WIA-E has participated to the COPUOS STSC 2017 in Vienna on February 2nd with a presentation of our association during the session “General exchange of views”.
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is the United Nations office responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. UNOOSA serves as the secretariat for the General Assembly’s only committee dealing exclusively with international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space: the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). COPUOS deals with international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, monitors and discusses developments related to the exploration and use of outer space as well as the technical advancements in space exploration, geopolitical changes, and the evolving use of space science and technology for sustainable development.
The Committee has two subsidiary bodies: the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC), and the Legal Subcommittee (LSC), both established in 1961.STSC deals with scientific and technical issues of the use of outer space and the legal subcommittee (LSC) deals with legal and regulatory aspects of the use of outer space.
COPUOS is the most important international platform for exchanges on space-related issues, having now more than 80 member states, several observing organisations like ESA, EU, ITU, etc.
UNCOPUOS most prominent Topic/development: UNISPACE+50. A process started in 2015 to identify Topics relevant for the Vision to Space 2030.
In 1968 the first UNISPACE conference (UNISPACE I) took place in Vienna and in 2018 UNISPACE+50 will take place in Vienna as well. A declaration is to be expected on a way Forward to Space 2030.
Below a photo of WIA-E participation to the COPUOS STSC 2017.