The United Nations and Space – Looking at the 2nd Half – Century of Space Activities The United Nations in Space – Present and future Sergio Camacho Former Director, Office for Outer Space Affairs

The United Nations and Space – Looking at the 2nd Half – Century of Space Activities  Specialized agencies (e.g. UNESCO, WMO, ITU, FAO, WHO, ICAO) deal with specific issues  For outer space: - Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (1959) - Office for Outer Space Affairs. UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

The United Nations and Space – Looking at the 2nd Half – Century of Space Activities Legal Subcommittee (LSC):  Outer Space Treaty, 1967  Rescue Agreement, 1968  Liability Convention, 1972  Registration Convention, 1975  Moon Agreement, 1979 First Need: a Legal Regime

The United Nations and Space – Looking at the 2nd Half – Century of Space Activities  Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space (1963)  Principles on International Direct Television Broadcasting (1982)  Principles Relating to Remote Sensing of the Earth (1986)  Principles on Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space (1992)  Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space (1996)  GA resolution ( 2004) - Application of the concept of the “launching State”  GA resolution on the Practice of States and International Organizations in Registering Space objects (2007) Legal Subcommittee

The United Nations and Space – Looking at the 2nd Half – Century of Space Activities Agenda items in the LSC  Information on national legislation relevant to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space ( )  Capacity-building in space law (2008)  Status of Moon Agreement to be included in Working Group discussions (2008) Current and Future work

The United Nations and Space – Looking at the 2nd Half – Century of Space Activities Space debris mitigation:  Satellites/objects are brought down through Earth’s atmosphere where they partially burn up; (e.g. 2001, the Mir Space Station was successfully de-orbited)  “Grave yard” orbit for non-functional satellites  Mitigate the production of new space debris  Multi-year work plans for , extended to 2005 and  Guidelines agreed by STSC, endorsed by COPUOS and GA (2007) Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC)

The United Nations and Space – Looking at the 2nd Half – Century of Space Activities NPS safety standards  Developing an international technically based framework of goals and recommendations for the safety of NPS applications in outer space  Periods and NEOs  International and national activities (2008)  Review draft procedure for decision-making in case of threat (2009)  Continue draft procedure for decision-making in case of threat (2010) Current and Future work - STSC

The United Nations and Space – Looking at the 2nd Half – Century of Space Activities Implement U-III recommendations through STSC, COPUOS and OOSA: Action Teams, led by Governments  Established the International Committee on GNSS (ICG)  Established UN Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response – SPIDER  Other Action Teams continue work (Tele-health, NEOs, Environment) UNISPACE III (1999)

The United Nations and Space – Looking at the 2nd Half – Century of Space Activities Forum for UN system coordinatiom (since 1970)  Involves DPKO, ECA, ESCAP, FAO, IMO, ICAO, ISDR, ITU, OCHA, UNEP, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, WMO, WHO, UNHCR, and others Items under consideration  Space-related outcomes of the WSSD  Implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III  Participation of the UN system in the Group on Earth Observation (GEO)  Lessons learned from use of space technologies in disaster reduction Inter-Agency Meeting

The United Nations and Space – Looking at the 2nd Half – Century of Space Activities United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Vienna International Centre P.O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria Tel: (+43 1) Fax: (+43 1) THANK-YOU