General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

8 December 1989

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                                       A/RES/44/46
                                                       78th plenary meeting
                                                       8 December 1989
 
      International co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space
 
      The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolution 43/56 of 6 December 1988,
 
      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, including the relevant norms of space law and their
 important role in international co-operation for the exploration and use of
 outer space for peaceful purposes,
 
      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 use 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 that
 of the peoples of developing countries,
 
      Considering that space debris is an issue of concern to all nations,
 
      Noting 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 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 thirty-second 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 uses of outer space to give
 consideration to ratifying or acceding to those treaties;
 
      3.   Notes that, at its twenty-eighth session, the Legal Sub-Committee
 of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in its working groups,
 continued its work as mandated by the General Assembly in resolution 43/56;
 
      4.   Endorses the recommendations of the Committee that the Legal
 Sub-Committee, at its twenty-ninth session, taking into account the concerns
 of all countries, particularly those of developing countries, should:
 
      (a)  Continue, through its working group, the elaboration of draft
 principles relevant to the use of nuclear-power sources in outer space;
 
      (b)  Continue, through its working group, 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;
 
      (c)  Continue its consideration of the legal aspects related to the
 application of the principle that the exploration and utilization of outer
 space should be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all
 States, taking into particular account the needs of developing countries;
 
      5.   Endorses the recommendations of the Legal Sub-Committee on the
 method of work concerning the agenda item referred to in paragraph 4 (c)
 above, and notes that the working group will be established in 1990 and
 convened in 1991 in accordance with paragraph 53 (c) of the report of the
 Legal Sub-Committee;
 
      6.   Calls upon Member States to respond promptly to the requests issued
 by the Secretary-General in connection with paragraphs 53 (a) and (b) of the
 report of the Legal Sub-Committee;
 
      7.   Notes that, at its twenty-sixth session, the Scientific and
 Technical Sub-Committee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
 continued its work as mandated by the General Assembly in resolution 43/56;
 
      8.   Endorses the recommendations of the Committee that the Scientific
 and Technical Sub-Committee, at its twenty-seventh session, taking into
 account the concerns of all countries, particularly those of developing
 countries, 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;
(iii)Matters relating to remote sensing of the Earth by satellites,
     including, inter alia, applications for developing countries;
(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; examination of its utilization and applications,
      including, inter alia, in the field of space communications, as well as
      other questions relating to space communications developments, taking
      particular account of the needs and interests of developing countries;
(iii) Matters relating to life sciences, including space medicine;
(iv)  Progress in the geosphere-biosphere (global change) programme; the
      Committee on Space Research and the International Astronautical
      Federation should be invited to present reports and arrange a special
      presentation on this subject;
(v)   Matters relating to planetary exploration;
(vi)  Matters relating to astronomy;
(vii) The theme fixed for special attention at the 1990 session of the
      Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee: "The use of space
      technology in terrestrial search and rescue and in disaster relief
      activities"; the Committee on Space Research and the International
      Astronautical Federation should be invited to arrange a symposium,
      with as wide a participation as possible, to be held during the
      first week of the Sub-Committee's session, after the adjournment of
      its meetings, to complement discussions within the Sub-Committee;
 
      9.   Considers, in the context of paragraph 8 (a) (ii) above, that 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;
 
      (d)  The United Nations should organize a fellowship programme through
 which selected graduates or post-graduates from developing countries should
 get in-depth, long-term exposure to space technology or applications; it is
 also desirable to encourage the availability of opportunities for such
 exposures on other bilateral and multilateral bases outside the United
 Nations system;
 
      10.  Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Scientific
 and Technical Sub-Committee should reconvene, at its twenty-seventh session,
 the Working Group of the Whole to Evaluate the Implementation of the
 Recommendations of the Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration
 and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, with a view to improving the execution of
 activities relating to international co-operation, particularly those
 included within the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, and to
 proposing concrete steps to increase such co-operation, as well as to make it
 more efficient;
 
      11.  Also endorses the recommendations of the Working Group of the
 Whole, as endorsed by the Committee and as contained in paragraphs 4, 5 and 6
 of the report of the Working Group of the Whole;
 
      12.  Decides that, during the twenty-seventh session of the Scientific
 and Technical Sub-Committee, the Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power
 Sources in Outer Space shall be reconvened to conduct additional work on the
 basis of its previous reports and of subsequent reports of the Sub-Committee;
 
      13.  Endorses the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for
 1990, as proposed to the Committee by the Expert on Space Applications, and
 urges all States to make voluntary contributions to the Programme in order to
 enhance its effectiveness;
 
      14.  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;
 
      15.  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; 
 
      16.  Expresses its appreciation to all Governments that have made or
 expressed their intention to make contributions towards carrying out the
 recommendations of the Conference;
 
      17.  Invites all Governments to take effective action for the
 implementation of the recommendations of the Conference;
 
      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 forty-fifth session on the implementation of the recommendations of the
 Conference;
 
      20.  Endorses the initiative of international scientific organizations
 and bodies to designate 1992 as International Space Year;
 
      21.  Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that international
 co-operation should be promoted through the International Space Year, which
 should be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all States,
 taking into particular account the needs of developing countries, and that,
 in that context, the training and educational capabilities of the United
 Nations Programme on Space Applications should be utilized to bring about a
 meaningful role for the United Nations, through voluntary contributions by
 Member States and without any impact on the regular budget of the United
 Nations or the existing programme of work of the Programme;
 
      22.  Recommends that more attention should be paid to all aspects
 related to the protection and the preservation of the outer space
 environment, especially those potentially affecting the Earth's environment;
 
      23.  Considers that it is essential that Member States pay more
 attention to the problem of collisions with space debris and other aspects of
 space debris, and calls for the continuation of national research on that
 question;
 
      24.  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;
 
      25.  Takes note of the views expressed and documents circulated during
 the thirty-second session of the Committee and during the forty-fourth
 session of the General Assembly concerning ways and means of maintaining
 outer space for peaceful purposes;
 
      26.  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 General Assembly at its forty-fifth session;
 
      27.  Also requests the Committee to continue to consider at its
 thirty-third session its agenda item entitled "Spin-off benefits of space
 technology:  review of current status";
 
      28.  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 Radio Regulations of the Union applicable to space services;
 
      29.  Requests the specialized agencies and other international
 organizations to continue and, where appropriate, enhance their co-operation
 with the Committee and to provide it with progress reports on their work
 relating to the peaceful uses of outer space;
 
      30.  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 forty-fifth
 session, including its views on which subjects should be studied in the
 future.