International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

A/RES/55/122View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 83 International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, published in 2001.

What else is in this group?

78 documents · 1960–2025

Newer documents in this group exist (latest: 2025).

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2025	A/RES/80/76	International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space	4,167	–
2024	A/RES/79/87	International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space	4,172	–
2023	A/RES/78/72	International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space	3,907	–
2022	A/RES/77/121	International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space	3,657	–
2021	A/RES/76/76	International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space	3,618	–

This group bundles related documents that are not individually ordered.

What subjects does this mandate have?

11 subjects

Arms Race Nuclear Power Sources Outer Space Recommendations Satellite Monitoring Signatures, Accessions, Ratifications Space Debris Space Exploration Space Technology Specialized Agencies Working Groups

What’s in this document?

68 operative paragraphs

Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-third session;3

Encourages States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer space⁵ to give consideration to ratifying those treaties or acceding to them;

⁵Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 2222 (XXI), annex); Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 2345 (XXII), annex); Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex); Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex); and Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 34/68, annex).

Notes that, at its thirty-ninth session, the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued its work, as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/67;⁶

⁶See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), chap. II.C.

Notes with satisfaction the agreement reached by the Legal Subcommittee on the question of the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit and the subsequent endorsement of that agreement by the Committee;⁷

⁷Ibid., para. 129, and A/AC.105/738, annex III.

Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Legal Subcommittee, at its fortieth session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries:

Consider the following as regular agenda items:

General exchange of views;

Status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space;

iii

Information on the activities of international organizations relating to space law;

Matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space and the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including consideration of ways and means to ensure the rational and equitable use of the geostationary orbit without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunication Union;

Consider the following single issues/items for discussion:

Review and possible revision of the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space;⁸

⁸See resolution 47/68.

The draft convention of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law on international interests in mobile equipment and the preliminary draft protocol thereto on matters specific to space property;

Continue its review of the concept of the “launching State”, in accordance with the work plan adopted by the Committee;⁹

⁹Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/54/20 and Corr.1), para. 114.

Notes that the Legal Subcommittee, at its fortieth session, will submit its proposals to the Committee for new items to be considered by the Subcommittee at its forty-first session, in 2002;

Notes also that, in the context of paragraph 5 (a) (iv) above, and in accordance with the agreement referred to in paragraph 4 above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its working group on the item only to consider matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space;

Notes further that, in the context of paragraph 5 (c) above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its working group to consider the item;

Takes note of the agreement reached by the Committee at its fortieth session on the composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the second term starting in 2000, in the context of the implementation of the measures relating to the working methods of those bodies,¹⁰ which were endorsed by the General Assembly in paragraph 11 of its resolution 52/56 of 10 December 1997;

¹⁰Ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/52/20), annex I.

Notes with satisfaction that consensus decisions were reached on the composition of the bureaux for the second term, and agrees that, in accordance with those consensus decisions, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee should elect their chairmen for the second term at the beginning of their thirty-eighth and fortieth sessions respectively;

Notes that, in accordance with the measures relating to the working methods of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies, mentioned in paragraph 9 above, consultations will be held among the regional groups at the forty-fourth session of the Committee to determine which group will be responsible for which office for the third term, starting in 2003;

Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its thirty-seventh session, continued its work as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/67;¹¹

¹¹Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), chap. II.B.

Notes with satisfaction that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-seventh session continued to consider, on a priority basis, the agenda item on space debris;

Agrees that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee should assess the effectiveness of existing space debris mitigation practices and the extent to which they are being implemented and that efforts to model and characterize the debris environment should continue;

Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its thirty-eighth session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries:

Consider the following items:

General exchange of views and introduction to reports submitted on national activities;

United Nations Programme on Space Applications, following the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III);

iii

Matters relating to remote sensing of the Earth by satellite, including applications for developing countries and monitoring of the Earth’s environment;

Consider the following items in accordance with the work plans adopted by the Committee at its forty-third session:¹²

¹²See A/AC.105/697 and Corr.1, annex III, appendix, for the work plan for item (i), and A/AC.105/736, annex II, paras. 40 and 41 for items (ii) and (iii) respectively.

Use of nuclear power sources in outer space;

Means and mechanisms for strengthening inter-agency cooperation and increasing the use of space applications and services within and among entities of the United Nations system;

iii

Implementation of an integrated, space-based global natural disaster management system;

Consider the following single issues/items for discussion:

Space debris, on a priority basis, consistent with paragraph 370 of the report of UNISPACE III;¹³

¹³Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3).

Examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit and of its utilization and applications, including, inter alia, in the field of space communications, as well as other questions relating to developments in space communications, taking particular account of the needs and interests of developing countries;

iii

Government and private activities to promote education in space science and engineering;

Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-eighth session will submit its proposal to the Committee for a draft provisional agenda for the thirty-ninth session of the Subcommittee, in 2002;

Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Committee on Space Research and the International Astronautical Federation, in liaison with Member States, be invited to arrange a symposium on the theme “Terrestrial hazards from outer space objects and phenomena”, with as wide a participation as possible, to be held during the first week of the thirty-eighth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee;

Notes with satisfaction that an industry symposium, with the participation of Member States, on emerging applications of global navigation satellite systems in improving the productivity of national and regional infrastructure will be organized during the thirty-eighth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee;

Agrees that, in the context of paragraphs 15 (a) (ii) and 16 above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-eighth session should reconvene its Working Group of the Whole and that the Subcommittee should consider, through the Working Group of the Whole, the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III;

Also agrees that, in the context of paragraph 15 (b) (i) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-eighth session should reconvene its Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space;

Encourages all the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to contribute to the work of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee in the context of paragraph 15 (b) (ii) above by, inter alia, providing the Subcommittee with appropriate information in response to the list of questions approved by the Committee at its forty-third session;¹⁴

¹⁴See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), para. 113.

Agrees that, in the context of paragraph 15 (c) (i) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-eighth session should conduct its work in accordance with the agreement of the Committee at its forty-third session;¹⁵

¹⁵Ibid., para. 119.

Endorses the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for 2001, as proposed to the Committee by the United Nations Expert on Space Applications;¹⁶

¹⁶See A/AC.105/730, sect. II.

Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 50/27 of 6 December 1995, the African regional centres for space science and technology education, in the French language and in the English language, located in Morocco and Nigeria respectively, began their first educational activities in April 2000, that the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific continued its education programme in 2000 and that progress has been achieved in furthering the goals of the Network of Space Science and Technology Education and Research Institutions for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and in establishing regional centres for space science and technology education in the other regions;

Also notes with satisfaction that Member States concerned in Asia and the Pacific are holding further consultations, with the assistance of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, with a view to making the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific grow into a network of nodes;

Recognizes the usefulness and significance of the space conferences of the Americas for the Latin American countries, encourages the convening of a Fourth Space Conference of the Americas, and also encourages other regions to convene periodically regional conferences with a view to achieving convergence of positions on issues of common concern in the field of the peaceful uses of outer space among States Members of the United Nations;

Urges all Governments, organs, organizations and programmes within the United Nations system as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental entities conducting space-related activities to take the action necessary for the effective implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular its resolution entitled “The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development”,1 and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III;

Notes that, pursuant to paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 54/68, the Office for Outer Space Affairs had submitted to the Committee for its review at its forty-third session a plan of action to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III;¹⁷

¹⁷See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), para. 71.

Requests the Secretary-General to begin implementing those measures and activities that are contained in the above-mentioned plan of action and are currently within the programme of work of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, based on the recommendations of UNISPACE III, and to ensure the full implementation of the plan with the necessary resources in 2002;

Agrees that the Committee should include in the agendas of its forty-fourth to forty-seventh sessions, in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, an item on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III;¹⁸

¹⁸Ibid., para. 76.

Requests the Committee to prepare a report under the agenda item on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III for submission to the General Assembly in order for the Assembly to review and appraise, at its fifty-ninth session, in 2004, in accordance with paragraph 16 of General Assembly resolution 54/68, the implementation of the outcome of UNISPACE III and to consider further actions and initiatives;

Encourages all Member States to contribute to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications to support activities to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular the priority project proposals as recommended by the Committee at its forty-third session;¹⁹

¹⁹Ibid., para. 87.

Notes with satisfaction that, in connection with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 54/68, special events of the United Nations were held at Headquarters and at the United Nations Office at Vienna on 4 October 2000 to launch the first World Space Week and that other events were also held by interested Member States to celebrate World Space Week, and requests the Secretary-General to invite Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations as well as space-related industries to make voluntary contributions to support activities to celebrate World Space Week;

Recommends that more attention be paid to all matters relating to the protection and the preservation of the outer space environment, especially those potentially affecting the Earth’s environment;

Considers that it is essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects, including those with nuclear power sources, with space debris, and other aspects of space debris, calls for the continuation of national research on this question, for the development of improved technology for the monitoring of space debris and for the compilation and dissemination of data on space debris, also considers that, to the extent possible, information thereon should be provided to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and agrees that international cooperation is needed to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions;

Urges all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes;

Emphasizes the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to the orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, including mitigation of the consequences of disasters, in particular in the developing countries;

Agrees that the benefits of space technology and its applications should be prominently brought to the attention of conferences organized within the United Nations system to address global issues relating to social, economic and cultural development and that the use of space technology should be promoted towards achieving the objectives of those conferences and implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration;²⁰

²⁰See resolution 55/2.

Takes note of the interest of certain countries, including Saudi Arabia and Slovakia, that submitted requests to become members of the Committee, as well as the requests of those countries that have been sharing seats on a rotating basis, namely, Cuba, Malaysia, Peru and the Republic of Korea, to have that practice terminated and to become full members, and requests the Committee to include in the agenda of its forty-fourth session an item on the enlargement of its membership to consider including as full members those countries requesting membership;

Encourages Member States to hold informal consultations on the enlargement of membership of the Committee during the thirty-eighth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and, if necessary, during the fortieth session of the Legal Subcommittee, with a view to reaching a consensus agreement on the matter at the forty-fourth session of the Committee;

Requests the Committee to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-sixth session;

Also requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-fourth session, its agenda item entitled “Spin-off benefits of space technology: review of current status”;

Agrees that a symposium on the theme “The human dimension in space science and technology applications” should be organized during the forty-fourth session of the Committee;

Invites the Committee to expand the scope of international cooperation relating to the social, economic, ethical and human dimension in space science and technology applications;

Requests the specialized agencies and other international organizations to continue and, where appropriate, enhance their cooperation with the Committee and to provide it with progress reports on their work relating to the peaceful uses of outer space;

Requests the Committee to continue its work, in accordance with the present resolution, to consider, as appropriate, new projects in outer space activities and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, including its views on which subjects should be studied in the future;

Also requests the Committee to consider and identify new mechanisms of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, in accordance with the preamble to the present resolution.

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