OUTER SPACE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE TO HOLD THIRTY-FOURTH SESSION IN VIENNA, 17-28 FEBRUARY
Press Release
OS/1725
OUTER SPACE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE TO HOLD THIRTY-FOURTH SESSION IN VIENNA, 17-28 FEBRUARY
19970218 Background Release Will Focus on Preparations for UNISPACE III World Conference, Strategy for Dealing with Space Debris, Practical Uses of Space Technology(Reproduced as received; delayed in transmission.)
VIENNA, 12 February (UN Information Service) -- In light of the General Assembly's recent decision to hold a third United Nations conference on the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space (UNISPACE III) as a special session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space that will be open to all Member States of the United Nations, the arrangements and agenda for this long-debated event will be a major issue at a two-week intergovernmental meeting beginning here on Monday, 17 February.
The decision to hold a third UNISPACE in 1999 or 2000 is the culmination of nearly four years of discussions by the 61-member Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which furthers international cooperation in technology, research, legal issues and the dissemination of space-related information.
The General Assembly has stressed that UNISPACE III should reflect the significant advances in space activities since the last such event was held in Vienna in 1982 (UNISPACE 82). Subcommittee deliberations will, therefore, centre on identifying the themes to be covered by the 10-day Conference, in particular, the use of space technology to assist in the solution of problems of regional and global significance, and to strengthen the capabilities of Member States, particularly developing countries, in the use of space research applications for economic, social and cultural development.
The question of space debris will be highlighted at the forthcoming session as the Subcommittee proceeds with its multi-year plan to assess the technical aspects of space debris prior to international regulatory action. Emphasis will be on the modelling of space debris environment and risk assessment, reviewing current debris mitigation practices and considering the cost-effectiveness of future activities in this area.
Space systems for direct broadcasting and global information systems for space research are another subject singled out for special attention at the
1997 session. A symposium on this theme with as wide a participation as possible has been organized in liaison with Member States for the first week of the session of the Subcommittee by the Committee on Space Research and the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).
Matters relating to remote sensing of the Earth by satellites, including applications for developing countries, will also be considered by the Subcommittee on a priority basis. With microwave sensing technology now having advanced to the point where it is of economic importance, successful utilization of remote sensing data in developing countries has become increasingly dependent on data availability, fast data delivery and extensive education and training of personnel.
Also on the Subcommittee's agenda will be questions relating to space transportation systems and their implications for future activities in space, examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit, matters relating to planetary exploration, astronomy, life sciences, including space medicine, and progress in the international geosphere-biosphere (global change) programme.
UNISPACE III
After some four years of debate and development work by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, the General Assembly in December 1996 agreed that UNISPACE III should be convened in Vienna in 1999 or 2000, depending on how soon an agenda can be finalized. Two previous global Conferences on space were held in Vienna in 1967 and 1982.
The importance of making space techniques, such as satellite communications, available to promote socio-economic progress in developing countries will be a main theme of UNISPACE III, and the Subcommittee will have before it a document prepared by the Secretariat setting out possible approaches and issues for discussion.
In the run-up to UNISPACE III, preparatory regional seminars and workshops are envisaged, aimed at building a common understanding among the international space communities of the event's main issues. A United Nations seminar in Alpbach, Austria, in January 1997, has already brought together international experts and policy makers to focus attention on the role of space technologies in the future of human security. Discussions emphasized promoting the sharing of space expertise for the benefit of developing countries and encouraging their active participation in security-related space activities in the health, education, agricultural, economic and environmental fields.
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UNISPACE III is seen also as a valuable forum for critical evaluation of space activities, and for raising public awareness of the benefits of space technology.
Space Debris
The orbital debris inventory continues to grow and with it the dangers of collisions with spacecraft, space stations, satellites such as the Hubble Space Telescope and even space mission crew members engaged in "space walks". Thirty-five years of human activity in outer space have caused an estimated 70,000 observable or trackable pieces of debris in space, plus innumerable high speed particles which constitute a potential threat to personnel and equipment.
The need to have a firm scientific and technical basis for future action concerning orbital debris and preventing further pollution was formally recognized by the Outer Space Committee in 1994, and the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee's multi-year assessment plan under which it reviews the latest scientific research continues this session with discussions on space debris environment and risk assessment modelling.
The Subcommittee will have before it the updated version of a document prepared by the Secretariat for the 1996 session on various steps taken by space agencies to reduce space debris growth or damage. This comprises new information provided by Member States and national and international space organizations on general policies for mitigating the generation of orbital debris; debris mitigation techniques used in the construction of launch vehicles; prevention of accidental debris creation; and the environmental protection of the geostationary orbit.
A document containing contributions from Member States covering the safety of nuclear-powered satellites and the problems of collisions of nuclear-powered sources with space debris will also be before the Subcommittee.
Direct Broadcasting and Global Information Systems
There have been tremendous advances in telecommunications technology. The Global Information Infrastructure (GII), an extension of the National Information Infrastructure (NII) initiative of the United States, is expected to revolutionize modern-day communications. Both the NII and GII embrace the increasing use of computers, telephones, radios and televisions to link consumers with each other and services around the world. Satellites and wireless systems and, increasingly, low-Earth-orbit satellites, will be vital in the future implementation of GII.
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Satellite systems have important features lacking in terrestrial-based fibre optics networks, including ease of mobile communications and cost-effective rural and remote connections -- especially important if developing countries are to become part of the Global Information Society. A special symposium on space systems for direct broadcasting and global information systems will be a highlight of the first week of the session.
Satellite Remote Sensing
From 1991, the European Remote Sensing Satellite programme has been providing a wealth of high-quality microwave data about the earth and its environment. RADARSAT, launched in 1995, complements these data. The Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT), scheduled for launch in 1998/1999, will assure data continuity into the next century.
Monitoring the earth environment and the effective management of natural resources are necessary elements of sustainable development, and successful remote sensing applications in several countries have testified to its importance. These include acquiring data for rehabilitation of areas in northern and central Luzon in the Philippines that were severely damaged by the 1990 earthquake; monitoring rice-planting acreage and rice growth in Thailand; ensuring food security in Africa; and planning and management of land use and vital coastal resources in the Caribbean.
Membership
The Subcommittee comprises the 61 members of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: 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, Malaysia*, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru*, 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.
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__________ * Cuba and the Republic of Korea are also appointed as members of the Committee. Peru and Malaysia will rotate every two years with Cuba and the Republic of Korea).