THIRTY-NINTH SESSION OF COMMITTEE ON PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE TO BE HELD IN VIENNA FROM 3 TO 14 JUNE
Press Release
OS/1723
THIRTY-NINTH SESSION OF COMMITTEE ON PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE TO BE HELD IN VIENNA FROM 3 TO 14 JUNE
19960531 Background Release To Consider Convening a Third UNISPACE Conference, Strategy for Dealing with Space Debris, Promoting Technology-Sharing(Reproduced as received from UN Information Service.)
VIENNA, 30 May -- Reaching a final decision on the holding of a third international conference on the peaceful uses of outer space is expected to be the main focus of attention for the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space during a two-week session which begins here on 3 June.
The Committee has been requested by the General Assembly to consider all issues related to the possible convening of a third United Nations conference on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space (UNISPACE III), including technical and political objectives, a focused agenda, funding and timing, as well as whether the objectives of such a conference could be met by other means. The Committee has been debating whether or not to hold such a conference for the past several years and is expected to make a final recommendation on the topic at the forthcoming session.
The Committee will review both the scientific and technical as well as the legal aspects of the exploration and the peaceful uses of outer space, based on the reports of its Scientific and Technical and its Legal Subcommittees.
The session will provide an opportunity for governments to review their recent space-based activities and to exchange views on how best to share the benefits of space research. The Committee will focus attention on a set of draft principles for carrying out such cooperation. For the first time the Committee will have a unified text, formulated earlier this year by its Legal Subcommittee on the basis of earlier competing drafts.
Growing concern about how to deal with the problems and dangers of accumulating debris in earth orbit -- mainly in the form of used or damaged satellites -- will also be addressed. Space debris has been highlighted by the Committee since 1994, when it began formulating a multi-year plan to assess
the scope of the problem, weigh the risks and explore mitigation options. The Committee has not yet begun to discuss legal aspects of the space debris issue.
Other matters on the agenda include implementation of the recommendations of two earlier UNISPACE conferences, held in Vienna in 1968 and 1982; continued discussion on the definition and delimitation of outer space; use of the geostationary orbit; scientific and technical developments concerning the use of nuclear power sources in space; spin-off benefits; increasing use of low-cost micro satellites; the coordination of the United Nations space activities; and review of ongoing and planned training and assistance programmes.
With the ongoing effects of the financial crisis, cost saving measures and efficiency gains are also expected to be discussed as the participants, under the agenda item dealing with "other matters", review the working methods of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies.
The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was set up by the General Assembly in 1959 to review the scope of international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space, devise programmes in that field to be undertaken under United Nations auspices, encourage continued research and dissemination of information on outer space matters, and study legal problems arising from the exploration of outer space.
Since it began meeting in 1961, the Committee and its two Subcommittees have addressed such questions as the implications of space transport systems for future activities in space, the legal implications of remote sensing of the earth by satellites, safety measures for the use of nuclear power sources in outer space and the equitable use of the geostationary orbit.
In 1966, the Committee and the Assembly negotiated the Outer Space Treaty, which entered into force in 1968. The basic principles contained in the Treaty were later elaborated by the Committee in four other legal instruments: Rescue Agreement (1967), Liability Convention (1971), Registration Convention (1974), and Moon Agreement (1979). The Committee has also negotiated Direct Broadcasting Principles (1982), Remote Sensing Principles (1986) and Principles on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources (1982).
UNISPACE III
The question of whether to hold a third UNISPACE has been debated in the Committee since 1992. Some delegates are of the view that a third major conference would significantly contribute to increased international cooperation on space-related activities, much so as have the two previous Conferences, held in Vienna in 1968 and 1982. Others, however, have reservations about convening yet another large and costly international
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gathering, especially without having a prior consensus on the concrete objectives.
The Assembly, in reviewing the issues, agreed that such a conference could be convened before the turn of the century, but prior to recommending a date, there should be agreement on the agenda, venue and funding for the event. The Assembly gave the current session of the Committee the task of considering all issues related to the possible convening of a third UNISPACE conference, including the technical and political objectives, a detailed and sharply focused agenda, funding, timing and all other organizational aspects, as well as other means to achieve the objectives.
At the last session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, there was an emerging consensus on the possibility of an event of restricted duration and scope that could cover the intended objectives with most delegates supporting the idea of an event lasting no longer than one week.
Space Applications Programme
As the focal point of United Nations activities regarding outer space and as a forum for guiding international cooperation in space technology and research, the Committee has as its priority task to ensure that all nations have access to and share the benefits of space research and technology. The activities of the United Nations Space Applications Programme aim at fulfilling that mandate. The Committee will review the activities held by the Programme over the past two years, as well as the suggested activities for next year, which include workshops, seminars and training courses in various countries.
The Programme was established by the Assembly in 1971 to assist developing countries in training personnel and developing indigenous capabilities in order to employ modern technologies in their economic and social development plans. The Programme originated from the first UNISPACE Conference (1968) and was further strengthened by UNISPACE 82. Priority is currently given to establishing regional centres for space science and technology education and a satellite communications network for Africa.
Space Debris
Hazards posed by space debris -- defunct satellites and fragments of various man-made space objects that pose a high collision risk, especially in the crowded geostationary orbit -- continue to constitute a priority issue. The Committee is reviewing the relevant work of its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, which has made substantial progress on the issue. Pursuing the first phase of a multi-year work plan adopted last year, the Subcommittee focused its attention on measurements of space debris, understanding of data and assessing the risks confronting space systems. Research reports of several
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countries were reviewed. The Subcommittee produced its first international overview of debris-measuring work as a step towards finding ways of preventing and cleaning up space debris. Modelling of space debris environment and risk assessment will be the task for 1997, followed, the year after, by the discussion of mitigation options.
Outer Space Benefits
Based on the work conducted by its Legal Subcommittee, the Committee has been reviewing the issue of how space benefits should be shared through international cooperation. Previous work has been based on discussion of competing working papers, but at its last session, the Chairman combined the various proposals into a compromise paper. The text, formulated as a draft resolution for consideration by the Assembly, emphasizes that States are free to determine all aspects of their participation in cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space on an equitable and mutually acceptable basis. Modes of cooperation would be tailored to suit the countries concerned.
Delimitation of Space, Geostationary Orbit
The Committee will also continue its discussion of the definition and delimitation of outer space and the question of the equitable use of the geostationary orbit. In that regard, the Committee will consider the preliminary views of States to responses to a questionnaire that reflects ideas and views on the topic that relates to possible legal differentiation between airspace and outer space.
On the use of the geostationary orbit, the focus of discussion is whether a special regime is needed to ensure equitable access to it, particularly for developing countries, or whether the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was sufficiently regulating such access. The geostationary orbit is located approximately 22,300 miles directly above the Equator and is the only orbit that permits continuous contact between a satellite and a single ground station. Satellites in that orbit appear to be stationary in the sky, since their orbits are synchronized with the earth's rotation.
Nuclear Power Sources
The use of nuclear power sources in outer space remains on the Committee's agenda, with a view to regularly reviewing whether new technical developments warrant an updating of existing principles governing the safe use of such power sources in outer space. The Committee agreed two years ago that the document in question should remain in force.
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The Assembly adopted the "Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space" in 1992, following over 10 years of deliberation by the Committee and its Legal Subcommittee. The Principles spell out the duties and responsibilities of States operating nuclear-powered satellites and other devices, and lay down guidelines for their safe operation. At that time, the Assembly asked the Legal Subcommittee to consider the possibility of updating those Principles based on a review by the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee.
Spin-off Benefits
In connection with spin-off benefits of space technology, the Committee is expected to review experience gained from an international conference held on the topic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in April, organized jointly by the United Nations and the United States. That Conference focused on practical, everyday benefits that could be derived from space technology. The conference included participants from the private sector.
Small Satellites
The utilization of micro- and small satellites for the expansion of low-cost space activities, particularly for the benefit of developing countries, was the topic of special attention at this year's session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. Since that is one of the fastest expanding areas of space activities, involving both public and private sectors, the Committee has been asked to ensure that the Space Applications Programme would devote more of its activities to that area.
Membership
The Committee and its Subcommittees are composed of the following 61 Member States: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam and Yugoslavia.
(Cuba will rotate its membership with Peru, and Republic of Korea will rotate with Malaysia, both in 1997.)
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