Registering Satellites Launched Into Outer Space, Related UN Treaties Discussed at Meeting
New York, Apr 5 2007 7:00PM
Registering satellites and other objects launched into outer space, along with the status of the five United Nations
treaties covering outer space, were among the main issues discussed during a 11-day meeting in Vienna under the auspices
of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) that ended today.
This year marks the 50th session of the Committee and is also important for the wider space community as being the 50th
anniversary of the launch of the first artificial satellite, as well as marking 40 years since the entry into force of
the Outer Space Treaty.
The Vienna meeting of the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS also examined aspects of capacity building in space law, during
which leading experts gave presentations, and noted the positive effect of a recent letter by Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon encouraging participation in the outer space treaties.
The Subcommittee, like COPUOS, is composed of 67 Member States, while inter-governmental and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), such as the Association of Space Explorers and the Planetary Society, have permanent observer
status with COPUOS.
The Committee was set up by the General Assembly in 1959 to review the scope of international cooperation in the
peaceful uses of outer space, to devise programmes in this field to be undertaken under UN auspices, and to deal with
related matters.
The Vienna-based UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) implements the decisions of the General Assembly and of COPUOS
and its two Subcommittees, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee.