HTF Press Release No. 9 - 27 July 1999

HIGHLIGHTS

THE AWORKSHOP ON CLEAN AND INEXHAUSTIBLE SPACE SOLAR POWER@ RECOMMENDED:

1) Encouraging organizations around the world to further investigate the technical and economical feasibility of Space Solar Power (SSP) and to perform demonstrations on the ground and in space that can validate necessary technological advances and engender global familiarity with SSP.

2) Promoting individual market analyses by all countries of their future needs for electricity and the prospects for meeting that demand by using clean renewable energy sources, including SSP.

3) Stimulating international collaboration and cooperation, involving both developed and developing countries, to find a global solution for the use of SSP.

4) Requiring that the United Nations create an international office to address the Workshop=s recommendations.

THE AWORKSHOP ON DEVELOPING INDIGENOUS EARTH OBSERVATION INDUSTRIAL CAPABILITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES@ PROPOSED THAT:

1) The creation of a national geospatial infrastructure be accorded the same level of support as other elements of national infrastructure such as transportation     networks and health care.

2) Governments look to indigenous industry to support government requirements, to better extract knowledge from data and add local understanding and to identify and develop new markets.

3) Government foster an environment in which private industry can operate and develop international partnerships.

THE AWORKSHOP ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND SPACE ACTIVITIES@ RECOMMENDED THAT THE COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE (COPUOS):

1) Continue its efforts to establish a legal framework which will allow space activities in the 21^st Century to harmonize with the basic principles of promoting progress in science and useful arts as well as taking advantage of space benefits for all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development and on the other hand, provide for sufficient legal protection for guaranteeing an adequate return on investment.

2) Take, as soon as possible, regulatory actions to ensure applicability of Intellectual Property on activities in Outer Space.

3) Draft and recommend space regulations in close coordination with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

THE AWORKSHOP ON EDUCATION@ STRESSED:

1) The importance of developing awareness about basic science in order to increase the spread of science education.

2) That students from developing countries should be given the opportunity to follow Masters courses and do research studies abroad.

3) A significant contribution by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) is needed to enhance education in developing countries.

THE AWORKSHOP ON THE INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION@ NOTED THAT:

1) Frequent access to space is needed in order to produce success.

2) Public participation in the International Space Station (ISS) programme needs to be promoted.

3) Exploitation of the ISS demands efficiency - anything that can be done commercially should be done.

THE ASESSION ON INTERNATIONAL STANDARDIZATION FOR SPACE SYSTEMS@ NOTED THAT:

1) Developing countries benefit from space activities through international standardization.

2) The concept of Open Standardization allows smaller organizations to benefit from Aoff the shelf@ products.

3) Space programmes and services benefit from common experiment designs, spacecraft interfaces, ground stations and product qualification methods.

4) The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) should formally endorse open standards to give developing countries access      to space.