challenges to space security and sustainability was held on 12 October 2017 in New York. The panel was co-organized by UNOOSA and the United Nations Office for Affairs (UNODA). Keynote addresses were given by the Director and Deputy to the High High Level Forum Fiftieth anniversary of the Representative, UNODA, and the Director Outer Space Treaty of UNOOSA, and were followed by The 2017 High Level Forum on “Space presentations by invited panellists. as a Driver for Socioeconomic 10 October 2017 marked 50 years since Sustainable Development”, held in the Outer Space Treaty entered into force. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 6 to 9 UNOOSA celebrated this important anniver- November consisted of expert presenta- sary in a number of ways, including a tions and high-level panels focused on high-level panel discussion during the space economy, , annual COPUOS session, the publication of space society and space accessibility, as an updated version of the UNOOSA Space well as UNISPACE+50. Over 150 Law booklet, a quiz video on the Treaty participants from more than 40 coun- featuring United Nations Champion for tries, representing the broader space Space Scott Kelly, and a video message sector, delivered concrete recommenda- from National Aeronautics and Space tions for supporting space as a tool for Administration (NASA) on the sustainable development. International Space Station to the United Nations, which was played to the Fourth Committee of the UNGA.

14 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: HIGHLIGHTS

Launch of Group of Discovery Day Friends of UNOOSA The Office, together with the in New York UNDP, organized a second “Discovery Day” on 6 December at United Nations In late 2017, the Permanent Headquarters with a focus on geospatial Missions of Austria and solutions for sustainable development, launched the Group of Friends of building upon a successful first event in UNOOSA in New York to support late 2016. Participants—double the the awareness of the Office and its number of the previous year—learned work among Permanent Missions to how geospatial solutions can be applied the United Nations and the wider to sustainable development in multiple United Nations system. This will allow domains, including damage assessment, the Office to create more synergy in the Enhanced cooperation disaster risk reduction, early warning, space-related work of the United infrastructure and rehabilitation, water Nations system and support enhanced within the United Nations monitoring, climate change, planning, delivery and services of the United system and telecommunication. Nations in meeting the needs of Member States more efficiently. In 2017, UNOOSA strengthened its cooperation with other entities within the United Nations system. The Office signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) for greater collaboration on the use of space technology for the SDGs, and a memorandum of understand- ing with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to strengthen cooperation in supporting UNDP country offices and various mandated activities with space technol- ogy applications.

15 Focus: UNISPACE+50 preparations

16 Focus: UNISPACE+50 UNISPACE+50 is a special segment preparations of the sixty-first session of COPUOS on 20 and 21 June 2018. The purpose of UNISPACE+50 is to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and take stock of the contributions to global space governance of the three UNISPACE conferences, held in Vienna in 1968, 1982, and 1999. It is also an opportunity for the international community to gather and consider the future course of global space cooperation for the benefit of humankind.

17 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

UNISPACE+50 not only coincides with the ever-growing importance of space applications and technologies for humankind, but also with global efforts, goals and targets under three major international frameworks: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

In order to guide preparatory work for UNISPACE+50, in June 2016 COPUOS identified and agreed on seven thematic priorities, as well as their objectives and mechanisms: 1. Global partnership in and innovation 2. Legal regime of outer space and global space governance: current and future perspectives 3. Enhanced information exchange on space objects and events 4. International framework for services 5. Strengthened space cooperation for global health 6. International cooperation towards low-emission and resilient societies 7. Capacity-building for the twenty-first century

18 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: UNISPACE+50 PREPARATIONS

In 2017, a number of flagship activities under the seven thematic priorities took place.

Under Global partnership in space exploration and innovation, an Action Team on Exploration and Innovation, co-chaired by China, and the United States of America, was established. The Action Team, substantively supported by UNOOSA, met on multiple occasions to discuss the future of international exploration and innova- tion, and to develop recommendations related to the coordination of global space exploration efforts. Furthermore, an event on exploration and innova- tion was held in collaboration with the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX) in Beijing on 6 June 2017.

With regard to the Legal regime of outer space and global space governance: current and future perspectives, UNOOSA co-organized with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) the third ICAO/UNOOSA Aerospace Symposium in August 2017 to consider, among other topics, the regulatory and practical perspectives of aero- space operations. On 6 May 2017, in Montreal, Canada, UNOOSA also organized a high-level panel entitled “Pillars of Global Governance of Outer Space Activities in the 21st Century” during the Institute of Air and Space Law of McGill University International Conference on Global Ariane 5 lift-off Space Governance - the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These activities built upon the discussions and recom- mendations from the 2016 United Nations Workshop on Space Law.

The way forward under Enhanced information exchange on space objects and events was consid- ered by STSC and COPUOS in 2017. Proposals for the working process were made for further consideration. In parallel, the Office prepared a report under this thematic priority, addressing what Optical ground station in Canary Islands the Office can do under its mandate of discharging the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the United Nations treaties and principles on outer space, including the Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space.

19 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

Baby plays with doctor’s stethoscope in Darfur California ablaze

For the thematic priority International framework Under International cooperation towards for space weather services, the Expert Group on low-emission and resilient societies, the United Space Weather of the STSC served as a mechanism Nations/Germany International Conference on for deliberations. In addition, UNOOSA organized International Cooperation Towards Low-emission the United Nations/United States of America and Resilient Societies, held in Bonn, Germany, Workshop on the International Space Weather from 22 to 24 November 2017, resulted in a Initiative: The Decade after the International number of recommendations for this thematic Heliophysical Year 2007, in Boston, United States, priority. Likewise, the seventh annual United from 31 July to 4 August 2017. A dedicated session Nations International Conference on Space-based on space weather was also held during the third Technologies for Disaster Risk Reduction on ICAO/UNOOSA Aerospace Symposium “building resilience through integrated applications”, in August. in Beijing from 23 to 25 October, was closely linked to this thematic priority. These events complemented An Expert Group on Global Health, substantively recommendations that emerged from the supported by UNOOSA, considered and made UN-SPIDER+10 Conference: Enhancing the recommendations for Strengthened space Resilience of Nations through the Use of Space- cooperation for global health. UNOOSA also based Information, held in Vienna in June 2016. co-organized the United Nations/World Health Organization/ Conference on Concerning the seventh thematic priority Strengthening Space Cooperation for Global Capacity-building for the twenty-first century, Health in Geneva, Switzerland, from 23 to UNOOSA organized a number of activities to 25 August, which brought together gather experts and hear their ideas, including: experts and decision makers from • The United Nations/Italy Workshop on the around the world to develop Open Universe, in Vienna from 20 to 22 ways to improve this field. November 2017, as well as its preparatory Expert Meeting in Rome from 11 to 12 April 2017

• The United Nations Expert Meeting on Space for Women, held in New York, United States, from 4 to 6 October 2017

20 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: UNISPACE+50 PREPARATIONS

Expert Meeting on Space for Women EVA in front of ISS solar arrays

• The United Nations/Austria Symposium on Furthermore, on 22 and 23 May 2017 UNOOSA Access to Space: Holistic Capacity-Building held a joint coordination meeting with the for the 21st Century, held in Graz, Austria, Committee on (COSPAR) to from 3 to 7 September 2017 consider how the space science community can contribute to UNISPACE+50 and implement • The United Nations/Russian Federation its results. Workshop on Human Capacity-building in Space Science and Technology for Sustainable Involving the space community at large throughout Social and Economic Development, held in all these preparatory activities, UNOOSA listened Samara, Russian Federation, from 30 October to all stakeholders, including scientists, policymak- to 2 November 2017 ers, researchers, civil society, private and industry • The United Nations/South Africa Symposium sector representatives, and took note of their on the Basic Space Technology Initiative discussions, contributions and ideas. In late 2017, “Small Satellite Missions for Scientific and UNOOSA produced summary reports of activities Technological Advancement”, held in under each thematic priority for consideration by Stellenbosch, South Africa, from 11 to COPUOS and its subcommittees during their 15 December 2017 2018 cycle of sessions. The reports are available on the website of the Office. In addition, in 2017 UNOOSA continued the High Level Forum series on “Space as a driver for socioeconomic sustainable development” with a Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 6 to 9 November. Representatives from through- out the broader space community considered the economic, environmental, social, policy and regulatory dimensions of space.

21 Partnership agreements

22 UNOOSA’s partnerships are integral to our ability to carry out our work. In 2017 the Office initiated procedures for partnerships with industry and the private sector, after COPUOS endorsed increased engagement with such actors.

23 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

On behalf of the United Nations, the Office signed agreements with the following Governments, institutions and organizations in 2017 to support and develop our activities:

Funding Agreement with the Republic of Austria Memorandum of Understanding with the (Bund) represented by the Federal Ministry for United States Department of State Bureau of Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit) and Oceans and International Environmental and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) Scientific Affairs on providing secretariat support (10 February 2017) to the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) Agreement with the University of Bonn for coop- (22 August 2017) eration on the EvIDENz (Earth Observation Based Information Products for Drought Risk Reduction Memorandum of Understanding with the World at the National Level) project Space Week Association for cooperation on the (23 May 2017) promotion and celebration of World Space Week (14 September 2017) Memorandum of Understanding with UNITAR for collaboration on the use of space-based technol- Memorandum of Understanding with the United ogy for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for States Department of State Bureau of Oceans Sustainable Development and International Environmental and Scientific (7 June 2017) Affairs on providing secretariat support to the International Committee on Global Navigation Funding Agreement with the Government of Satellite Systems Switzerland, represented by the Federal (4 October 2017) Department of Foreign Affairs acting through the United Nations International Organizations Division and the Sectoral Foreign Policies Division (4 August 2017)

24 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS

Memorandum of Understanding with Peace and Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Cooperation on the organization of a global art Collaboration with the (ASI) competition for children on the theme of “Galaxy (20 November 2017) of Peace: Space, Common Heritage of Humanity” (20 October 2017) Funding Agreement with the People’s Insurance Company of China (PICC) Property and Casualty Funding Contribution of the United States Company Limited Government to UNOOSA in support of the (29 November 2017) International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems Memorandum of Understanding with the UNDP (3 November 2017) to increase cooperation in the use of geospatial and space-based technologies and coordination in Memorandum of Understanding with the United activating emergency response mechanisms for the Arab Emirates Space Agency for increased coopera- benefit of Member States tion in the peaceful uses of outer space (6 December 2017) (8 November 2017) Amendment No.1 to the memorandum of under- Framework Agreement with the Government standing between the United Nations and of Italy on cooperation in space science and DigitalGlobe Inc. (extension of the duration for technology for the peaceful use and exploration one year until 1 January 2019) of outer space (8 December 2017) (20 November 2017)

25 Awareness-raising and capacity-building activities

26 Awareness-raising and In addition to the activities outlined in the capacity-building activities Highlights chapter, the Office conducted the following major awareness-raising and capacity-building activities in 2017.

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Seminar on the Use of Global Positioning STSC in honour of International Day of Women System (GPS) Data for Ionospheric Studies and Girls in Science on 11 February. As humanity Rabat, 16–20 January 2017 makes significant scientific and technological advancements, women remain under-represented A seminar on the use of data from the United in the fields of science, technology, engineering and States GPS for ionospheric studies was organized mathematics. Speakers in this panel, representing by UNOOSA and Telecom Bretagne (Brest, women throughout the space community, France). It was held in French at the African discussed how to improve the gender imbalance in Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology these fields, with a special focus on the space sector. during a nine-month postgraduate course on The event was made available online. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The seminar comprised two sections: one on theoretical ICG-URSI-ICTP School on Radio Physics information about space weather and the iono- sphere, while the second consisted of four interac- Trieste, Italy, 27–31 March 2017 tive sessions on GPS data, measurement and file A school on radio physics, organized by the processing, and global ionospheric map cartogra- International Committee on Global Navigation phy. The seminar was a follow-up to recommenda- Satellite Systems (ICG), the International Union of tions made at the 2016 United Nations/ Radio Science (URSI), and the Abdus Salam workshop on the applications of GNSS. International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) of Boston College, provided radio physics Panel discussion on space technology and training to young scientists and graduate students climate change and launch of “Fragility and from around the world, with a particular focus on Beauty: My Planet from Space” book developing countries. The school consisted of Vienna, 6 February 2017 lectures and hands-on laboratory sessions in remote sensing and radio wave propagation. UNOOSA and the European Space Agency (ESA) hosted a panel discussion on the value of space technology for monitoring and combating climate Expert meeting on preparation of the change and other environmental challenges during United Nations/Italy Workshop on the the fifty-fourth session of the STSC. The event also Open Universe Initiative served as the launch of a book created from the exhibition “Fragility and Beauty: My Planet from Rome, 11–12 April 2017 Space”—a collaboration between UNOOSA and Organized by UNOOSA and the Italian Space ESA—which was displayed at the United Nations Agency (ASI), the expert meeting on the prepara- Headquarters in New York, United States in 2015. tion of the United Nations/Italy Workshop on the The book comprises images taken from space Open Universe Initiative was the first step in a highlighting the beauty and vulnerability of our series of activities to define the objectives and planet, the challenges posed by climate change and road map of the initiative. The initia- how space-based technology such as satellite Earth tive aims to stimulate the pursuit of observation can help us address these challenges. space science through the application of the principles of Women in Space Panel Discussion unrestricted access to data and greatly expanded provision of Vienna, 7 February 2017 software services. It also UNOOSA hosted a “Women in Space” panel strives to foster dialogue discussion during the fifty-fourth session of the between data providers and

28 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: AWARENESS-RAISING AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES

networks of users and developers in order to extend exchanges on the scientific and research needs for the potential of scientific discovery for research, the implementation of the thematic priorities of education and inspiration among all communities. UNISPACE+50, and resulted in recommenda- tions for the COPUOS mechanisms responsible Director visit to China and launch of for each of the UNISPACE+50 thematic -1 priorities.

China, 20–24 April 2017 ICG/ICTP Extended Workshop on The Director of UNOOSA attended Space Weather Effects on Global Navigation the launch of China’s first cargo Satellite Systems Operations spacecraft “Tianzhou-1” at the Trieste, Italy, 22 May–2 June 2017 Wenchang launch site in China with six high-level representatives from A workshop on the effects of space weather on Permanent Missions to the United GNSS was held in cooperation with the Abdus Nations in Vienna. This was the first time Salam ICTP, Boston College, and ICG. The that foreign visitors had been invited to a workshop provided theoretical and practical launch at the Wenchang site. The high-level group training on the physics of space weather and its also visited space facilities, universities and agencies main effects on GNSS operations, with particular in China, and the Director attended the opening emphasis on low latitude ionospheric processes. ceremony of the second Space Day of China. Director participation in the ZeroG Summit: Planetary Defense Conference Space Diplomacy in the Age of NewSpace

Tokyo, 15–19 May 2017 Washington, D.C., 25 May 2017 UNOOSA co-chaired, together with JAXA, the The Director of UNOOSA gave a presentation at first panel on key international and political the Space Trust’s ZeroG Summit on Space developments at the 2017 Planetary Defense Diplomacy in the Age of NewSpace alongside Conference. The panel considered the topic of United States Congressman Jim Bridenstine, strengthening international cooperation in plan- Sierra Nevada Corporation Vice President of etary defence, including work by the Space Mission Space Systems Mark Sirangelo, and Space Trust Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) and the founder and Executive Chair Namira Salim. The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN). Director spoke about the work of UNOOSA, the The United Nations facilitates IAWN and UNISPACE+50 process, engagement with the SMPAG’s work. These entities represent important broader space sector, and the value of space for pillars in global collaboration efforts in preparing achieving the SDGs. an internationally coordinated response to threats to Earth originating from near-Earth objects. High-level Political Forum Side Event on Space for the Sustainable COSPAR-UNOOSA Coordination Meeting on Development Goals COSPAR’s contributions to UNISPACE+50 New York, United States, 14 July 2017 Vienna, 22–23 May 2017 In partnership with the Permanent Missions of UNOOSA and the Committee on Space Research Austria and to the United Nations in (COSPAR) held a coordination meeting to con- New York, the Office organized a side meeting to sider COSPAR’s contribution to UNISPACE+50. the 2017 High-level Political Forum on The meeting consisted of a series of panel Sustainable Development. UNOOSA built upon

29 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

the main theme of the Forum—“Eradicating United Nations/World Health Organization/ poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing Switzerland Conference on Strengthening world”—by highlighting the importance of the use Space Cooperation for Global Health of space-based technologies and applications for Geneva, Switzerland, 23–25 August 2017 achieving the SDGs, as well as the need for the international community to work together on The Conference was organized jointly with the preserving our planet. World Health Organization (WHO) and Government of Switzerland to foster dialogue on creating and reinforcing relevant partnerships for the Technical Seminar on Reference Frames better utilization of space-based assets, data and in Practice technologies in addressing global health. Participants considered topics such as data access, data provision Kobe, Japan, 29–30 July 2017 services and information-sharing in order to address In accordance with the ICG recommendation on resiliency and interoperability of space reference frames, the Office for Outer Space Affairs infrastructure so that in case of cooperated with a number of partners to organize a breakdown of ground technol- technical “reference frames in practice” seminar. The ogy, data could still be “Reference frames in practice” seminar series has provided, especially in times been held since 2012. The 2017 seminar provided of humanitarian crises or fundamental geodetic reference frame background emergency situations, and concepts and examined the associated data and thereby strengthening analysis techniques, with a focus on practical global health. implementation and application. It was highlighted that there was a need for more sharing of knowledge Thirty-seventh session of and experiences among agencies and countries in UN-Space the region with respect to geodesy. Geneva, Switzerland, 24 August 2017 The thirty-seventh session of UN-Space was United Nations/United States Workshop organized in August 2017 by UNOOSA, in its on Space Weather: The Decades after the capacity as Secretariat of UN-Space. An open International Heliophysical Year 2007 session of UN-Space was held in conjunction with Boston, United States, 31 July–4 August 2017 the United Nations/WHO/Switzerland Conference on Strengthening Space Cooperation for Global Organized jointly by UNOOSA, NASA and Health, focusing on the use of space technology Boston College, this workshop commemorated the within the United Nations system and its potential tenth anniversary of International Heliophysical contribution to UNISPACE+50. This included Year 2007. The workshop provided a forum to special consideration of UNISPACE+50 thematic discuss the establishment of common warning and priorities on “Strengthened space cooperation for observation systems, and the improvement of the global health” and “International framework for collection, exchange and delivery of space weather space weather services”. A dedicated meeting of data, modelling and forecasting methods, as well UN-Space, open to participation of United as of accuracy, reliability and interoperability. Nations entities only, was held in parallel with the Participants recognized the global importance of conference; it focused on UNISPACE+50 and the space weather for its potential negative impacts on Report of the Secretary-General on the coordina- our planet and infrastructure. tion of space-related activities within the United Nations system.

30 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: AWARENESS-RAISING AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES

Third ICAO/UNOOSA Symposium 2017 Outer Space Treaty, and the Director participated Vienna, 29–31 August 2017 in a number of speaking and outreach events. Two technical papers were presented by UNOOSA staff. The third ICAO/UNOOSA Symposium was held in Vienna as a continuation of the first and second Ceremony for Peace and Cooperation ICAO/UNOOSA aerospace symposiums held in School Award Montreal, Canada, in 2015 and Abu Dhabi in 2016, respectively. This third symposium provided partici- Vienna, 20 October 2017 pants with perspectives on the latest trends in In order to reach out to younger aviation, space activities, commercial space transpor- audiences about space, in 2016 tation and suborbital operations, and sustainability the Office partnered with Spanish of aerospace activities. non-governmental organization (NGO) Peace and Cooperation United Nations/Austria Symposium on on a children’s art competition Access to Space: Holistic Capacity-building entitled “Looking to the Stars— for the 21st Century the Future of the World”. An Graz, Austria, 3–7 September 2017 awards ceremony for this competition was hosted by the Office at the Vienna The annual Graz symposium was organized by International Centre on 20 October 2017, and UNOOSA jointly with the Government of Austria. was attended by a number of Permanent Participants considered, and made recommenda- Representatives and other diplomatic representa- tions regarding, innovative approaches to capacity- tives, as well as 50 students, parents and teachers building in the space domain, particularly in areas from five countries. During the awards ceremony, of applications and technology; policy and law, UNOOSA and Peace and Cooperation signed a including the need to measure progress and memorandum of understanding to work together development; identification of partners, tools for on an art competition in 2018 entitled “Space: capacity-building and funding opportunities. common heritage of humanity”.

International Astronautical Congress United Nations/Russian Federation Adelaide, Australia, 25–29 September 2017 Workshop on Human Capacity-building in Space Science and Technology UNOOSA undertook a number of activities at the for Sustainable Social and Economic annual International Astronautical Congress. The Development Office had a booth at the Congress exhibition to promote the work of the Office and the benefits of Samara, Russian Federation, 30 October– space for humankind. The booth was also the site 2 November 2017 of two press events by UNOOSA and partners: one This workshop, organized by the Office and Samara with Sierra Nevada Corporation to announce the National Research University of the Russian Call for Interest for the proposed orbital space Federation, with the support of the Government of mission using the corporation’s DreamChaser®, and the Russian Federation and ESA, addressed the role another with JAXA and the Universidad del Valle of human capacity-building for using space science, de Guatemala to provide a briefing on the second technology and its applications in support of round of KiboCUBE and announce the third sustainable development, with a particular focus on round. UNOOSA also hosted a Global Networking developing and emerging countries. Forum event on the fiftieth anniversary of the

31 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

United Nations/Italy Workshop on the International Committee on Open Universe Initiative, Vienna Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Annual Meeting Vienna, 20–22 November 2017 Kyoto, Japan, 2–7 December 2017 Organized by UNOOSA and the Italian Space Agency, on behalf of the Government of Italy, the The twelfth meeting of the ICG and the nineteenth aim of the workshop on the Open Universe meeting of the Providers’ Forum reviewed and Initiative was to promote and facilitate the visibil- discussed developments in GNSS, and allowed ity, free accessibility and easy utilization of astro- ICG members, associate members and observers to nomical data collected by space-based and address recent developments in their organizations ground-based facilities by everyone, everywhere. and associations with regard to GNSS services and Among the recommendations of the workshop was applications. ICG also addressed disaster risk a call for data to be stored and made available in reduction and management using GNSS. The online archives, including being made accessible to Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the public after required proprietary periods and hosted and organized the meetings on behalf of the without the need for further data processing. Government of Japan.

Drop Tower Experiment Series (DropTES) Heads of Space Agencies meeting and microgravity experiment One Planet Summit

Bremen, Germany, 27 November–1 December 2017 Paris, 11–12 December 2017 In collaboration with the Center of Applied Space The Director of UNOOSA attended the Heads of Technology and Microgravity and the German Space Agencies meeting on 11 December, con- Aerospace Center, the UNOOSA Drop Tower vened by the French Space Agency (CNES) ahead Experiment fellowship programme offers selected of the One Planet Summit on 12 December. The research teams the opportunity to conduct their Heads of Space Agencies held a panel discussion on own microgravity experiments at the Bremen Drop greenhouse gases, water and disasters, and adopted Tower. The series of experiments consists of four the Paris Declaration. The Declaration called for drops or catapult launches during which approxi- the creation of a space climate observatory as a mately 5 or 10 seconds of microgravity, respec- contribution to the UNISPACE+50 process. The tively, are created. In the fourth cycle of the One Planet Summit, held two years after adoption DropTES in 2017, a student team from the of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, consid- Warsaw University of Technology in Poland was ered partnerships for climate action. awarded the fellowship. The aim of their drop experiment was to verify, in vacuum and micro- United Nations/South Africa Symposium on gravity conditions, the deployment of Basic Space Technology the deorbit sail system on their two unit CubeSat called Stellenbosch, South Africa, “PW-Sat2”. The deorbit sail 11–15 December 2017 is a type of passive deorbit The United Nations/South Africa device based on the drag Symposium, the fourth in a series, was augmenting phenom- organized in cooperation with the enon, and its main country’s Department of Science and purpose is to prevent Technology, Department of Trade and satellites becoming orbital Industry, and the South African debris after completing National Space Agency. It reviewed the their missions.

32 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: AWARENESS-RAISING AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES

current status and trends in the domain of small “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” screening satellite missions, including lessons learned from Vienna, 18 December 2017 the past and ongoing activities. The symposium objectives reflected this approach, focusing on UNOOSA partnered with the United States capacity-building, in particular for the African Mission to International Organizations in Vienna region, and covered areas such as legal frameworks, for a public screening of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”. and applications such as agriculture, environment Opening remarks by the United States Chargé and urban development monitoring. Additionally, d’affaires and the UNOOSA Director focused on for the first time in the series, a two-day hands-on the benefits of space, gender mainstreaming in the workshop, “HEPTA Workshop”, was organized space sector, and UNISPACE+50. In a video back-to-back in the same location as the sympo- message, United Nations Champion for Space and sium to allow participants to experience the former NASA Scott Kelly celebrated the hardware assembly, software programming and value of international cooperation in space for testing of a picosatellite kit known as HEPTA-Sat. achieving common goals.

UN-SPIDER

The United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for hosted by UNOOSA and organized by the UN-SPIDER Beijing Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) Office in Beijing from 23 to 25 October 2017. The theme was was established in 2006 under UNOOSA. UN-SPIDER develops “building resilience through integrated applications”. The solutions to address the limited access developing countries conference offered a forum for disaster management communi- have to specialized technologies that can be essential in the ties and experts to strengthen their capabilities in using space management of disasters and the reduction of disaster risks. technology to identify, assess, monitor and respond to disaster UN-SPIDER aims to improve actions to reduce disaster risk and risks, and in integrating space technology into long-term disaster support disaster response operations through knowledge- risk management efforts. sharing and the strengthening of institutions in the use of space In addition, the UN-SPIDER programme contributed to the technologies, and facilitates cooperation between satellite data organization of the fourth international Multi-Hazard Early and information providers and the different groups of users of Warning Conference, held in Cancun, Mexico, on 22 and 23 May such data, such as policymakers, disaster risk managers or 2017. The conference brought together more than 400 experts emergency responders. involved in early warning efforts from national, regional and international organizations. UN-SPIDER also co-organized a side UN-SPIDER IN 2017 event at the 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, The United Nations-Germany International Conference on which took place the same week in Cancun. International Cooperation Towards Low-emission and Resilient The eighth annual meeting of UN-SPIDER Regional Support Societies, organized by UNOOSA in cooperation with the German Offices took place from 6 to 8 June 2017, in parallel to the Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the German Federal Ministry for sixtieth session of COPUOS. Focal points from 11 regional Economic Affairs and Energy, was held in Bonn, Germany, from support offices attended the meeting, as did representatives from 22 to 24 November 2017. It brought together over 110 other partner institutions. participants to consider how space technology can help make In 2017 UN-SPIDER requested the activation of the International societies more environmentally-friendly and more resilient to Charter Space and Major Disasters and the European Earth challenges such as disasters and climate change. This Observation Programme (Copernicus) Emergency Management conference aimed to define synergies between climate change Service (EMS) for a landslide in as well as for floods efforts, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development in Nepal. Copernicus EMS was also activated for floods following worldwide based on three international frameworks: the 2030 heavy rains in . In addition, organizations that had been Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs, the supported by UN-SPIDER in becoming authorized users of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, and Charter, such as the Disaster Management Center of , the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. also requested the activation of the Charter, and UN-SPIDER The seventh annual United Nations International Conference on Regional Support Offices acted several times as project Space-based Technologies for Disaster Risk Reduction was managers for activations.

33 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

UN-SPIDER also conducted the following activities in 2017:

Expert meetings 28 March–2 April 2017: UN-SPIDER followed up on a 11–13 July 2017: The UN-SPIDER/Mexican Space previous technical advisory Agency (AEM) Regional Latin America and the mission to and organ- Caribbean Expert Meeting in Mexico City brought ized a training programme on “Post together around 50 participants from eight Disaster (Earthquake) Rapid Damage countries to consider how space-based technolo- Assessment”. The objective of the training gies can be used to improve multi-hazard early was to build capacity for rapid damage assess- warning systems in the region. ment using geospatial and Earth observation technologies. The course included theory and Technical advisory missions hands-on sessions focused on the use of Earth observation in providing critical information and 31 July–4 August 2017: A technical advisory rapid mapping during earthquakes. mission was carried out to Nepal to evaluate the current and potential use of space-derived 24–28 April 2017: As part of a follow-up to an information in all aspects of disaster management earlier technical advisory mission to the country, and to offer recommendations to strengthen the UN-SPIDER and the Disaster Management Centre disaster risk management and emergency (DMC) of Sri Lanka conducted a three-day training response in the country. The mission was con- on the UN-SPIDER Knowledge Portal and ducted upon request from the Nepalese Ministry of Recommended Practices related to drought Home Affairs (MoHA) and with the technical monitoring. The mission also provided an oppor- support of the International Centre for Integrated tunity to participate in the first meeting of the Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a UN-SPIDER Advisory Board for the National Risk Assessment Regional Support Office. Project that the Disaster Management Centre was conducting.

Workshops and training 24–28 July 2017: UN-SPIDER and the General 20–24 February 2017: Hosted by the Gabonese Directorate for Civil Protection of Space Agency in Libreville, UN-SPIDER supported (DGPC) joined forces to conduct a one-week the third synthetic aperture radar workshop training course in San Salvador, focusing on coordinated by the Working Group on Capacity general remote sensing techniques and on two Development and Data Democracy of the UN-SPIDER Recommended Practices on Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). droughts and floods. The training course targeted The course aimed at opening up new opportunities members of the inter-institutional technical team for the use of synthetic aperture radar technology that is being set up by DGPC at the recommenda- for the participants in the areas of disaster man- tion of UN-SPIDER as a result of a previous agement, environment or food and water security. technical advisory mission to the country.

27 February–2 March 2017: UN-SPIDER 31 July–2 August 2017: UN-SPIDER, the National conducted a four-day workshop on information Secretariat of the Council of Science and management in decision-making in Solomon Technology of Guatemala (SENACYT) and Islands in collaboration with World Vision. The Executive Secretariat of CONRED (SE-CONRED) course was a follow-up activity to a 2012 technical cooperated to conduct a three-day training course advisory mission. in Guatemala City. The training, which was a

34 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: AWARENESS-RAISING AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES

follow-up to a previous technical advisory mission, Information resources focused on two UN-SPIDER Recommended UN-SPIDER continued efforts to enhance its Practices regarding droughts and forest fires in Knowledge Portal by adding additional links to order to generate relevant and timely geospatial web pages and portals that host satellite imagery information that is useful for disaster risk reduction, and products; providing specific examples of preparedness and emergency response efforts. satellite data applications for disaster risk reduction or emergency response focusing on accumulated 21–22 September 2017: As part of the joint rainfall and to monitor earthquakes; and providing project “Earth Observation Based Information a series of Earth observation and space technology Products for Drought Risk Reduction at the applications supporting the implementation of the National Level” (EvIDENz), UN-SPIDER, the Sendai Framework provided by members of the Institute for Environment and Human Security of Global Partnership Using Space-based Technology the United Nations University (UNU-EHS) and the Applications for Disaster Risk Reduction Centre for Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces (ZFL) (GP-STAR). of the University of Bonn held a workshop in Bonn, Germany. To support countries in assessing areas affected by 16–19 October 2017: UN-SPIDER facilitated a wildfires, in 2017 UN-SPIDER developed a new training course in Guatemala on the use of radar step-by-step procedure on burn severity mapping. imagery to map the extent of floods, focusing on The procedure is available on the UN-SPIDER the UN-SPIDER Recommended Practice on flood Knowledge Portal and can be followed using two mapping. The event was a follow-up activity to a software packages. training course held from 31 July to 2 August. To promote the use of space-based information to 25–31 October 2017: An international training improve drought monitoring efforts, UN-SPIDER course on integration of multisource Earth elaborated a series of maps depicting the observation data for disaster damage assessment Vegetation Condition Index and the Standard was held at Beihang University, Beijing. Twenty- Vegetation Index for Bolivia, El Salvador, , four participants from 15 countries attended the Guatemala, , , Nigeria and Sri training, which focused on flood and earthquake Lanka. More than 350 maps were developed for damage assessments, and was organized jointly each of these countries and provided to with the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation representatives of civil protection Organization (APSCO) and the National Disaster and other government Reduction Centre of China (NDRCC). agencies to improve their drought monitoring 5–8 December 2017: In Bangkok and Sri Racha, efforts. Efforts are Thailand, UN-SPIDER held a regional workshop under way to on drought resilience in agriculture and a regional incorporate the training course on Earth observation-based tools routine use of for drought monitoring. The events were organ- information related ized together with the International Water to these two drought Management Institute (IWMI), the Geo-Informatics indices in drought and Space Technology Development Agency early warning systems. (GISTDA), the ASEAN Research and Training Center for Space Technology and Applications (ARTSA) and the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems.

35 Administrative information

36 Administrative information

37 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

Budget overview

$ 12,000,000

10,000,000 $1,971,000 $1,900,000 $1,880,000 $2,237,700 8,000,000

6,000,000

$8,592,000 $8,305,500 $7,774,300 $7,561,800 4,000,000

2,000,000

0 2010–2011 2012–2013 2014–2015 2016–2017

Regular budget Voluntary cash contributions

Expenditure, 2016-2017

$ 8,000,000

$7,561,800 7,000,000

6,000,000 $6,259,700

5,000,000

4,000,000

3,000,000

2,000,000

$1,602,000 1,000,000 $1,302,100 $1,198,600

$403,500 0 Regular budget Extrabudgetary*

Total Staff costs Activities and other costs

*Extrabudgetary resources are utilized to implement the Office's capacity-building activities

38 ANNUAL REPORT 2017: ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Voluntary cash contributions, 2016–2017—donors

Switzerland Japan $50,000 $31,600 Austria $170,700

European Commission China $223,000 $759,700

Germany $229,800

Other (IGO, NGO and industry) $287,300 United States of America $485,500

Voluntary cash contributions, 2016–2017—thematic areas supported

$ 800,000

700,000 $708,600 $680,000 600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000 $321,200 $280,000 200,000 $224,400

100,000

$23,600 $0.00 0 U+50 Programme on International Human UN-SPIDER Other Unearmarked Preparations/ Space Committee Space Implementation Applications on GNSS Technology Initiative

39 UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

Staff

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Extrabudgetary funded posts Associate experts

Regular budget funded posts Non-reimbursable loans

40 *1800967* www.unoosa.org

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) is responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space and assisting developing countries in using space science and technology.

V.18-00967