| United Nations | A/RES/39/96 |
General Assembly
Distr. GENERAL
14 December 1984
ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH
A/RES/39/96
14 December 1984
Meeting no. 100
International co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 38/80 of 15 December 1983,
Deeply convinced of the common interest of mankind in promoting the
exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and in continuing
efforts to extend to all States the benefits derived therefrom, and of the
importance of international co-operation in this field, for which the United
Nations should continue to provide a focal point,
Reaffirming the importance of international co-operation in developing
the rule of law for the advancement and preservation of the exploration and
peaceful uses of outer space,
Gravely concerned at the extension of an arms race into outer space,
Recognizing that all States, in particular those with major space
capabilities, should contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms
race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of
international co-operation in the exploration and uses of outer space for
peaceful purposes,
Aware of the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its
applications and to contribute to an orderly growth of space activities
favourable to the socio-economic advancement of mankind, in particular the
peoples of developing countries,
Taking note of the progress achieved in the further development of
peaceful space exploration and application as well as in various national and
co-operative space projects, which contribute to international co-operation in
this field,
Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the
implementation of the recommendations of the Second United Nations Conference
on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,
Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space on the work of its twenty-seventh session,
1. Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space;
2. Invites States that have not yet become parties to the international
treaties governing the use of outer space to give consideration to
ratifying or acceding to those treaties;
3. Notes that the Legal Sub-Committee of the Committee on the Peaceful
Uses of Outer Space at its twenty-third session:
(a) Continued, on a priority basis, its detailed consideration of the
legal implications of remote sensing of the Earth from space, with the
aim of formulating draft principles relating to remote sensing;
(b) Continued its consideration of the possibility of supplementing the
norms of international law relevant to the use of nuclear power sources
in outer space through its working group;
(c) Established a working group to consider, on a priority basis,
matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space and to
the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including the
elaboration of general principles to govern the rational and equitable
use of the geostationary orbit, a limited natural resource;
4. Decides that the Legal Sub-Committee at its twenty-fourth session
should in its working groups, continue:
(a) Its detailed consideration of the legal implications of remote
sensing of the Earth from space, with the aim of formulating draft
principles relating to remote sensing;
(b) Its consideration of the possibility of supplementing the norms of
international law relevant to the use of nuclear power sources in outer
space;
(c) Its consideration of matters relating to the definition and
delimitation of outer space and to 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;
5. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee of the
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space at its twenty-first session
continued:
(a) Its consideration of the following items on a priority basis:
(i) United Nations Programme on Space Applications and the
co-ordination of space activities within the United Nations
system;
(ii) Implementation of the recommendations of the Second United
Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space;
(iii) Questions relating to remote sensing of the Earth by
satellites;
(iv) Use of nuclear power sources in outer space;
(b) Its consideration of the following items:
(i) Questions relating to space transportation systems and their
implications for future activities in space;
(ii) Examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of
the geostationary orbit;
6. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space that the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee at its
twenty-second session should:
(a) Consider the following items on a priority basis:
(i) United Nations Programme on Space Applications and the
co-ordination of space activities within the United Nations
system;
(ii) Implementation of the recommendations of the Second United
Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space;
and, in this context, it is particularly urgent to implement
the following recommendations:
a. All countries should have the opportunity to use the
techniques resulting from medical studies in space;
b. Data banks at the national and regional levels should be
strengthened and expanded and an international space
information service should be established to function as a
centre of co-ordination;
c. The United Nations should support the creation of adequate
training centres at the regional level, linked, whenever
possible, to institutions implementing space programmes;
necessary funding for the development of such centres
should be made available through financial institutions;
(iii) Questions relating to remote sensing of the Earth by
satellites;
(iv) Use of nuclear power sources in outer space;
(b) Consider the following items:
(i) Questions relating to space transportation systems and their
implications for future activities in space;
(ii) Examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of
the geostationary orbit;
7. Endorses further the recommendation of the Committee on the Peaceful
Uses of Outer Space that, during the twenty-second session of the
Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee, the Working Group on the Use of
Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space should be reconvened to conduct
additional work on the basis of the report of the Working Group on the
work of its fourth session;
8. Endorses the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for
1985, as proposed to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space by
the Expert on Space Applications;
9. Emphasizes the urgency and importance of implementing fully the
recommendations of the Second United Nations Conference on the
Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space as early as possible;
10. Reaffirms its approval of the recommendation of the Conference
regarding the establishment and strengthening of regional mechanisms of
co-operation and their promotion and creation through the United Nations
system;
11. Expresses its appreciation to all Governments that made or expressed
their intention to make contributions towards carrying out the
recommendations of the Conference;
12. Invites all Governments to take effective action for the
implementation of the recommendations of the Conference;
13. 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
co-operation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful
purposes;
14. Takes note of the views expressed during the twenty-seventh session
of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and during the
thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly concerning questions
relating to the militarization of outer space;
15. Requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to
consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means for maintaining outer
space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the General Assembly
at its fortieth session;
16. Takes note of the fact that work on the following three study
projects proposed by the Second United Nations Conference on the
Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space has reached an advanced
stage and that the final reports will be submitted to the Scientific and
Technical Sub-Committee at its twenty-second session:
(a) Assistance to countries in studying their remote-sensing needs and
assessing appropriate systems for meeting such needs (United Nations,
United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Development
Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations);
(b) The feasibility of using direct broadcasting satellites for
educational purposes and of internationally or regionally owned space
segments (United Nations, United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization and International Telecommunication Union);
(c) The feasibility of obtaining closer spacing of satellites in the
geostationary orbit and their satisfactory coexistence, including a
closer examination of techno-economic implications, particularly for
developing countries, in order to ensure the most effective utilization
of this orbit in the interest of all countries (United Nations,
International Telecommunication Union and other organizations);
17. Affirms that the interference that satellite systems to be newly
established may cause to systems already registered with the
International Telecommunication Union shall not exceed the limits
specified in the relevant provision of the International
Telecommunication Union radio regulations applicable to space services;
18. Requests all organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations
system and other intergovernmental organizations working in the field of
outer space or on space-related matters to co-operate in the
implementation of the recommendations of the Conference;
19. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at
its fortieth session on the implementation of the recommendations of the
Conference;
20. Requests the specialized agencies and other international
organizations to continue and, where appropriate, enhance their
co-operation with the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and
to provide it with progress reports on their work relating to the
peaceful uses of outer space;
21. Requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 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 fortieth session,
including its views on which subjects should be studied in the future.