OUTER SPACE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE TO HOLD THIRTY-FIFTH SESSION IN VIENNA, 9-20 FEBRUARY

5 February 1998

Press Release
OS/1734

OUTER SPACE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE TO HOLD THIRTY-FIFTH SESSION IN VIENNA, 9-20 FEBRUARY

19980205 To Focus on Substantive and Organizational Details of 1999 Conclude Multi-year Programme on Space Debris, Review Space-based Meteorology

VIENNA, 5 February (UN Information Service) -- Organizational and substantive details of the 1999 third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) -- to be held in Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999 -- will be the main focus of attention for the two week session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, beginning here on 9 February.

The 1999 global conference is expected to take stock of all available space technology and come up with a framework for international cooperation to use that technology in dealing with global problems such as land degradation, desertification, global warming, air quality problems, natural disaster mitigation and distance education. Organizers view UNISPACE III as a possible model for a new generation of "reform-oriented" United Nations global conferences. Convened as a special session of the Committee of the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space open to all 185 Member States of the United Nations, it is the first global conference to be organized within existing resources of the Committee and its secretariat.

Compared to the previous two conferences -- UNISPACE I and II, both held in Vienna, in 1967 and 1982, respectively -- and to other major international conferences of the early 1990s, UNISPACE III is expected to come up with a small number of realistic recommendations and a corresponding concrete plan of action to serve as a blueprint for short-and mid-term action to implement those recommendations. Organizers base their confidence on the current political climate which is more favourable for international cooperation in space science and technology.

The current session of the 61-member Subcommittee is expected to look into the organizational details of the preparatory activities leading up to UNISPACE III, as well as the organizational details of the Conference itself. Delegates at the session will also look at the substantive issues to be dealt with by UNISPACE III, namely, how best to match the existing capabilities of space technology to possible ways of dealing with pressing global problems.

The problem of dealing with space debris -- retired or defunct satellites and fragments and small particles of various origins -- will continue to be a priority subject for the Subcommittee as delegates are expected to complete a multi-year work programme dealing with the topic. Previous sessions looked at risk assessment and modelling of space debris environments; the upcoming meeting will focus on mitigation techniques.

Topics of past years, such as nuclear power sources and access to the geostationary orbit will continue to be on the agenda of the Subcommittee session. As regards nuclear power sources, the current session will serve as a forum for a group of technical experts to discuss the latest developments in the field of nuclear power sources. The expert group discussion is part of a previous understanding by the Subcommittee to review all relevant technical developments to determine whether a set of international principles on the use of nuclear power sources, adopted by the General Assembly in 1992, need to be altered to incorporate those developments. As regards the issue of access to the geostationary orbit, delegates will discuss a working paper submitted by the Czech Republic that will attempt to establish a consensus on some key features of the orbit itself in order to facilitate future agreement on the question of access to the orbit.

The "Scientific and technical aspects and application of space-based meteorology" will receive special attention at the current session. Delegates will review relevant information on space-based meteorology in the form of a two-day symposium jointly organized by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) on 9 and 10 February. Technical presentations will focus on topics such as the experiences of China and the Russia Federation in the use of satellites for meteorological purposes; the use of space-based technology in measuring tropical rainfall; remote sensing satellites and their use in disaster managements; and the use of satellites in desert monitoring and land cover studies.

The Subcommittee will also review all its relevant work under the United Nations Programme of Space Applications for 1997 and 1998, as well as all upcoming activities for 1999. The Programme, through workshops, training seminars, fellowship programmes and by sponsoring the establishment of regional centres for space science and technology education, aims at developing indigenous capacities especially in developing countries to ensure the widest possible use of space technology for space-related activities as well as to ensure the widest diffusion of the benefits of space technology in non-space related activities such as various social and economic development programmes.

Other topics on the agenda include: remote sensing of the Earth; space transportation systems; life sciences and space medicine; planetary exploration; and matters relating to astronomy.

- 3 - Press Release OS/1734 5 February 1998

UNISPACE III

The decision to hold a third UNISPACE came after four years of discussions in the Subcommittee and the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The General Assembly in its resolution 52/56 of 10 December 1997 agreed with the proposal of the Committee to convene UNISPACE III at the United Nations Office at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999 as a special session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, open to all Member States of the United Nations.

The primary objectives of a third world conference on space science and technology is to promote effective means of using space technology to assist in the solution of problems of regional or global significance and to strengthen the capabilities of Member States, in particular developing countries, to use the applications of space research for economic, social and cultural development. Promoting sustainable development by using various innovative and already existing applications of space technology is yet another key objective of the Conference. UNISPACE III is also intended to be a forum to promote international cooperation in space technology and applications and to increase awareness among the general public regarding the benefits of space technology. The Conference would also serve as an opportunity for a critical evaluation of space activities.

At its current session the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, which is designated by the Assembly to act as the Advisory Committee for the Conference, will discuss the organizational issues of next year's Conference, as well as, of the various planned regional preparatory meetings leading up to the Conference. The preparatory process is to provide an opportunity, especially for the developing countries, to define their needs for space applications for development purposes in advance of the Conference.

Space Debris

The need to have a firm scientific and technical basis for future action concerning orbital debris and preventing further pollution and reducing collision risks was formally recognized by the Committee in 1994. The Subcommittee was mandated to review the problem in the framework of a multi-year assessment plan. The current session is the last stage of the plan where experts are to discuss the various mitigation options, including both preventive and protective measures. The Subcommittee is expected to finalize its report based on the findings of the multi-year plan.

- 4 - Press Release OS/1734 5 February 1998

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, Kazakhstan, 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.

(*Peru and Malaysia rotate every two years with Cuba and the Republic of Korea).

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