COMMITTEE ON PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE CONCLUDES FORTY-THIRD SESSION IN VIENNA
Press Release
OS/1766
COMMITTEE ON PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE CONCLUDES FORTY-THIRD SESSION IN VIENNA
20000620Discussed Plan to Celebrate World Space Week, Implementation Of UNISPACE III Recommendations and Spin-off Benefits of Space Technology
VIENNA, 19 June (UN Information Service) -- The United Nations Programme on Space Applications, World Space Week, implementation of UNISPACE III recommendations, spin-off benefits of space technology, upcoming workshops and the international treaties governing the uses of outer space were the main focus of attention during the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space's (COPUOS) forty-third session, held here from 7 to 16 June.
The Committee discussed the need to promote international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space and recognized that it had an important role to play in ensuring that outer space was maintained for peaceful purposes. The Committee accordingly agreed to continue its consideration of this important topic at its forty-fourth session in 2001.
The Committee also discussed the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, which was established by the General Assembly in 1971. The Programme was created in response to recommendations of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE) which was held in Vienna, Austria, in August 1968. The initial mandate was to create awareness among policy makers and government agencies of the benefits of space technology and to encourage training and programmes that would provide developing countries with the necessary knowledge, skills and practical experience in the field.
During last week's session, the Committee noted that the priority themes of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications were: disaster management; satellite communications for tele-education and telemedicine applications; monitoring and protection of the environment, including the prevention of infectious diseases; management of natural resources; and education and research areas in basic space sciences.
Other areas on which the Programme will concentrate include the use of global navigation and positioning satellite systems, spin-offs of space technology, including commercialization aspects, applications of small satellites and micro-satellites and promoting the participation of private industry in the Programme's activities. Among the Programme?s various activities, is a plan to provide assistance to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) with a methodology for the use of satellite images to monitor the cultivation of illicit crops.
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The Committee also endorsed workshops and training courses planned for the remaining part of 2000. The ninth United Nations/European Space Agency Workshop on Basic Space Science: Satellites and Network of Telescopes -- Tools for Global Participation in the Study of the Universe will be held from 27 to 30 June in Toulouse, France. A Symposium on Enhancing the Participation of Youth in Space Activities will be held in Graz, Austria, from 11 to 14 September. A workshop on the Use of Space Technology in Disaster Management will be held in La Serena, Chile, from 13 to 16 November of this year as well. Various postgraduate training courses and workshops will also be held in regional centres affiliated with the United Nations in Morocco, India and Nigeria.
The Committee expressed satisfaction with the Legal Subcommittees review of the status of the five international treaties governing outer space and agreed to endorse the recommendations of the Subcommittees working group on measures to achieve the fullest adherence to the treaties. The Committee also noted the progress that the Legal Subcommittee had achieved through special presentations and resulting discussions regarding the review of the concept of the launching State. The Committee recommended that the Legal Subcommittee continue its consideration of this topic at its fortieth session in 2001, in accordance with the programme for the second year of its three-year work plan.
The Committee further noted that spin-off benefits of space technology have resulted in the development of many products and processes. For example, in the field of human health, new methods for treating bone disease have been derived from microgravity sciences; the use of cool suits, originally worn by astronauts, is being used to treat hypohidrotic ectodermal displasia and other disorders; and magnetic resonance imaging devices used to screen for cancer were derived from technology to produce computer-enhanced images. Applications of space technology have also benefited other fields, such as a new spectral camera used in aircraft wing de-icing and a radar-based system for mounting on rescue vehicles.
The Committee also endorsed the Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) plan of action to implement recommendations made by UNISPACE III, which was held in Vienna from 19 to 30 July. OOSAs plan of action includes: the organization of a symposium to strengthen the partnership of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee with industry, promotion of the participation of youth in space activities, celebration of World Space Week, strengthening of the activities of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, and identifying innovative funding sources. The Committee further agreed that the implementation of UNISPACE III recommendations would be included as an agenda item for the forty- fourth to forty-seventh sessions of the Committee, in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
World Space Week, a new event declared by the General Assembly in resolution 54/68, will be celebrated from 4 to 10 October each year at the international level to recognize the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of humanity. The Committee considered a plan to celebrate World Space Week that OOSA had developed with the assistance of Spaceweek International Association. The Committee also heard a presentation on activities to celebrate World Space Week. The Committee subsequently agreed that the plan to celebrate World Space Week would be implemented.
The Committee also endorsed the recommendation of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee to organize a colloquium entitled, "The human dimension in space science and technology applications". The colloquium will be organized
during the forty-fourth session of the Committee, in 2001, with the participation of eminent scientists, sociologists and philosophers.
Among other actions, the Committee re-elected Raimundo Gonzalez (Chile) as Chairman for a 3-year term. Driss El Hadani (Morocco) was elected First Vice- Chairman and Harijono Djojodihardjo (Indonesia) was elected Second Vice- Chairman/Rapporteur. The Committee also agreed that Vladmir Kopal (Czech Republic) should be re-elected Chairman of the Legal Subcommittee and Karl Doetsch (Canada) elected as Chairman of the Technical Subcommittee for a second 3-year term.
The Committee further noted that Saudi Arabia and Slovakia had submitted requests for membership. Cuba, Peru and the Republic of Korea had also requested that the practice of sharing seats on a rotating basis be ended in order that they may become full members of the Committee. After hearing some delegations views on the matter, the Committee recommended that the question of enlargement of membership be included as an agenda item in its forty-fourth session in 2001.
Membership
Currently, membership in COPUOS consists of 61 countries each year. The following countries are members: 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 their memberships every two years with Cuba and the Republic of Korea).
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