The United Nations-declared World Space Week takes place every year from 4-10 October. In 2007, the central topic will be the 50th anniversary of the Space Age.
World Space Week celebrates the contribution of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition. Endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1999, it marks the anniversary of two milestones in the human exploration and use of outer space: the launch of the first artificial satellite, SPUTNIK I, on 4 October 1957, and the entry into force of the Treaty Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, which took place on 10 October 1967.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
54/68. Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 51/123 of 13 December 1996, 52/56 of 10 December 1997 and 53/45 of 3 December 1998 concerning the preparations for and convening of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999, Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space,
Expressing its satisfaction with the successful preparation of UNISPACE III through the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, as the Preparatory Committee, and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, as the Advisory Committee, as well as the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat as the executive secretariat, and commending their efforts to organize UNISPACE III within existing resources,
Recognizing the contributions of the Technical Forum and the Space Generation Forum to UNISPACE III,
Having considered the report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space1 and the recommendations contained in the resolution entitled “The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development”,2 Stressing the importance of promoting effective means of using space technology to assist in the solution of problems of regional or global significance and of strengthening the capabilities of Member States, in particular developing countries, to use the applications of space research for economic, social and cultural development,
Conscious of the need to expedite the use of space applications by Member States to promote sustainable development and to increase the awareness of the general public with regard to the benefits of space technology,
Desiring to enhance the opportunities for education, training and technical assistance in space science and technology and their applications aimed at the development of indigenous capabilities in all States,
Expressing its profound gratitude to the Government and people of Austria for the hospitality extended to the participants of UNISPACE III and for the facilities placed at their disposal,
1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space;
2. Endorses the resolution entitled “The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development”;
3. Urges Governments, organs, organizations and programmes within the United Nations system as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and industries conducting space-related activities to take the necessary action for the effective implementation of the Vienna Declaration;
4. Calls upon all concerned to implement the recommendations made by UNISPACE III as reflected in its report;
5. Requests all relevant organizations of the United Nations system to review and, where necessary, adjust their programmes and activities in line with the recommendations of UNISPACE III and to take appropriate measures to ensure their full and effective implementation, taking into account the needs of developing countries, in particular by further enhancing the coordination of their space-related activities through the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities;
6. Invites all relevant governing bodies of the organizations within the United Nations system responsible for space-related activities to establish an ad hoc intergovernmental advisory group to review inter-agency coordination of space-related activities
7. Declares 4 to 10 October World Space Week to celebrate each year at the international level the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition, bearing in mind that 4 October 1957 was the date of the launch into outer space of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space exploration, and that 10 October 1967 was the date of the entry into force of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to modify the terms of reference of the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 37/90 of 10 December 1982 on the Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, to include implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III;
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to invite all States to contribute voluntarily to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications and, in his letter of invitation, to identify priority project proposals, on the basis of recommendations of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and requests the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat to provide the Committee with a report listing those States which have responded to the invitation;
10. Agrees that the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its secretariat should identify new and innovative funding sources for implementing the recommendations of UNISPACE III in order to supplement the resources to be provided through the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications;
11. Requests the Secretary-General to recommend measures to ensure that the Office for Outer Space Affairs is provided with adequate resources to implement the following actions based on the recommendations of UNISPACE III:
(a) Providing the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space with necessary analytical documents, both on the substance and on the organization of work, to facilitate their consideration of new items called for in the agenda structures adopted by the Committee at its forty-second session;
(b) Organizing, in order to strengthen the partnership of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee with industry, a one-day symposium during the thirty-seventh session of the Subcommittee to provide Member States with updated information on commercially available products, services and ongoing activities of the space-related industry;
(c) Identifying and promoting the use of appropriate space technologies to meet the needs of programmes and organizations within the United Nations system in carrying out activities that have not yet benefited from the use of space technology to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency;
(d) Strengthening the activities of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications to include the following:
(i) Facilitating and supporting the development and implementation of space-related projects that address the operational needs of Member States;
(ii) Providing support to the regional centres for space science and technology education affiliated with the United Nations, including the Network of Space Science and Technology Education and Research Institutions for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe;
(iii) Reorienting the long-term fellowship programme;
(iv) Organizing workshops and conferences on advanced space applications and new system developments for programme managers and leaders of space technology development and applications activities;
(v) Organizing medium-term courses on remote-sensing education for university educators and on telecommunications and tele-health for professionals;
(vi) Providing technical advisory services to Member States, on request, on different aspects of space science and technology and related applications;
(vii) Promoting cooperation in space applications projects between government establishments, universities and research institutions and private industry;
(viii) Organizing an annual public forum to inform the general public of past, ongoing and planned space activities and the future direction of such activities;
(ix) Promoting activities for youth, so as to encourage interest among students and young scientists and engineers;
(x) Promoting cooperation in the development of educational programmes in space science and technology for primary and secondary school curricula;
(xi) Establishing a programme of visits by astronauts, cosmonauts and other space scientists and engineers to increase knowledge about space-related activities, in particular among young people;
(xii) Promoting the participation of scientists from developing countries in space science and planetary exploration;
(xiii) Initiating programmes to promote the use of satellite communications and Earth observation data for disaster management and to provide opportunities for professionals to put into practice the knowledge that they have acquired through training courses;
12. Calls upon the Secretary-General to ensure the availability of the report of UNISPACE III, including its proceedings, and to disseminate as widely as possible the results of UNISPACE III, in particular the Vienna Declaration and the summary of the background and recommendations of UNISPACE III;
13. Notes that, in response to a request made by the Preparatory Committee for UNISPACE III at its 1999 session, the executive secretariat has prepared for submission to the General Assembly a document on organizational matters relating to UNISPACE III, with the aim of providing other entities in the United Nations system with guidelines on using existing resources to organize a conference on global issues;
14. Agrees that the document prepared by the executive secretariat on organizational matters relating to UNISPACE III should be issued as a report to the General Assembly during its fifty-fourth session;
15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III;
16. Decides to review and appraise, at its fifty-ninth session, the implementation of the outcome of UNISPACE III and to consider further actions and initiatives, and, in this context, requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to submit for consideration by the General Assembly at its fiftyseventh session recommendations on the format, scope and organizational aspects of the review.
71st plenary meeting
6 December 1999
Sources:
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/wsw/index.html
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N00/283/74/PDF/N0028374.pdf?OpenElement