Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The United Nations and Outer Space: Celebrating 50 Years of Space Achievements

  • Chapter
Book cover Yearbook on Space Policy 2007/2008

Part of the book series: Yearbook on Space Policy ((YEARSPACE))

  • 386 Accesses

Abstract

In 2007, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) held its fiftieth session and commemorated a remarkable convergence of space anniversaries as recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in its Resolution 62/217 of 21 December 2007. These anniversaries included the fiftieth anniversary of the advent of the space age with the launch into outer space of the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, on 4 October 1957; the fortieth anniversary of the Outer Space Treaty511 which entered into force on 10 October 1967; the fiftieth session of COPUOS; and the fiftieth anniversary of the International Geophysical Year, which was commemorated by proclaiming the year 2007 as the International Heliophysical Year.512

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.” General Assembly Resolution 2222(XXI), 19 December 1966, Annex.

    Google Scholar 

  2. “Report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.” General Assembly Document A/62/20, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  3. United Nations. Charter of the United Nations and Statute of the International Court of Justice. DPI/511. New York: United Nations Department of Public Information, October 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  4. “Request for the Inclusion of an Additional Item in the Agenda of the Thirteenth Regular Session: Programme for International Co-operation in the Field of Outer Space.” General Assembly Document A/3902, 22 September 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  5. “Question of the Peaceful Use of Outer Space.” General Assembly Resolution 1348(XIII), 13 December 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  6. “Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.” General Assembly Document A/4141, 14 July 1959, Agenda Item 25.

    Google Scholar 

  7. “International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.” General Assembly Resolution 1472(XIV), 12 December 1959.

    Google Scholar 

  8. See General Assembly Document A/7987, “Report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space”, 27 November 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  9. “International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.” General Assembly Resolution 1721(XVI), 20 December 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  10. In the “Report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space” (General Assembly Document A/5181 of 27 September 1962, Paragraph 4), it is stated: “it has been agreed among the members of the Committee that it will be the aim of all members of the Committee and its subcommittees to conduct the Committee’s work in such a way that the Committee will be able to reach agreement in its work without need for voting”.

    Google Scholar 

  11. “Report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on the Work of its First Session.” General Assembly Document A/AC.105/5, 3 July 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  12. “Report of the Legal Subcommittee on the Work of its First Session.” General Assembly Document A/AC.105/6, 9 July 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Letter dated 19 March 1962 from the Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations addressed to the acting Secretary-General (containing the Letter dated 7 March 1962 from President Kennedy addressed to Chairman Khrushchev). General Assembly Document A/AC.105/1, 19 March 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Letter dated 21 March 1962 from the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics addressed to the acting Secretary-General (containing the Letter dated 20 March 1962 from Chairman Khrushchev to President Kennedy on the question of the exploration and use of outer space. General Assembly Document A/AC.105/2, 21 March 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  15. World Meteorological Organization. First Report of the WMO on the Advancement of Atmospheric Sciences and their Application in the Light of Developments in Outer Space. A/5229. Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  16. International Telecommunication Union. First Report by the International Telecommunication Union on Telecommunication and the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. A/5237. Geneva: International Telecommunication Union, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  17. “International United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.” General Assembly Resolution 2221(XXI), 19 December 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  18. United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Capacity-Building in Space Science and Technology: Regional Centres for Space Science and Technology Education Affiliated to the United Nations. ST/SPACE/41. New York: United Nations, November 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  19. “Report of the United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.” General Assembly Document A/CONF.184/6, 18 October 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  20. “Review of the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.” General Assembly Document A/59/174, 23 July 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  21. “Contribution of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to the Work of the Commission on Sustainable Development for the Thematic Cluster 2006–2007: Space for Sustainable Development.” General Assembly Document A/AC.105/872, 9 March 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  22. “Contribution of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to the Work of the Commission on Sustainable Development for the Thematic Cluster 2008–2009: Space for Sustainable Development.” General Assembly Document A/AC.105/892, 13 July 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  23. “International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space — Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee).” General Assembly Document A/63/399, para.11, Draft resolution “International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space”, para.31, 18 November 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  24. The “Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space” (‘Rescue Agreement’: General Assembly Resolution 2354(XXII), Annex); the “Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects” (‘Liability Convention’: General Assembly Resolution 2777 (XXVI), Annex); the “Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space” (‘Registration Convention’: General Assembly Resolution 3235 (XXIX), Annex); and the “Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies” (‘Moon Agreement’: General Assembly Resolution 34/68, Annex). The five declarations and legal principles are the “Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space” (General Assembly Resolution 1962 (XVIII)); the “Principles Governing the Use by States of Artificial Earth Satellites for International Direct Television Broadcasting” (General Assembly Resolution 37/92, Annex); the “Principles Relating to Remote Sensing of the Earth from Outer Space” (General Assembly Resolution 41/65, Annex); the “Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space” (General Assembly Resolution 47/68); and the “Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interest of All States, Taking into Particular Account the Needs of Developing Countries” (General Assembly Resolution 51/122, Annex).

    Google Scholar 

  25. “Report of the Legal Subcommittee on its forty-first session, held in Vienna from 2 to 12 April 2002” General Assembly Document A/AC.105/787, Annex IV, “Report of the Chairman of the Working Group on agenda item 9, entitled “Review of the concept of the ‘launching State’””, 19 April 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  26. “Report of the Legal Subcommittee on its forty-sixth session, held in Vienna from 26 March to 5 April 2007” General Assembly Document A/AC.105/891, Annex III, “Report of the Chairman of the Working Group on the Practice of States and International Organizations in Registering Space Objects”, 2 May 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  27. The text of the Guidelines is contained in the Annex to the “Report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space”, General Assembly Document A/62/20 of 26 July 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  28. “Report of the Legal Subcommittee on its thirty-ninth session, held in Vienna from 27 March to 6 April 2000” General Assembly Document A/AC.105/738, Annex III, “Some aspects concerning the use of the geostationary orbit: paper adopted by the Legal Subcommittee”, 20 April 2000.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    Copyright information

    © 2009 Springer-Verlag/Wien

    About this chapter

    Cite this chapter

    (2009). The United Nations and Outer Space: Celebrating 50 Years of Space Achievements. In: Schrogl, KU., Mathieu, C., Peter, N. (eds) Yearbook on Space Policy 2007/2008. Yearbook on Space Policy. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-99091-9_12

    Download citation

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-99091-9_12

    • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

    • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-99090-2

    • Online ISBN: 978-3-211-99091-9

    • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

    Publish with us

    Policies and ethics

    Search

    Navigation