UNOOSA Organized Three Major United Nationsconferences on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, All Held in Vienna in 1968, 1982 and 1999 (UNISPACE)

Home , Outer Space Treaty, Registration Convention, Rescue Agreement

The United Nations and Outer Space:

Bringing the Benefits of Space to Humanity

European United Nations Associations Meeting, 9 April 2013

UN and Outer Space: Early Years . 4 October 1957: Beginning of the space era with the launch of Sputnik-I

. Danger of extending the arms race into outer space

. The question arose: Who will define and set the rules for activities of States in outer space?

. Prospects that space benefits could be derived for all humanity

. The purposes and principles of the United Nations should also apply to activities in outer space

UN and Outer Space: Early Years

. 1958: Resolution by the UN General Assembly 1348(XIII): – Outer space to be used for peaceful purposes only and to be exploited to the benefit of mankind – Established an ad-hoc Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) as an appropriate body for international cooperation

UN and Outer Space: Early Years

. 1959: UN General Assembly resolution 1472 (XIV) reaffirmed the role of COPUOS and mandated the Committee to: – Review international co-operation – Study space-related activities that could be undertaken under United Nations auspices – Encourage and assist with national space research programmes – Study legal problems which may arise from the exploration of outer space;

Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

. 1961: Establishment of two Subcommittees – Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC) – Legal Subcommittee (LSC) . Membership to date:74 member States and 32 organizations with permanent observer status . Reports to the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly . Adopts an annual resolution on “International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space”

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COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE (COPUOS)

- The only Committee of the General Assembly that deals with international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. COPUOS serves as a unique platform for maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes at the international level.

- COPUOS and UNOOSA organized three major United Nationsconferences on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space, all held in Vienna in 1968, 1982 and 1999 (UNISPACE).

- The third conference (UNISPACE III) outlined a wide variety of actions to: ►Protect the global environment and manage natural resources; ►Increase the use of space applications for human security, development and welfare; ►Protect the space environment; ► Increase developing countries’ access to space science and its benefits.

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COPUOS Membership

. 74 member States and 32 international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations with permanent observer status

The 74 member States of COPUOS are:

. African states: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia

. Asian states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Korea (Republic of), , Saudi Arabia, Syrian AR, Thailand, Viet Nam

. Eastern European states: Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Ukraine

. Latin American and Caribbean states: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

. Western European and Other states: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA

COPUOS Annual Meeting Schedule, Vienna, Austria

Date Organ Duration

February Scientific and Technical Subcommittee 10 Days

March/April Legal Subcommittee 10 Days

June Main Committee 8 Days

General Assembly (New York) October/ Special Political and Decolonization 2.5 Days November Committee (Fourth Committee)

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Highlights and main results of COPUOS and its two Subcommittees Recent achievements - Establishment of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), (2006) - Establishment of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) (2006) - Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines (2007) - GA Resolution on enhancing the practice of States and international intergovernmental organizations in registering space objects (2007) - Safety Framework for the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space (2009)

Current issues - Space Agenda Today: Space applications for developing nations Space debris Long-term sustainability of space activities Near-Earth objects Space and climate change National space legislation Definition and delimitation of outer space Use of Geospatial Data for Sustainable Development

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SPACE AGENDA TODAY . GREENING SPACE: Mitigating Space Debris ►Space debris includes defunct satellites, discarded sections of rockets and parts of satellites that have exploded. Most numerous of all are tiny particles such as paint chips and liquid droplets. ►In 2007, COPUOS achieved a major result by adopting its own Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines. There is general agreement among States that the implementation of these voluntary guidelines for the mitigation of space debris at the national level would increase mutual understanding on acceptable activities in space, thus enhancing stability in space and decreasing the likelihood of friction and conflict.

Photo: Over 22,000 man-made objects are being tracked in Earth orbit. Fewer than 2,000 of these are operational. The ring around the Earth is the satellite orbit used for satellite television and other purposes. Image: Artist’s impression ©ESA

SPACE AGENDA TODAY . THREATS FROM ASTEROIDS: Near-Earth Objects ►Near-Earth objects (NEOs) are asteroids, comets and large meteoroids whose orbit intersects the Earth’s orbit and may therefore pose a danger of collision. ► NEOs with a diameter of over 1 km hit the Earth a few times in a million years. ►COPUOS works on establishing international procedures and decision-making mechanisms for dealing with a potential NEO threat. ► In 2013, the Working Group on NEOs finalized recommendations for an international response to a NEO threat.

Photo: Japan’s Hayabusa space probe travelled to the Itokawa asteroid and in 2010 returned the first samples of an asteroid to Earth. Photo ©JAXA

SPACE AGENDA TODAY

Long-term sustainability of outer space activities: . Space applications such as earth observation, communications, navigation, timing and positioning provide strong support for the implementation of the actions called for in the United Nations development agenda. . Space environment where satellites operate must be protected.

Expert Working Group: - Sustainable Space Utilization supporting Sustainable Development on Earth - Space Debris, Space Operations and Tools - Space Weather - Regulatory Regimes and Guidance for Actors In the Space Arena

SPACE AND LAW

One of the biggest achievements of COPUOS was the development of five UN Treaties and five sets of Principles on Outer Space

► Outer Space Treaty, 1967 (101 States parties / 26 additional signatures) ► Rescue Agreement, 1968 (91/24) ► Liability Convention, 1972 (88/24) ► Registration Convention, 1975 (55/4) ► Moon Agreement, 1979 (13/4)

► Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space (1963) ► Principles Governing the Use by States of Artificial Earth Satellites for International Direct Television Broadcasting (1982) ► Principles Relating to Remote Sensing of the Earth from Outer Space (1986) ► Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space (1992) ► Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interests of All States, Taking into Particular Account the Needs of Developing Countries (1996)

United Nations Register on Objects Launched into Outer Space

. Established in 1962, the Register is the central repository of official information provided by States on space objects in accordance with the Registration Convention or, on a voluntary basis, under General Assembly resolution 1721 B of 1961.

. The Register contains information received from Member States and also complementary information collected from external sources on all functional objects launched into outer space since 1957

. Space debris and non-functional objects are not included

. Search could be performed using different parameters (name, international designator, launching State, date of launch, orbital status, etc.)

. Provides links between space objects and their relevant documents of registration. This way, every user can download and print any registration document

. All information contained in the Register is publicly available via the UNOOSA website: www.unoosa.org

Statistics . 93.5% of all functional space objects have been registered with the United Nations

. Of all “space nations”, nearly 60% have provided the UN with information on their space objects.

. Since 1957, over 40,000 space objects have been tracked in Earth orbit or beyond.

. Over 6,600 are “functional”, (satellites, probes, manned spacecraft and space station components). Remaining are spend rocket boosters, shrouds and detached components or other residual non-functional components resulting from the launch, operation or termination of the space object. These types of objects are collectively known as “non-functional”.

. Presently, approximately 3,700 functional (or previously functional space objects) remain in Earth orbit or beyond.

. UNOOSA works with States of registry to ensure registration information provided is accurate and harmonized. 16

SPACE AND DEVELOPMENT

. Three major United Nations conferences on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space, held in Vienna in 1968, 1982 and 1999 (UNISPACE) outlined a wide variety of actions.

. United Nations Programme on Space Applications, implemented by UNOOSA, was established in 1971 on the recommendation of UNISPACE I

. UNISPACE III adopted “The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development” in 1999 and emphasized a variety of actions to: ►Protect the global environment and manage natural resources; ►Increase the use of space applications for human security, development and welfare; ►Protect the space environment; ► Increase developing countries’ access to space science and its benefits; ► Enhance training and educational opportunities, especially for young people.

. UNISPACE III also led to the establishment of: United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER)

International Committee on GNSS (ICG)

RIO+20 . United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

– COPUOS contribution on harnessing space-derived geospatial data for sustainable development (A/AC.105/993)

• establishing sustainable national spatial data infrastructure; • enhancing autonomous national capabilities in the area of space-derived geospatial data, including the development of associated infrastructure and institutional arrangements; • engaging in or expanding international cooperation in the area of space- derived geospatial data and increasing awareness of existing initiatives and data sources; • supporting the United Nations in its efforts to access and use geospatial information in its mandated programmes to assist all Member States.

RIO+20

– “The future we want” / GA resolution 66/288:

• Para 274. We recognize the importance of space-technology-based data, in situ monitoring and reliable geospatial information for sustainable development policymaking, programming and project operations. In this context, we note the relevance of global mapping, and recognize the efforts in developing global environmental observing systems, including by the Eye on Earth network and through the Global Earth Observation System of Systems. We recognize the need to support developing countries in their efforts to collect environmental data.

POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

. Millennium Development Goals expire in 2015

. UN System Task Team on Post-2015 UN Development Agenda (UNTT)

– “Realizing the future we want for all: Report to the Secretary-General” (June 2012):

• Para 73. Improved scientific understanding and knowledge-sharing on climate change, natural hazards, the space environment and natural resource limits will be necessary for effective policy-making for sustainable development.

• Para 79. Improving access to geographical information and geospatial data, and building capacities to use scientific information in areas such as climate monitoring, land use planning, water management, disaster risk reduction, health and food security, will allow for more accurate environmental and social impact assessments and more informed decision-making at all levels.

Office for Outer Space Affairs United Nations Office at Vienna, Austria www.unoosa.org

Office for Outer Space Affairs

. Originated as a small expert unit in the UN Secretariat to service the meeting of the Committee for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

. Can be traced to the report of the 1st meeting of the Ad Hoc COPUOS: “there was a need for a suitable centre related to the United Nations that can act as a focal point for international co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space”, and “the General Assembly may wish to request the Secretary-General to organize a small unit within the Secretariat for this purpose” (A/4141)

. Evolved into a unit within the Department of Political and Security Council Affairs in 1962

. Based in Vienna since 1992

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UNOOSA is

NOT

dealing with…

Vision Bringing the benefits of space to humankind

Mission Statement The core business of the Office is to promote international cooperation in the use of outer space to achieve development goals for the benefit of humankind

Bringing the benefits of space to humankind

UNOOSA

Office of the Director Mazlan Othman, Director

Committee, Policy and Space Aplications Section Legal Affairs Section Takao Doi, Expert on Space Applications Niklas Hedman, Chief

Space Applications UN-SPIDER Programme Vienna, Bonn and Beijing Offices 27 staff members from 21 countries: Austria, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

Areas of expertise: Aerospace Engineering, Astrophysics, International Law, International Relations, Physics, Remote Sensing, Satellite Communications, Space Law & Policy

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UNOOSA Operational priorities

A. SPACE AND DIPLOMACY: Strengthening the intergovernmental process

B. SPACE AND LAW: Discharging the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the treaties

C. SPACE AND DEVELOPMENT: Securing global public goods: - Global platform for space-based information for disaster management and emergency response - Global navigation satellite systems Support to regional mechanisms Capacity-building in utilizing space-based solutions in developing countries developing countries

E. DELIVERING AS ONE: Enhancing cooperation and coordination within the UN system

F. CELEBRATING SPACE: Increasing public awareness of space

SPACE AND DEVELOPMENT: UN Programme on Space Applications

. Established in 1971 as a result of recommendations of 1968 UNISPACE conference . Conducts a series of world-wide activities – Workshops – Symposiums – Training Courses . Priority Areas – Basic Space Technology – Human Space Technology – Natural resources management and environmental monitoring – Global navigation satellite systems

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UN-AFFILIATED REGIONAL CENTRES FOR SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS

ICG was established in 2005 to achieve compatibility and interoperability of GNSS systems

UNOOSA serves as the Executive Secretariat to ICG

-Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are constellations of satellites that provide geo-spatial positioning data to users on a continuous and worldwide basis. -To date, the United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS), the Russian Federation’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), and elements of Europe’s Galileo and China’s Compass/BeiDou systems have been deployed. -Satellite navigation, positioning and timing have applications in a wide variety of fields, such as surveying and mapping, transportation, precision agriculture, monitoring of the environment, leisure, recreation and disaster risk reduction.

DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT: UN Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER)

► UN-SPIDER is UNOOSA programme, established in 2006 by GA resolution 61/110.

► Ensures that all countries and regional and international organisations have access to and develop the capacity to use all types of space-based information to support the full disaster management cycle by: –being a gateway to space information for disaster management support; –serving as a bridge to connect the disaster management and space communities; and –being a facilitator of capacity-building and institutional strengthening.

► Knowledge portal: http://www.un-spider.org/

DELIVERING AS ONE: Inter-agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities

. The central coordination mechanism in the United Nations system for United Nations organizations to cooperate and create synergy in space-related programmes, avoid duplication in these programmes and foster new inter- agency initiatives.

. UNOOSA serves as the Secretariat and coordinator of the Inter-Agency Meeting and has been organizing its annual meetings since 1975

. At least 25 United Nations entities routinely use space applications tools (DPKO, ECA, ESCAP, FAO, IMO, ICAO, ISDR, ITU, OCHA, UNEP, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, WMO, WHO, UNHCR, and others).

. A wide-range of topics include: education and training in space-related areas; space technology for disaster management; space for sustainable development; climate change, food security.

Accomplishments and Future Prospects

. Greater awareness of space tools for sustainable development (food security, climate change...)

. Greater understanding, acceptance and implementation of the United Nations Space Law Treaties

. Increased coherence and synergy in space-related work of United Nations entities and international space-related entities

. Growing involvement of the private sector players in established as well as in emerging space technology applications

. Advancing space exploration initiatives

CELEBRATING SPACE WORLD SPACE WEEK, 4-10 October each year

WSW marks the anniversary of two milestones in human exploration and use of outer space: 4 October 1957: Launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik I 10 October 1967: Entry into force of the Outer Space Treaty

- WSW was declared by the General Assembly in 1999 to raise aweress about the benefits of space for humankind; - Each year during WSW, Member States and organizations organize special space events that raise awareness of how space technology influences daily life and, especially, seeks to inspire the interest of young people in all areas of space, from astronomy to human spaceflight.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT - 12 April

- Declared by the UN General Assembly in 2011 to mark 12 April 1961, the date of the first human space flight, carried out by Yuri Gagarin.

- To celebrate each year at the international level the beginning of the space era for mankind, reaffirming the important contribution of space science and technology in achieving sustainable development goals and increasing the well-being of States and peoples, as well as ensuring the realization of their aspiration to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes.

SPACE FIRSTS

Messages from astronauts and cosmonauts

www.unoosa.org

UN SPACE EXHIBIT - UNOOSA mantains the permanent United Nations Space Exhibit at its headquarters in Vienna.

- The Space Exhibit showcases contributions from Member States, including a Moon Rock and models of satellites and rockets.

- Visitors may contact the Visitors Service of the Vienna International Centre for guided tours.

THANK YOU!

Office for Outer Space Affairs United Nations Office at Vienna Email: [email protected] Tel: +43-1-26060-4950 Fax: +43-1-26060-5830 Website: www.unoosa.org

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