Outer Space: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, 69th session, 848th meeting
General Assembly
Date: 11 June 2026
Language: English
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/asset/k1d/k1dws19dqf
Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.

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COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [2:03]:

Good morning, good morning, distinguished delegates. Please take your seat. Okay, we are ready to start. Good morning, distinguished delegates again. I now declare open the 848th meeting of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Distinguished delegates, this morning we will continue our consideration on agenda item number five, general exchange of views. We will also begin and hopefully conclude our consideration on agenda item number six, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes. We will then suspend the plenary meeting so that the working group on the long term sustainability of outer space activities can hold its fourth meeting. And following the adjournment of the working group meeting, we will then resume the plenary to proceed with technical presentation. Five technical presentations are scheduled for this morning, and delegates are reminded that the full schedule of technical presentation is available on the session web page. I would also like to inform delegations that the updated version of the non-paper prepared by the Chair of the Working Group of the Wall will be soon uploaded to the session web page for consideration at the formal meeting of the working group of the wall scheduled for this afternoon. Are there any comments on this proposed schedule? I see none. Thank you, so we can proceed. Before turning to agenda items for this afternoon, I would like to inform delegation that I have received a communication from the Sovereign Order of Malta requesting permission to attend and participate in the meeting of the current session of the Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space as observer, and the same for Yemen. And in conformity with the past practice, I suggest that we invite the Sovereign Order of Malta and Yemen to attend the current session as an observer and to address the committee as appropriate. That is, of course, without prejudice to further requests of this nature and does not involve any decision of the full committee concerning status. It's a courtesy that we customarily extend to such delegation. If there is no objection, we will proceed accordingly. I don't see objections, so it is so decided. I would like now to continue our consideration on agenda item number five, general exchange of views, and I now turn to the list of speakers. The first speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Uruguay on behalf of the group of Latin American and Caribbean countries. Please.


Uruguay · GRULAC [7:17]:

I will deliver my speech in Spanish in a few seconds. There will be an abridged version. The full one will be uploaded at the UNOSA intranet.

Mr. Chair, Professor Valente Grulac congratulates you on your election. We offer you our full support for the 2026-2027 biennium. Likewise, we recognize the Secretariat and the Director of UNOSAV for their work in a challenging context. We welcome Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia, Maldives, Malta, Zimbabwe, and especially Honduras from our group, and we welcome the candidacies of Bahamas, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, and Uganda. The growing diversity of COPUOS reflects the universal relevance of space activities. We recall that the Commission, the Committee must be based on the 1967 Treaty, ensuring peaceful use, cooperation, non-appropriation, free access and benefits for all. The sustainability of space activities is a practical, environmental, scientific and economic imperative. We stress the need for UNOOSA to have appropriate, predictable and sustainable financial resources preserving capacity-building programmes. We urge States to support its financial sustainability, both within the UN and via voluntary contributions. We recognise the importance of improving the working methods of the Committee and its subcommittees, and we hope to see concrete progress during this period of sessions. The benefits of outer space must reach everyone, fostering sustainable development in health, disaster prevention and agriculture, among other areas. We highlight the value of UN-SIDR and we highlight the importance of having a regional UN-SIDR office in Latin America. The midterm review of the Space 2030 agenda is particularly important to assess what's been achieved. In the face of the digital and technological gap, we understand that more capacity and technology transfer are needed. This group sees with interest the Space for Development Initiative as a relevant contribution to strengthen capacities. GRULAC is concerned by satellite saturation, of course, and by the proliferation of space debris. The implementation of the guidelines for long-term sustainability is urgent. We appreciate the work of ADLAC and the Group of Experts on Space Situational Awareness, and we hope to see progress in their respective work programmes. We are following with great interest the possibilities of holding UNISPACE-IV in 2027. Its objectives and scope must be clearly defined from the beginning. Finally, this Group reiterates its willingness to work in coordination for the exploration and peaceful use of outer space for the benefit of present and future generations. Thank you, Chair.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [10:38]:

Thank you very much. I thank the distinguished representative of Uruguay on behalf of the group of Latin America and Caribbean country, also for respecting the five minutes time limit that we spoke about yesterday. This applies to all the statements. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Australia, please.


Australia [11:08]:

Thank you, Chair, distinguished delegates. Australia warmly welcomes you, Mr. Tedoro Valenti of Italy, as Chair of the Committee for 2026-2027. You have Australia's full support. We extend Australia's sincere thanks to Mr. Rafik Akram of Morocco for his leadership of the committee in 2025. Australia also commends the director of the Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Secretariat for their continued support of the committee. We welcome Cote d'Ivoire, the Gambia, Honduras, Maldives, Malta, and Zimbabwe as new members of the committee. Chair, Australia's immediate region, the Indo-Pacific, continues to be a priority for our international engagements. In 2025, Australia was proud to host the 76th International Astronautical Congress under the theme of Sustainable Space, Resilient Earth. In a first for the IAC, Australia hosted a Pacific Islands countries delegation focused on catalyzing deeper engagement with Pacific Island countries on space related matters and highlighting the importance of Pacific voices in global space conversations. Chair, our region will be a focus at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP31, which Australia is working with Tequila to deliver. Australia's partnership with our Pacific neighbours will amplify the region's climate leadership, innovation and solutions. Australia will support the Pacific to host a pre-COP in Fiji from 5 to 8 October and a special leaders component in Tuvalu, providing an important opportunity to bring the world to the Pacific to see climate impacts and solutions first hand. Chair, Australia is pleased to be the 2026 chair and host the plenary of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, CEOS, in Hobart in November. The CEOS plenary will similarly discuss matters of critical importance to the Indo-Pacific region. The theme, positioning for success in a rapidly changing context, focuses on environmental resilience. Chair, we support the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities and welcome the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee's endorsement of the Working Group's final report and extension of the Working Group. We support continued work on its work plan for 2026-2029 with a view to reaching consensus. We continue to support the work of the expert group on space situational awareness, including in response to its questionnaire, and look forward to the presentation of the expert group's initial recommendations for preliminary feedback. Chair, Australia was pleased to participate in the promoting the airspace integration of space activities event held during this year's STSC. We welcome the MOU between UN OOSA and the International Civil Aviation Organization, which aims to provide a framework of cooperation and understanding. Australia notes with concern the negative and ongoing impact of the liquidity crisis on the operating budget of UN OOSA and activities that the office undertakes as requested by member states. We welcome initiatives being discussed by the STSC working group of the whole, including ways to optimise our time and resources. Australia appreciates efforts to find ways to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the meetings of the committee and its subcommittees. Australia considers there is a clear operational and practical need to work together in the peaceful use and exploration of outer space. We continue to support diversity of views, including from non-governmental stakeholders and opportunities for these to be provided as appropriate. We affirm the important role of the committee in facilitating a consensus-based approach to addressing emerging challenges and we will continue to engage in this endeavour. Thank you.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [15:26]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Australia. Let me correct myself, the time limit is four minutes, not five minutes, as I said before. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Sweden, please.


Sweden [15:49]:

Thank you, Chair. Allow me to congratulate you on your election as Chair and I would also like to express Sweden's full support and appreciation to you and to UNOSA. Sweden aligns itself with the statement by the European Union, including our condemnation of the Russian Federation's brutal, unjustified, unprovoked and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. I would like to add the following in my national capacity. Mr President, we are fully committed to the work of this committee and place great value in our common endeavour to foster increased international cooperation, ensure the sustainability of space activities and to preserve access to outer space. Our joint achievements here are essential for the sustainable, safe, secure and responsible use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The growing membership of COPUOS shows how important and relevant our collective work towards peaceful uses of outer space is. We support the ongoing discussions on how to make the work of COPUOS more efficient and more effective. We expect all UN entities to engage in the ongoing UN80 initiative. We look forward to continuing the dialogue on reform of the Committee's work. Chair, The Outer Space Treaty from 1967 remains the cornerstone of space law. We encourage more states to accede to the treaty and to fully implement it. Furthermore, Sweden supports the continued important work of the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space and we underscore the importance of states continuing to implement the adopted guidelines. Chair, strengthen cooperation in the space domain is a priority for Sweden. Our space industry continues to deliver remarkable achievements that strengthen its role in global space exploration. As an example, EUMETSAT recently placed an order of 20 weather satellites with OHB Sweden. The S Range Space Centre operated by SSC Space has had more than 600 successful launches of sounding rockets in the last 60 years of operation. SSC Space also accommodates one of the world's largest civilian satellite ground stations at Esrange, as well as a global network allowing for near-continuous contact with satellites in different orbits. Sweden is also developing a launch capability for satellites at Esrange, which will be an important contribution to the independent access to space for Sweden and for our partners. Since its inauguration in 2019, the testbed at Esrange Space Centre has also been used by launcher companies for developing and testing rocket engines and reusable space technology. The Swedish Government is currently preparing new space legislation that will reflect rapid developments and new conditions that have taken place since the 1980s, when the current national legislation was adopted. And additionally, the Swedish Space Research School, led by the first Swedish astronaut, Professor Christer Fuglesang, is a new national graduate school in space science and technology that opened its doors this year. The school unites top university and industry partners, all with the aim to support society's growing dependence on space-based infrastructure. Distinguished Chair, distinguished delegates, you can trust that Sweden will remain a committed partner in our multilateral efforts to advance cooperation

in the peaceful uses of Thank you.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [20:36]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Sweden for the statement. And the next speakers on my list is the distinguished representative of Japan.


Japan [20:50]:

Japan extends its sincere congratulation to you, Chair, upon your election and looks forward to fruitful deliberations under your able guidance. Chair, the profound significance of outer space for humanity. What was once the frontier of exploration has also become the unseen foundation upon

But there's no common rules to conform to the complexity and scale of spatial activities, and we can't.

Shandong and Beijing. But we are in a new era, and we believe that the principles of freedom, openness, diversity, inclusiveness, and the rule of law are universal principles on which Japan's foreign policy is based. Japan is open and free to the Indo-Pacific region, and it has expressed Prime Minister's commitment to using space technology to enhance national resilience, particularly in the area of preparedness for emergencies and food security, and his cooperation with space leaders around the world. These efforts are increasing, and the committee must continue to be the most important forum for work in this field.


Iran (Islamic Republic of) [22:27]:

Increased debris How can international community meaningfully discuss the long-term sustainability of ultra-space activities, space traffic coordination and management, and space situational awareness capabilities, while the very ground-based infrastructure necessary for the control, tracking, and safe operation of space objects is being deliberately targeted? The deliberate targeting of civilian space-related infrastructure threaten not only one country, but the safety and sustainability of outer space activities for all nations. Existing space law instruments primarily regulate activities in outer space itself, yet they do not provide an effective and binding framework for protection of ground-based space infrastructure from military attack. This legal gap deserves serious coordination consideration by international community, in particular this committee. Iran also expresses profound concern regarding the increasing use of commercial space assets and satellite services in support of military operation and acts of aggression. Such practices dangerously obscure the distinction between peaceful and hostile uses of outer space. Iran reiterates that all space activities, including those conducted by non-governmental entities and private operators, must strictly comply with international law and principle of Outer Space Treaty. Mr. Chair, developing countries continue to face serious inequalities in access to outer space, space technologies, and space benefits. Capacity building, technology transfer, and equitable access to orbital resources and opportunities remain essential for inclusive and sustainable development. Iran also emphasizes that outer space and its resources are the common heritage of humankind and must be governed through transparent, inclusive, and multilateral frameworks. In this regard, COPUOS, as the sole UN body dedicated exclusively to the peaceful use of outer space, must be further strengthened in order to effectively address emerging challenges in outer space activities. My delegation also wishes to express concern that, despite efforts made by delegation during the recent sessions of both subcommittees, consensus on the adoption of the final report was not reached. It is regrettable that references to sustainable development objectives and the needs and priorities of developing countries became the pretext for some to prevent consensus. Such developments risk undermining the spirit of multilateral cooperation, inclusiveness, and consensus building that has long guided the work of COPUOS and its subsidiary body. Mr. Chair, to conclude, despite threats, attacks, and unlawful coercive measures, the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue its space activities based on indigenous knowledge, national expertise, and domestic scientific capabilities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [25:44]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Iran for the statement. And the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Netherlands, please.


Netherlands (Kingdom of the) [26:01]:

Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates, allow me to extend my warm congratulations on your appointment to lead the 69th session of this committee. My delegation extends its full support for a successful and productive session and would like to thank the outgoing Chair of Morocco for all of his work. We would also like to thank Director Hollema and the Secretariat for the preparations made for this session. The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union and would like to make the following remarks in its national capacity. The Netherlands remains firmly committed to the international rule of law, both on Earth and in outer space. As a state party to all five United Nations space treaties, we have incorporated these obligations into our national legal framework through the Dutch Space Activities Act. In line with our long-term space agenda, work is underway to modernize this legislation to ensure continued compliance with international obligations while fostering a safe, sustainable and innovation friendly space sector. As space activities continue to grow, the Netherlands considers international cooperation on space traffic management increasingly important. The safe and sustainable use of outer space requires greater transparency, coordination and exchange of information among space actors. We therefore see the ongoing work on the long-term sustainability guidelines and the activities of the expert group on space situational awareness as important steps towards a future international STM framework. In this regard, we continue to support the German initiative aimed at advancing discussions on STM within COPUOS. The Netherlands also recognises the growing importance of space-based data and services in addressing societal challenges. Satellite data support climate policy, environmental protection and disaster resilience, among many other applications. Through government initiatives such as the Dutch satellite data portal, we facilitate the access to satellite data for applications including drought monitoring, nitrogen management, nature restoration, and urban planning. We also contribute actively to European programs such as Copernicus and the EU SST partnership and continue to invest in national SSA capabilities. Furthermore, the Netherlands underlines the importance of establishing appropriate legal and governance frameworks for new space activities, including lunar activities and the utilization of space resources. As a party to the Moon Agreement, we support continued international discussions within COPUOS, building on initiatives such as the Hague Building Blocks, the Artemis Accords, and the work of the Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation. Looking ahead, the Netherlands reaffirms its firm commitment to safeguard the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space in a world facing significant geopolitical challenges. In this context, the Netherlands will continue to advocate responsible, inclusive and rules-based governance of outer space and reiterates its strong support for the important work carried out by COPUOS and UNOOSA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [29:30]:

I thank the distinguished representative of the Netherlands for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Belgium.


Belgium [29:47]:

Thank you, Chair. I am behind the screen, so I think you probably can't see me, but hopefully you will see me on the screen, even if you don't have a direct view. Here I am. Chair, our delegation is delighted to have you chairing the work of the 69th session of the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, COPUOS. We fully align ourselves with the statement delivered by the distinguished representative of the European Union, and we'd like to add the following points in our national capacity. In order to respect the four minute time limit allocation, I'll focus on points relevant to our work here. Chair, this session, like those that preceded it, is taking place against the backdrop of budgetary austerity at a time when the global space economy is undergoing unprecedented levels of development and evolution. The committee responsible for intergovernmental cooperation in terms of regulation of and the promotion of space activities is seeing its financial resources constantly cut. We understand that this de facto state of affairs is the result of a broader context affecting the entire United Nations, not just this committee, but it is our responsibility to ensure that a sufficient budget is allocated in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the committee and of its supporting office. This leads me to pay tribute to the work of UNOOSA and also to commend the various member states of COSPE who are investing in order to ensure that we stay on track towards our goal of ensuring that space is a more equitable, sustainable and safe space. Belgium stands ready to join this common effort. I would like to draw your attention to one of the several important issues that are before this committee, an issue to which Belgium attaches particular interest, to wit, space traffic management and coordination. On this point, we encourage the committee to pursue, within the legal subcommittee, the compilation of information related to the legal and political dimensions of space traffic. We also call upon the committee to mandate the secretariat to analyse said inputs in order to identify next appropriate stages or phases in our work. In that context, our country supports the initiative of convening a fourth edition of the UNISPACE conference in 2027, which needs to be underpinned by a clear timetable and clear expected outcomes. My delegation hopes that the question of space traffic coordination will be fully integrated into the outcome of said conference without prejudice to other issues which are equally important and which also need to be discussed at UNISPACE-4 if it goes ahead, including the matters of sustainability of space activities, space resource management and reducing space debris. In that understanding, Belgium welcomes the CRP prepared by Italy, on which we co-sponsor. Chair. We continue to advocate for the office, the committee and its subcommittees to receive resources that are better aligned with the importance of their mandates and their tasks. But in so doing, we are fully alive to the fact that there is a pressing need to reform our way of working. And this not just spurred by the budgetary restrictions, but also driven by the view that there's a need to do so in order to ensure that the committee remains relevant and efficient. There are several options that are being pursued and several ideas have been put on the table for consideration to streamline our work. We invite the committee to decide upon a long-term and sustainable way of functioning with space both for technical input and response to the agenda items from competent experts as well as political and diplomatic discussions. Streamlining the work of this committee is vital to allow delegations, and particularly those hailing from countries with limited resources, to be fully involved in the work of COPUOS. Clustering by topic agenda items seems to us an interesting option to explore, and we also find interesting the suggestion of a concise summary highlighting actions undertaken as well as those planned for future sessions. Technical and informal work should be able to go ahead in English without the need for translation of documents or simultaneous interpretation. We can reserve these modalities for final documents that will be published to a broader public. This is without prejudice to our broader support for multilingualism within the United Nations. dedicated time slot should be set aside to technical work of the committee and this should take place prior to political discussions. Chair, we hope to see a revitalized committee particularly bearing in mind the current context of global space policy as well as the needs and expectations of all stakeholders. Only by fulfilling that condition can we be effective and efficient in our work and be duly acknowledged and respected as what we indeed are, the body par excellence responsible for global governance of space. Thank you very much.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [34:37]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Belgium for the statement. And the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Austria.


Austria [34:52]:

Thank you, Chair. Chair, let me congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau on your election, as well as thank you for chairing this session of the committee and assure you of our full support. Austria fully aligns herself with the statement of the European Union and would like to add the following in her national capacity. It would like to thank Mr. Rafik Akram from Morocco for chairing this committee last year and his wise leadership. Let me also thank UNOSA Director Arti Holamaini and her team, especially Ms. Takemi Chiku, Chief of the Committee Policy and Legal Affairs Section for preparing this session. Austria thanks Mr. Umamaheswaran from India for his year-long efforts as chairman of the working group on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, as well as Dr. Govri Sankar for his willingness to take over his chairmanship. We also thank Ms. Tania Koyssen for her assistance and hope that at the informal consultations during this session of the committee, we can find consensus on its work plan to continue our deliberations on the proposed topics. Following our side event with Canada and UNOSA, quote, the imperative of ensuring space sustainability and a safe airspace, unquote, at the 68th session of the committee last year, we welcome the establishment and launch of the ICAO UNOSA task force on the safe integration of space transport operations into the airspace system and look forward to receiving its reports on progress and outcomes in due course. We also thank Ms. Fatima Salem Al-Shamsi from the United Arab Emirates for chairing the expert group on space situational awareness of the working group on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, the preparation of draft recommendations, and thank delegations for their presentations and cooperation. We also thank Ms. Rosanna Hoffman for assisting the chair of the expert group and hope that deliberations of the interchange of information of operators and other relevant stakeholders will lead to a first result soon. As a co-sponsor of a conference room paper at the 65th session of the legal subcommittee on assessing legal and policy aspects of space traffic and forging consensus on the way forward, Austria encourages the Committee to continue the information collection on the legal and policy aspects of space traffic in the COPUOS Legal Subcommittee as agreed last year to task the Secretariat with analysing the contributions to identify appropriate next steps. We congratulate the working group on the use of nuclear power sources in outer space under the chairmanship of Mr. Leopold Summerer, assisted by Ms. Romana Kovla, for preparing and holding the workshop with the International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday, which we see as a useful interchange of information about ongoing developments in this area. We also thank Mr Hassan Abad from Pakistan and Ms Ulpia Botezatu from Romania for co chairing the action team on LUNA activity consultation, assisted by Ms Min Joo Young. for the provision of a review of existing international mechanisms relevant to the Moon, the four draft recommendations based on the proposals of member states and the preparation of the program of the United Nations Conference on Lunar Activities, which shall take place from the 9th to the 11th of December 2026 in the Vienna International Center. We further thank the Chair of the Working Group of the Whole, Mr. Prakash Chauhan from India, assisted by Ms. Aigul Duisenhanova for his efforts and summarized proposals, as well as Member States for their contributions to make the work of the Committee and its subcommittees more efficient. We thank the chair and co-chair of the working group on legal aspects of space resource activities for their continued effort to develop a draft set of initial recommended principles for space resource activities. We look forward to receiving a consolidated and compact new version of the draft in fall. We call on all delegations to stand ready to find compromises so that we can conclude this important project soon. Last but not least, we also thank the chair of the working group on the status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space, Miss Franziska Knur from Germany, assisted by Miss Yukiko Okumura for her efforts to advancing information sharing on space activities through the United Nations and the establishment of additional tools and practices with regard to the preparation of a fourth United Nations conference on the exploration and peaceful use of outer space, the so-called UNISPACE-4 in 2027 in Vienna, Austria has pledged a financial support of up to 400,000 euros. We hope that with our support we can contribute to a successful holding of the conference which might be a milestone for the peaceful uses of outer space. and to the benefit of all and not only raise awareness for urgent space issues, but also attract the private space faring sector and other stakeholders to participate and contribute to our work. Chair, let me reaffirm our strong support for the work of and the deliberations of this committee and its subcommittees. Thank you.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [41:15]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Austria for the statement. And the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Armenia.


Armenia [41:29]:

Thank you. Mr. Chair, let me begin by reiterating my delegation's appreciation for your leadership and guidance in steering the work of this session and by assuring you of our full support. We also wish to express our gratitude to Maziar T. Hollamaini, director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, and her team for the excellent preparations made for this session and reaffirm our support for its successful conduct. Outer space remains a unique domain offering unprecedented opportunities for scientific progress and for economic and social development, and its exploration and use should be carried out solely for peaceful purposes, for the benefit of all countries, regardless of their level of development. Ensuring the effective governance of activities in outer space is an inherently complex process, which requires a comprehensive legal framework, effective regulatory norms, sound policies, and sustained multilateral cooperation. In this regard, the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its subcommittees provide a unique platform for strengthening international cooperation, contributing to the progressive development of international space law, promoting the peaceful use of outer space and fostering capacity buildings in space science and technology. In this context, Armenia recognizes the fundamental importance of the Outer Space Treaty as the cornerstone of the international legal regime governing outer space activities. We welcome the reaffirmation in the pact of the future of the importance of the safe and sustainable use of outer space for the achievement of the 2030 agenda and of the widest possible adherence and full compliance with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. We also welcome the proposal to hold a fourth United Nations conference on the peaceful exploration of outer space in 2027. This timely initiative will enhance international cooperation on space activities and provide an opportunity in particular for developing countries to expand their availability and access to space solutions and capacity building while further strengthening the sustainability of outer space. Mr. Chair, Armenia notes the rapid growth of space traffic and emphasizes that full and consistent implementation of international guidelines on space debris mitigation is a key requirement for ensuring the safe and sustainable use of outer space for present and future generations. In this regard, technological innovations aimed at debris prevention and the development of active debris removal measures should be actively promoted. Armenia continues to develop its national space capacities aimed at promoting socio-economic development, science and the productivity of public services. We stand ready to continue our constructive engagement in the work of COPUOS and contribute to the peaceful, safe and sustainable use of outer space for the collective benefit of humanity. Thank you.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [44:35]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Armenia for the statement and the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Peru.


Peru [44:51]:

Thank you, Chair. First and foremost, on behalf of the delegation of Peru, we'd like to express our most sincere congratulations on your election to chair this 69th period of sessions of COPUOS. We are certain that your leadership and experience in the space sector will be the lodestone that guides our deliberations to fruitful results. Likewise, we thank the Secretariat and the Director of UNOSA for the impeccable organization of this session, and we reaffirm our support to your work in a context of global financial challenges. Peru aligns itself fully with the statements made by the Group of 77 plus China and the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean, GRULAC. As a signatory to the five UN treaties on space, our country reaffirms that international law and the principles of non-national appropriation, cooperation, and exclusively peaceful use constitute the keystone of all space activity. Outer space is common heritage of all of humanity, and its exploration must lead to benefits for all nations. In our national capacity, we are pleased to highlight a historic moment for Latin America and the Caribbean. I am referring to the fourth workshop of the Artemis Accords, which was successfully held in Lima, our capital, on the 13th and 14th of May. This event, which was celebrated in our region for the first time, brought together delegates from more than 30 countries to work towards transparency and international cooperation. For Peru, dialogue on sustainable exploration of the moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies is not just a technical imperative. It's also an opportunity to forge inclusive governance that will prevent the rise of unbridgeable technical gaps. At a national level, our space agency, CONIDA, is celebrating today its 52nd anniversary. This anniversary coincides with the phase of strategic modernization, where we are working to renew our satellite earth observation system to strengthen disaster risk management and the protection of the environment. Likewise, Peru is continuing efforts to develop a spaceport in order to facilitate sovereign and shared access to space. Our participation in other multilateral fora such as the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, APSCo, or the Group for Space Observations, GEO. reflects Peru's conviction that international cooperation at different levels is the only way to expand the benefits of space. Mr. Chair, we observe with concern the growing problem of space debris and the risk of congestion in low earth orbit. Peru is in favor of practical, inclusive, and consensus-based solutions. that will contribute to long-term sustainability of space activity. Likewise, we are following with great interest the consultations that are underway regarding UNISPACE-4 being possibly held in 2027, with the expectation that, should this happen, it will be an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and generate tangible results that will respond to the needs and priorities of developing countries. Finally, we reiterate Peru's commitment to the Space 2030 agenda as a driver of sustainable development. We will continue working constructively to ensure that outer space remains a place that is safe, stable and peaceful for present and future generations. Thank you, Chair.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [48:38]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Peru for the statement. And the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Bulgaria.


Bulgaria [48:54]:

Thank you, Chair. Bulgaria fully aligns with the European Union statement and would like to make the following remarks in its national capacity. Chair, at the outset, allow me to extend warmest congratulations to you, Professor Valente, for having this, for the assumption of this position, and to wish you every success in leading this very important committee today and in the next year sessions. I would like also to extend our sincere appreciation to Director Arti Holomine for her able leadership, but also to the Secretariat of UNOSA for the preparation of this session, and particularly in light of the current financial challenges. We support the efforts of the Chair of the Working Group of the whole aimed at improving the working methods of COPUOS and its subcommittees in order to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency while fully delivering on their objectives. We look forward to the discussion during this session. The work of the committee and its subcommittees and working groups remains essential for ensuring the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space. We support the convening of UNISPACE-4 in 2027 as an opportunity to advance the work of COPUOS, including discussions on state traffic, coordination and management, space debris and space resources. We are grateful to Austria for its contribution to this process, as well as to Italy and Morocco for their leadership in finding consensus on this issue. Discussions under the agenda item Dark and Quiet Skies are of particular importance in identifying sustainable solutions that enable the coexistence of satellite constellations and astronomical research. Bulgaria would like particularly to underline the valuable contribution of this group, dealing with dark and quiet skies and advancing this important topic. We also know the importance of continuing the collection of information on the legal and policy aspects of space traffic in the COPUOS Legal Subcommittee, in line with the agreement reached last year. and request the Secretariat to analyze the submissions received in order to identify possible avenues for future work. Bulgaria is working to accelerate its transition towards associate membership in the European Space Agency, as well as to expand international cooperation, including within the Artemis Accords. We also would like to support more active engagement of industry, academia, and civil society in the work of COPUOS. In this regard, we are pleased to invite delegates to a side event today, Empowering the Next Generation of Space Leaders, taking place at the motor room at 6:00 p.m., jointly organized by Bulgaria, UNOSA, and the Space Generation Advisory Council. This event will showcase Bulgaria's growing ecosystem of institutions, organizations, and private sector actors that are actively contributing to the development of young talent, strengthening partnerships between academia and industry, and creating opportunities for Bulgaria to become an increasingly active and competitive participant in the global space sector. We look forward to fruitful deliberations during the present session. I thank you very much.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [52:32]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Bulgaria for the statement and the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Canada.


Canada [52:47]:

Thank you, Chair.

Chair, Canada congratulates you upon your appointment to the chairmanship of COPUOS. We very much look forward to cooperating with you throughout your mandate. We also wish to take this opportunity to convey our gratitude to the Secretariat for their indispensable support of the work of this committee. Canada reiterates its unwavering support for COPUOS as the principal multilateral forum established to promote the peaceful, safe and sustainable use of outer space to the benefit of all humankind.

2026 marks an historic year for humanity's return to deep space. Canada is proud to have participated in the Artemis II mission with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who served as mission specialist on board Orion, becoming the first Canadian to travel beyond low Earth orbit. The mission exceeded previous human exploration distances and demonstrated the next phase of international deep space capability. We were also proud to have CSA astronaut Jenny Gibbons serving as the first Canadian capsule communicator for an Artemis mission. The success of the Artemis II mission is a testament to how both international leadership and cooperation between partners like the United States, Canada, and the international community enable shared excellence towards achieving our common goals. This achievement reflected the dedication of teams across NASA, the CSA, and the broader Artemis community who worked for years to bring humanity back to deep space. Artemis II continues to reaffirm the strength of Canada's partnership with the US and its other international partners. Canada also recently announced that CSA astronaut Colonel Joshua Kutryk has been assigned to NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station. This mission builds on Canada's longstanding partnership on the International Space Station and underscores the continued relevance of the station as a testbed for exploration beyond low Earth orbit. Canada is also focused on expanding international partnerships. For example, at the European Space Agency Ministerial Council in November 2025, Canada significantly increased its subscription, committing over 407 million euros over multiple years, one of the largest proportional increases among contributors. Outer space activities provide essential tools for solving everyday challenges around the globe. Through its commitments under the Space 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, Canada, in collaboration with its international partners, continues to advance the practical application of space-based solutions. A key example of this is the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, which demonstrates the operational value of synthetic aperture radar capabilities by providing reliable, year-round, all-weather, day and night imagery to support a wide range of applications. Canada is now focused on developing the next generation satellite system to ensure SAR remains a core national infrastructure. In April 2026, Canada announced further steps towards establishing domestic orbital launch capability, signaling progress towards a sovereign commercially enabled approach to launch from Canadian territory. Developing launch capability in Canada will enhance national resilience, support emerging commercial operators, and strengthen Canada's contribution to launch diversity while remaining consistent with COPUOS principles. Canada is actively engaged across multiple COPUOS work strands and is committed to concrete and practical outcomes from these efforts. We are participating constructively in the action team on lunar activities consultations and value its collaborative, inclusive approach. We strongly support the space situational awareness expert group's focus on addressing congestion and debris through transparency, coordination, and information sharing. And we are contributing to negotiations under the space resources activities working group towards an initial set of draft principles. Finally, we look forward to the commencement of concrete work under the new long-term sustainability of outer space activities work plan and encourage member states to reach agreement on its work plan. Canada also wishes to thank Peru for hosting the Artemis Accords workshop, contributing constructively to dialogue on responsible lunar activities. Chair, as space activities continue to expand, maintaining coordination across governance initiatives will be essential. Golpius remains the forum where this coordination can take place, grounded in shared principles, transparency, and inclusive participation. Thank you.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [57:08]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Canada for the statement. And the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of the United States.


United States of America [57:26]:

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and congratulations on your election. We very much look forward to working with you at this session. Chair, the United States recently returned humans to lunar orbit for the first time in over 50 years. The images of Artemis II, its American and Canadian crew, hardware contributions from international partners like the European Space Agency, and payloads from Argentina, Germany, the Republic of Korea, and Saudi Arabia captured the world's fascination in a way that we have not seen in decades. Scientific acumen, technological ambition, and the bravery and determination of the human spirit were on display as we pushed the frontiers of human space exploration. As many of you saw at NASA's ignition event in March, The United States has ambitious plans to build a sustained human presence on the moon, and we are committed to bringing international partners who share our values along with us. This enduring presence will be achieved through a phased approach to the lunar surface that enhances safety while serving as the technological proving ground for the capabilities required for future missions to Mars. Mr. Chair, we were excited to announce the Artemis III crew on Tuesday, where three Americans and one Italian astronaut will carry out a series of activities in low Earth orbit designed to validate critical systems needed for future lunar landings, beginning with Artemis IV. The trailblazers in this new space age have expanded beyond solely government actors and now encompass innovative leaders within the private sector. The expanding role of non-government actors will make the scientific, societal, and economic benefits of space more attainable than ever before. Satellites and satellite constellations have brought vital communication services to remote communities and provide access to economic opportunities, educational resources, and telehealth services. Remote sensing data is more detailed, timely, and accessible than ever before. helping nations make informed decisions on issues ranging from how to best maximize crop yields to identifying areas vulnerable to landslides. As evidenced by this rapid expansion of commercial activity, the committee must acknowledge that technical, operational, and scientific expertise is not merely limited to government actors. To stay informed, effective, and relevant, we must create mechanisms to facilitate more substantive inputs from private sector actors. or this committee risks being left behind. The United States has been an active member of COPUOS since its inception in 1958, and my delegation urges this committee to remain focused on its core mission, which is more important than ever before. Proposals for new work in COPUOS and its subcommittees must be within the committee's mandate, draw on its unique technical, scientific, and legal expertise, and deliver concrete benefits to space experts and practitioners rather than diplomats. As we have consistently stated in the STSC and LSC, we must avoid lengthy debates on language and concepts that serve only to divert member states' attention away from this committee's technical expertise and mandates. These diversions include reaffirmation of the 2030 agenda and the sustainable development goals throughout the reports, which the United States and other delegations have rejected as the advance of program of soft global governance that is inconsistent with the principles of national sovereignty. These ideological debates have threatened adoption of the report and have resulted in lengthy debates on the floor that are then relitigated again during negotiations of the omnibus resolution in New York. We cannot allow reports with which we fundamentally disagree to further risk politicizing the important work of COPUS. I urge member states to implement meaningful reform to the format and content of the report similar to what we achieved this year at the STC and LSC. And to that end, my delegation welcomes the progress of the action team on lunar activities consultations, the working group on long term sustainability, and we're encouraged by the promising expert level discussions during the space situational awareness expert group with so many important and critical initiatives, it's important to ensure we do not overextend ourselves or use our limited time to pursue efforts that are outside of COPUOS's mandate and expertise. And finally, Mr. Chair, with respect to the intervention from Iran, I want to say that we are here to engage on the peaceful uses of outer space in a non-politicized experts exchange. This is not a forum to raise geopolitical issues. Doing so will only distract from this group's important work. We do not intend to engage in a repeated back-and-forth intervention on this issue that are being discussed in other fora. Our statements in the UN Security Council have been clear on this topic. We regret that Iran has decided to use this technical meeting to make political claims, and we respectfully request a return to advancing our core technical work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [1:03:04]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of the United States for the statement. And the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Mexico.


Mexico [1:03:23]:

Thank you very much, Chair. I would very much like to highlight that my delegation is truly honored to have been given the floor after the delegation of Canada and the United States. Today, in fact, those three countries together, in an exercise that shows how integrated we are and that shows how we make use of our North American neighborhood, we'll be organizing, starting today, the Football World Cup. What does this have to do with technology? and what we're doing in outer space it's just a piece of information chair that I'd like to share the first satellite launched by Humanity into space Sputnik was the size of a football that's not a coincidence it's a premonition so with that I will begin my formal statement Mexico congratulates you on your election to lead our Committee's work during the 2027-2028 biennium. Mr. Chair, Teodoro Valente, you can count on the support of my delegation in carrying out your responsibilities. Mexico aligns itself with the statement made by the distinguished delegation of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean. And we align ourselves with the statement that will be made by the delegation of Australia on behalf of MIDCA under item 14 of the agenda regarding future function and methods of work of the Committee. In the national capacity, Mexico reiterates its commitment to the principles of international space law, particularly those which promote international cooperation, peaceful use of outer space and equitable access to the benefits deriving from space activities. For our country, space capacity development doesn't just represent a strategic pillar for technological growth, it's also a fundamental tool to encourage social inclusion and sustainable development. Mexico is a great user of space technology, and we are making great efforts to channel public and private resources in order to access these technologies and their applications. That's why the Mexican Space Program, published on the 4th of June of this year, will allow Mexico to transition from a user to a generator of space technologies, which will help to provide solutions to problems faced by society and by our country. The Mexican space program focuses on telecommunications and space and earth observation, and it promotes technological sovereignty and social connectivity as central pillars. Through its implementation, it will strengthen space infrastructure, national security, and digital inclusion. Projects foreseen under the program, which will be launched in the first stage, include the development of a telecommunications satellite, connectivity for remote areas, centralization of Earth observation services with a constellation of small satellites, and the creation of a satellite image processing center. The development of satellites for Earth observation constitutes a decisive step towards technological autonomy and strengthening national development. Mexico is convinced that access and use of space and associated technologies must be channeled towards those who need it most. and that the benefits of space, which are the common heritage of humanity, must reach everyone. That is why Mexico is part of the States that have fostered the initiative on space for development here in this Committee, which seeks to promote and facilitate benefits of space reaching all societies, in line with the principles laid out in the Outer Space Treaty. Finally, Mr. Chair, Mexico reiterates its interest in working closely with Member States and the international observer organizations of this Committee, in order to continue building a space environment that will contribute tangibly to the well-being of our societies. Thank you, Chair.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [1:07:42]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico for the statement. And the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Guatemala.


Guatemala [1:07:59]:

Thank you very much, Chair. The delegation of Guatemala would like to begin by congratulating you upon your election to chair the 69th session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. You can rely on our full support and cooperation in the discharge of your duties. We'd also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, as well as to the entire Secretariat for the hard work that has gone into the preparation of this session, as well as for their unwavering commitment to the promotion of international cooperation in space affairs. We align ourselves with the statements delivered by India, speaking on behalf of the G77 and China, and by Uruguay, speaking on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group, GRULAC. Chair, Guatemala reiterates its staunch commitment to the exploration and use of outer space for exclusively peaceful purposes, this in line with international law and more specifically in line with the principles enshrined in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. In an international context characterized by rapid technological progress and by the growing participation of new players in space activities, we are of the view that it is vital to preserve outer space as a sphere of cooperation, dialogue and shared benefits, via which the advantages of space can be enjoyed by all countries irrespective of their level of development. We're pleased to be able to share with you the progress made by Guatemala in the space sphere. Following the launch of Quetzal 1, which we were able to do thanks to the Quibocube program of UNOSA and JAXA, our country has been continuing to strengthen its scientific and technological capacities via the development of the Quetzal 2 satellite. This is a project which is led by the Universidad del Valle of Guatemala. and it's a project that has been selected within the broader cooperation framework of the ExoPod project with ExoLaunch. This progress reflects the value of international cooperation in terms of strengthening national capacity, promoting innovation and nurturing human talent. It also underscores the importance of continuing to promote the participation of young people and of women in STEM disciplines, as well as working towards innovative solutions to national challenges. Guatemala has been keeping a close eye on the consultations surrounding the potential holding of UNISPACE-4 in 2027. It is our opinion that said conference would represent a valuable opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and to promote an inclusive vision of the future of space activities. In that understanding, we believe that it's crucial that the priorities and needs of developing countries are at the forefront of the deliberations and outcomes of the aforementioned UNISPACE-4 process. Likewise, Guatemala acknowledges the importance of the discussions currently underway regarding the streamlining of the efficiency and working methods of this Committee and its subcommittees. We trust that during this current session we can reach concrete decisions that would allow us to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the Committee, preserve its inclusive character and guarantee the effective compliance of its mandate. Finally, Guatemala would like to underscore the importance of the of UNOOSA having sufficient, predictable and sustainable financial resources available to it so that it can effectively carry out its functions and can continue to support Member States, in particular developing countries, in the strengthening of their space capacities. We reiterate our commitment to working constructively with all Member States to bolster cooperation and international space governance and to ensure that the exploration and use of outer space continue to be pursued exclusively for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of present and future generations. Thank you very much indeed.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [1:12:14]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Guatemala for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Latvia.


Latvia [1:12:30]:

Honourable Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, at the outset, Mr. Chair, I sincerely congratulate you on your election. Let me assure you of my delegation's full support to your able leadership and good cooperation throughout the session. Latvia fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. I would add no following remarks in my national capacity. Latvia strongly supports the vital role of COPUOS and UNOOSA in ensuring that space activities benefit all humanity in an inclusive, sustainable manner, while enhancing global resilience. In May 2025, Latvia officially acceded to the Outer Space Treaty, reaffirming its commitment to international cooperation, peaceful use of outer space, and strengthening of global space security governance. In today's geopolitical context, effective global space governance has become more important than ever. Together with its allies, Latvia remains firmly committed to upholding fundamental norms that safeguard the peaceful use of outer space, which are undermined by various challenges to global cooperation, including Russia's continued war of aggression against Ukraine, which we strongly condemn. Latvia has further advanced its commitment to transparent and responsible space governance by joining the Artemis Accords in April. This step opens new opportunities for cooperation with United States, international partners, and strengthens Latvia's role as a trusted partner in the international space community. We also congratulate our partners on the successful Artemis II missions, which represents an important milestone towards humanity's return to the moon. Latvia is already active contributor to the space sector, Since beginning of our collaboration with European Space Agency in 2015, over 120 projects involving companies, research institutions, and universities have been implemented. Latvia also actively participates in European Union's SST/SSI network, and we consider this activity as of utmost importance. Latvia remains fully committed to implementation of Space 2030 agenda and to uphold and to contributing to the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Space technologies are widely applied in Latvia from environmental monitoring to agriculture and infrastructure management. delivering clear benefits to society and economy and demonstrating their role as a key enabler of sustainable development. Our experience shows that diversity and inclusiveness in innovation foster creativity, attract young talent and maximise the broader benefits of space application. In this context, we support European Union's global gateway initiatives For example, Africa EU Space Partnership Programme, which strengthens cooperation, promotes the use of space based data and builds institutional and private sector capacity. In closing, we remain committed to working with international partners to ensure that the benefits of space are shared broadly, contributing to sustainable, inclusive and secure future for all.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [1:16:33]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Latvia for the statement. And the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of New Zealand.


New Zealand [1:16:50]:

Thank you very much, Chair. New Zealand continues to be one of the most active space launch nations globally. This brings both opportunity and responsibility. A strong and adaptable regulatory regime underpins the safe and responsible development of New Zealand's space sector. We continue to refine our regulatory framework to ensure that our activities under our jurisdiction are conducted in a safe, secure, and sustainable manner, consistent with the guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. New Zealand was among the first countries to develop an approach to regulating active debris removal and on-orbit servicing, including establishing a regulatory pathway. And together with international partners such as the United Kingdom, we're developing principles to support these activities in practice. However, as the number and diversity of space actors continues to grow, the space environment is becoming increasingly congested and complex. The risks associated with this, whether from debris, interference, or miscalculation, are shared by us all. For New Zealand and across our Pacific neighborhood, reliance on space-based systems is particularly acute. Access to space-based data and services is essential to economic prosperity, public safety, and resilience. Sustaining these benefits depends on maintaining a space environment that is stable and predictable. New Zealand calls for all States to abide by their commitments under the Outer Space Treaty, in particular Article IV. And against this backdrop, COPUOS plays an important role, not only as a forum for discussion, but as a mechanism for building trust and shaping the rules and norms that underpin our use of outer space. We also wish to highlight our support for the efforts of the Chair of the Working Group of the Whole of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee to improve the role and working methods of the Committee. The proposals in the non-paper are a constructive start towards longer-term reform. And finally, Chair, let me congratulate you on assuming the role of Chair of COPUOS and assure you of my delegation's full support. We remain committed to working constructively at COP21 in support of our shared goals. Thank you very much.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [1:19:16]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of New Zealand for the statement. And now, New Zealand was the last speaker for general exchange of views this morning. So we got the request of the exercise of the right of reply by Israel. I would now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel for his intervention and statement. Delegation are reminded of the maximum of two interventions in the exercise of the right of reply. on the same agenda item and at any given meeting. So I call on the distinguished representative of Israel for the first intervention to exercise its right of reply under this agenda item at this meeting before it closes. Please, Israel.


Israel [1:20:31]:

Thank you, Chair. We exercise our right of reply to remarks made earlier by the Iranian regime's representative, who clearly seeks to distort reality and spread false allegations. COPUOS holds an important mandate to conduct professional discussions on the promotion of the peaceful uses of outer space. It is regrettable then that the Iranian delegate seeks to undermine this forum with disinformation and selective omissions of facts while twisting international legal frameworks in terms beyond recognition. Israel faces deliberate and indiscriminate attacks by the Iranian terror regime and its proxies, including just this week on 7th and 8th of June when Iran fired missiles towards civilian targets in Israel. in an unprovoked attack that was only meant to continue to destabilize the region and protect its terror proxies like Hezbollah. Israel will continue to defend its citizens in full accordance with international law by remaining committed to the peaceful use and responsible use of outer space that unlike Iran's space program which has as is known, long been used as a cover for the regime's ambitions to enhance and test its ballistic missiles while attempting to circumvent international sanctions. Thank you, Chair.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [1:21:52]:

Thank you. Also Iran asked for the exercise of the right of reply. So I would now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iran.


Iran (Islamic Republic of) [1:22:11]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We ask for the floor to exercise our right in reply to the statement of the Israeli regime. The issues raised by the representative of the Israeli regime are not relevant to the agenda of this meeting. My delegation has spoken strictly within the framework of the agenda before this meeting and has clearly addressed the damage inflicted on space facilities as a result of the aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime in its statement.

Thank you.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [1:22:43]:

Thank you very much for the statement. So we will continue our consideration on agenda item number five, general exchange of views, this afternoon. Distinguished delegates, We will now begin our consideration on agenda item number six, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes. The fourth speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of El Salvador and on behalf of G77 and China. Let me just remind to all of you distinguished delegates that we have fixed yesterday a time limit of three minutes for the intervention. Thank you. So the floor to El Salvador on behalf of G77 and China.


El Salvador · G77 + China [1:23:48]:

Thank you, Chair. The group want to underscore its firm conviction that the use and exploration of outer space shall be carried out exclusively for peaceful purpose, for the benefit and is the interest of all countries, irrespective of the degree of economic or scientific development, and in conformity with applicable international law. The group reiterated that COPUOS, with its two subcommittees, is the primary UN forum to discuss comprehensively all matters related to the peaceful uses of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies. Accordingly, the group believes that the international legal framework should be developed in a manner that addresses the concerns of all states and that ensures the space development and activities of developing countries. Mr. Chair, the group welcomes the application submitted by Uganda to join the membership of the committee. The steady growth of COPUOS in recent years is a clear sign of the international recognition of the unique role of COPUOS as the UN forum dedicated to discussing and promoting the peaceful use of outer space. It is important that more member states of the United Nations be welcome at this contribute to the promotion of the peaceful uses of outer space. The group reiterated that all outer space activities and any endeavor to explore and utilize outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, must adhere to the principles and objectives of international law, United Nations treaties, particularly the Outer Space Treaty. The group believes that the sustainability of outer space activities in the short, medium and long term requires the international community to ensure that no weapons are ever placed or used there, in accordance with the Article 4 of the Outer Space Treaty. The group reaffirms the importance of preventing an arms race in outer space and placement of weapons of any kind in outer space and calls upon all states, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the peaceful use of outer space to prevent an arms race there. and to refrain from placement of weapons of any kinds in outer space and any other action contrary to that objective. In this regard, the group notes that transparency and confidence building measures could play a useful role. The group believes that the long-term sustainability of outer space activities require the commitment of all member states to use outer space exclusively for peaceful purpose. Thank you, Chair.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [1:27:12]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of El Salvador on behalf of G77 and China. And the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of the European Union.


EU · EU [1:27:29]:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The following countries align themselves with this statement, Albania and Ukraine. Mr. Chair, the European Union remains fully committed to the principle of the peaceful uses of outer space enshrined in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and other relevant UN treaties on outer space, accompanied by the guiding principles developed under the UN framework. These documents constitute the cornerstone of global governance in outer space. In 2025, the Russian Federation tabled and subsequently withdrew its draft resolution entitled Space Science and Technology for Promoting Peace at the fourth committee of the United Nations General Assembly. The EU and its Member States recognise the Russian Federation's efforts in drafting this resolution, but we are not in a position to support it at the current stage. To start with, we believe that some elements of the draft resolution link it more to the work of the open-ended working group on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in Geneva, as well as to that of the agenda of the first committee of the General Assembly. With this background, it may need further explanation, including from a competence angle, why this issue is brought up in COPUOS. Competence issues apart, we believe that this draft resolution constitutes a duplication, given that most issues it deals with are covered by the last annual omnibus resolution on the peaceful uses of outer space, as well as by other UN General Assembly resolutions. We also note that the draft is in contradiction with some existing UN General Assembly resolutions and that it includes unclear language. As such conditions potentially undermine the consistency of the work of COPUOS and through it that of the UN General Assembly, we cannot back such a resolution. The European Union and its Member States trust that their position will be received in the constructive and respectful spirit in which it is intended. I thank you, Mr. Chair.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [1:29:58]:

I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union for the statement. And the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia.


Saudi Arabia [1:30:16]:

Mr. Chair, distinguished delegations, space technologies have become an essential enabler of sustainable development, offering transformative capabilities that support global efforts to address environmental, economic, and social challenges. From earth observation and climate monitoring to disaster management and food security, space applications have become an integral part of achieving SDGs. the Saudi Arabia recognizes the vital role of space systems in supporting STDs and sustainable development agendas space data and services contribute to improving decision making enhancing resource management and strengthening resilience to climate related risks and natural disasters in this context integrating space based Solutions into National and Global development strategies is no longer an option but a necessary Earth observation satellites navigation systems and space-based communication networks provides critical infrastructure that supports sustainable urban planning environmental protection and economic diversification at the same time maximizing this development contribution cannot be separated from preserving the state sustainability of the space environment itself continued Reliance on space-based services requires safeguarding the safety of orbits and the reliability of space infrastructure particularly in light of the growing risks posed by space debris which may affect the ability of states to harness space in pursuit of their development objectives. To fully leverage space in support of sustainable development, the international community must work collectively to bridge the gap in access to space technologies, support capacity building in developing countries, and to strengthen open data sharing frameworks in a manner that enables inclusive growth and shared progress. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has translated this approach into practical initiatives on the ground. In January 2026, the Saudi Space Agency organized the second edition of the SDD Conference 2026 in Riyadh with the support of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs and in partnership with the ITC, bringing together participants from 75 countries, including experts, decision makers, and space industry leaders from around the world. As part of this practical approach, the Saudi Space Agency also launched the first edition of Debris Solver, a global innovation challenge addressing space debris through four distinct tracks technical, regulatory, economic and social. The outcomes of SDD 2026 demonstrated that space sustainability cannot be addressed through technological innovation alone. It requires coherent governance frameworks, practical economic incentives, and shared understanding of social risks. In light of the foregoing, we call for the opening, strengthening the integration of space applications into national sustainable development frameworks. Second, enhancing cooperation and expanding access to knowledge and technologies, particularly for developing countries. Third, supporting innovation in space solutions to address global challenges as embodied by the first edition of debris solver, which attracted more than 1,900 participants from over 40 countries to develop innovative technical regulatory economy and economic and social solutions. In conclusion, Saudi Arabia affirms the strengthening, that strengthening the role of space in supporting sustainable development requires both expanding the benefits of space applications and at the same time protecting the space environment and ensuring its sustainability. The Kingdom will continue to work with member states and international partners to support a space domain that is more inclusive, safer, and better able to serve development objectives. Thank you, Mr. Chair.


United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [1:34:07]:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Mr. Secretary General, and thank you, Mr. President of the United Nations, and thank you, Mr. President of the United Nations General Assembly, and thank you, Mr. President of the United Nations General Assembly.

One moment please. Chair, the United Kingdom recognizes that outer space is becoming increasingly congested, contested and competitive. The continued growth in satellite numbers, the expansion of space-faring nations and the evolution of counter space capabilities all contribute to a more complex and challenging operating environment. Alongside this, the persistent and growing threat posed by space debris further underscores the risks to the long-term sustainable use of space. Against this backdrop, it is essential that we strengthen international cooperation to ensure that outer space remains accessible for peaceful purposes and that states comply with their obligations under the Outer Space Treaty and broader international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. Chair, The United Kingdom continues to see clear value in closer coordination across the UN system. Vienna and Geneva must continue to work together within their respective mandates to ensure that discussions are mutually reinforcing and avoid unnecessary duplication. Norms, rules and principles developed in COPUOS on safety and long-term sustainability can make an important contribution to discussions on space security taking place in Geneva. Matters such as rendezvous and proximity operations, long-term sustainability guidelines and space traffic management sit at the intersection of safety, sustainability and security, and cannot be considered in isolation. Progress in one forum should therefore inform and strengthen work in the other. We also look forward to the third session of the Open-ended Working Group on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking place in July. This session will provide an important opportunity for States to consider key topics including rendezvous and proximity operations, intentional destruction of space systems, preventing the placement of weapons of mass destruction in space, and the protection of critical national infrastructure in space. The United Kingdom strongly encourages broad, constructive and substantive engagement by all States to ensure a more informed discussion. In doing so, we should also continue to draw on the expertise and perspectives of industry, academia and civil society. Inclusive engagement has long been a strength of COPUOS, and we should seek to replicate this approach across other fora where space security is discussed. Chair, we also welcome the upcoming biennial joint session of the First and Fourth Committees at the UN General Assembly. This is a valuable mechanism to bridge communities working on disarmament and on the peaceful uses of outer space. The United Kingdom looks forward to using this opportunity to further strengthen coherence and understanding across these communities. However, we must ensure that our work is complementary. We are surprised to see the submission of the Russian Federation resolution on science and technology once again. Discussions last year did not result in consensus and the UK does not agree that a separate discussion track in New York on those issues will be beneficial. Indeed, such efforts undermine COPUOS and the OEWG process in Geneva. Once again, we request that the Russian Federation withdraw their resolution. Ultimately, ensuring that outer space remains safe, secure, stable and and sustainable requires sustained collaboration across all relevant institutions and stakeholders. By working together across Vienna, Geneva and New York, we can ensure that space continues to deliver vital benefits for all humanity now and into the future. Thank you, Chair.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [1:38:34]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of the UK for the statement. And the next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of El Salvador.


El Salvador [1:38:52]:

Thank you very much, Chair. My country aligns itself with the statement delivered by the G77 and China. We'd like to make the following points in our national capacity for your consideration. We note with concern the growing risk of an arms race in outer space. which would threaten the fundamental principle that space is for peaceful exploration and use. In that context, we reiterate our full support for the Outer Space Treaty as the constitutive and binding legal framework that should govern States' activities. Articles 3, 4 and 9 of said Treaty enshrine legally binding principles, compliance with which by States Parties is an obligation. Technological progress is going hand in hand with new challenges, which should spur us to engage in a collective reflection exercise. Security, safety and stability in outer space are intrinsically intertwined with security and safety on Earth. The proliferation of space activities with the potential for non peaceful use could culminate in situations of tension and mistrust between states. For those reasons, El Salvador would like to underscore the importance of preserving space as a zone free of any activities that would violate international law. It is vital that we bolster transparency measures, improve exchange of information, engage in confidence building, and in the registry of space objects. We should also make progress towards legal and technical frameworks that would guarantee the safety, security, and sustainability of space operations. In a context of a growing participation of new actors, both state and private actors, COPUOS continues to be the central pillar to guarantee that outer space remains a sphere of cooperation for the benefit of all humankind. We would therefore like to reiterate the importance of identifying synergies between the work of this committee and other relevant forum in order to ensure a coherent and holistic approach to space security and safety. Chair, Our country supports the progressive development of provisions such as those contained in Articles 9 and 11 of the Outer Space Treaty, which encompass information mechanisms, prior notification and exchange of data between States, which are sine qua non for ensuring the sustainability over the long term of outer space, in our view. In that understanding, we acknowledge and support the work of the group on the status and application of the five United Nations treaties, which sits within the subcommittee on legal affairs. We believe it is important to continue strengthening these mechanisms to promote a more effective and consistent implementation of the international legal space framework. Bolstering transparency and confidence building measures, including the registry of space objects, timely notification of pre launches, deployment of dual use technology and the establishment of quite clear criteria criteria for safe proximity are concrete steps that we could take towards the peaceful use of outer space and the prevention of misunderstandings which otherwise could trigger conflict. Thank you very much, John.


COPUOS · Chair · Teodoro Valente [1:42:04]:

I thank the distinguished representative of El Salvador for the statement. And we will continue our consideration on agenda item number six, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes this afternoon. We will now suspend the plenary meeting so that the working group on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities can hold its fourth meeting. And following the adjournment of the working group meeting, we will then resume the plenary to proceed with technical presentation. So I now invite the Chair of the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities, Mr. Gauri Shankar, to the podium, and the meeting is suspended.


COPUOS · Vice-Chair [2:22:03]:

Distinguished delegates, I would now turn to proceed with technical presentations. We have five technical presentations. And before I move on to the technical presentations, I should like to advise all the presenters that should they wish to have interactions through questions and answers after their presentation, They may wish to finish their presentations a five minutes, a few minutes earlier than the allotted time of 10 minutes. The first presentation on my list is on overview of the US traffic coordination system for space by the representative of the United States of America. You have the floor.


United States of America · Head, International Space Situational Awareness Engagement · Mariel Borowitz [2:22:51]:

Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. So my name is Mariel Borowitz. I'm the head of the International Space Situational Awareness Engagement for the US Office of Space Commerce. Our office is developing the civil space situational awareness system in the United States called the Traffic Coordination System for Space or TRACS. And I'm going to give you an overview of that program today. So as we all know in this room, the number of objects in space is growing rapidly, particularly with the increase of commercial space activity. And this has really increased the need for space situational awareness and a focus on space safety. Space Policy Directive Three released in 2018 called for the Department of Commerce to take on this responsibility and to make available basic SSA data and services. This was reaffirmed in an executive order at the end of 2025 that called for enabling the sustainability of space operations through effective and responsible approaches to space traffic management. Here you can see that the tracks system offers a number of different services really focusing on in orbit collision avoidance. So the system conducts screenings, conjunction screenings, approximately every four hours using both a catalog that relies on sensor observations as well as ephemerides or information provided by the spacecraft owner operators themselves, as well as space weather information. So about every four hours, the users of the system get new conjunction data messages. We also provide a service that allows owner operators to screen their planned maneuvers. So when they're considering undertaking a maneuver in space, they can upload their ephemeris information with that maneuver included and get results back within minutes about the impact of that maneuver. We also offer access for the users to an owner operator contact directory to help facilitate coordination between operators. And we have made a real focus on making as much information and data publicly available as possible. And I'll talk about that in a bit more detail. So first, just a quick diagram to kind of visually show how the track system works. So you can see there we use. a catalog that relies on the space surveillance network in the United States that then feeds into tracks along with the spacecraft owner operator information and ephemerides that then allow for those screenings every four hours and the analytics that result in those conjunction data messages that are then provided to the users. This is a map showing the current users of the system. So you can see we're in a pilot phase with the system. So we're providing those services on a regular basis so that users can access the system and get used to what these services look like, how the system operates. And this process, it's open to any spacecraft operator around the world. So we really encourage anyone to sign up and become a pilot user and be able to see what services are offered. And I'll have a couple slides at the end to show how that can be done. I mentioned that one of our emphasis for our program is on transparency and openness. So with TRAX, we try to make as much information openly available as we can. And we only restrict access to information if there's a particular issue with security or privacy, for example. And we think there's a lot of benefits from taking this approach. So this allows spacecraft operators who are using the system to look at the underlying information that we use to do their own internal analysis if they like to do that. This allows entrepreneurs in the commercial sector to build on this foundational data to provide additional value added products that are beneficial for the industry. The research community can use this data to do additional analysis that advances the state-of-the-art and support spaceflight safety. And it supports international coordination when we can share this information across different SSA centers across different countries to improve alignment and interoperability. So the types of information that will be included in the open data sharing, which will be available in the next few weeks to months, include things like the tracks cat, which is the list of objects in space with some attributes about those spacecraft that were provided by the owner operators or from other sources. We have the TLE catalog, other information about spacecraft location and the conjunction data messages for higher risk events. And we also facilitate the sharing of owner operator ephemerides when those are provided with us. So we noted that among industry in particular, there were identified best practices in sharing owner operator ephemerides, making those broadly available to really ensure everyone has the most accurate information to do these conjunction screenings, understand the safety situation. So when those are provided with us, we facilitate the broader sharing. So within tracks there are two primary types of user accounts that we support. The first is spacecraft owner operators. These are really the primary users of tracks. As I mentioned, it's open to spacecraft operators around the world and this can be government commercial university nonprofits. So any anyone who's operating a spacecraft should use this type of account and this is going to allow you to see the safety information for your own spacecraft and to upload information about the attributes of your spacecraft or your owner operator ephemerides to get accurate information. We also have a second type of account that we just released about a week ago called a national government account. And this is a little bit different. So this is a read only account that is intended for government users who are interested in having an overview of the space safety situation in their country. So what it allows is access to information for all spacecraft affiliated with your country, whether that's government or commercial or other, so that you can really see that overarching information about what's happening in terms of all the spacecraft that your country is affiliated with. We also can accommodate, we realize there are a number of owner operators and national governments who use third parties, whether it's contractors or commercial SSA providers or others to help manage their space safety processes. If that's the case, you can add that type of third party provider to your account and we can get them into the TRAC system. And then lastly, I put up here the open data user just to reiterate that we do have planning to make a wide variety of information openly available, but actually this type of user will not need to register or get an account. You'll just be able to access the information directly on the website. This slide and the next one are just showing you a little preview of what the system looks like from a user interface perspective once you sign in. So you see some basic overview information of the safety situation for your spacecraft. This is another view where you can see kind of the upcoming conjunctions relevant to your spacecraft. And then we also note that while some users like to use that user interface and have that visual way of interacting with the system, there are also many spacecraft operators and others who prefer to interact using APIs, and that's something that we support in the system as well. Here we just wanted to emphasize that one of the things we do with the TRACS system is really try to engage closely with the commercial sector, and so we want to support those private spacecraft operators that make up the majority of space activity ensure that they all have the space safety information that they need to operate safely and to ensure that space remains safe and sustainable for continued investment and activity in the future. We also work with the commercial SSA sector. We recognize the significant value that they offer to the space community. We look for ways to incorporate their capabilities into tracks and leverage that commercial capability and also to promote the growth of this sector overall. And lastly, we want to emphasize the need for improved global coordination. And I think there are a couple challenges that we recognize that really require us to work together. One, we know there are cases where spacecraft operators aren't able to connect with the other operator involved in a conjunction. They maybe just don't have the contact information, don't know the protocols to get in touch. And then we also know there are situations because there are many SSA centers around the world tracks is just one of these. There are cases where these systems using their own data, their own algorithms generate differing outputs. And so we would like to improve alignment, improve coordination to ensure spacecraft operators get consistent information. And we're doing this in a few ways with tracks, one through the open data sharing that I already mentioned, also through those national government accounts that provide that information so that governments are able to really see the situation and be informed about this issue. We do bilateral coordination and of course we're very active in our involvement in the SSA expert group. And I'll leave you with a couple slides here just saying any spacecraft owner operator or protect perhaps more relevant in this room, any national government is encouraged to sign up for the system. You can do that by going to tracks.gov and it's a pretty straightforward process of just signing up through the website. And if you're an owner operator providing some additional information to let us know which spacecraft belong to you. So please visit our website if you have any questions or feel free to reach out to us directly and we'd be happy to talk with you. Thank you.


COPUOS · Vice-Chair [2:33:40]:

Thank you very much for your presentation. The second presentation on my list is on space data infrastructure that leaves no one behind. microsatellites and geospatial AI for autonomy resilience and inclusive growth by the representatives by the representative of Japan please.


Takayoshi Fukuyo [2:34:05]:

Thank you chair distinguished guest good afternoon uh my name is Takayoshi Fukuyo from a Japanese space company it's great honor to have this opportunity to talk about space data infrastructure and Our satellite is a space infrastructure mission is empowering people with satellites for a prosperous future. This mission is closely aligned with the space 2030 agenda and the space, we believe space can support the SDGs and sustainable development and also support resilience and inclusive growth. This is because we believe satellites are most useful where ground infrastructure is weak and limited. This includes ocean, islands, developing regions, disaster areas, and in the future, the moon and outer space. At the same time, space capability should not be limited to a few players. Micro-nano satellites, open data, and AI can make space more open and more democratic. How we collaborate will decide how open this future can be. So our company, It provides end-to-end solutions for microsatellites. We cover planning, design, development, production, launch arrangement, operation, and service provider. Our goal is not only to build satellites, but also to build practical space infrastructure that can be used by governments, universities, companies, and communities. So we started from small and non-satellites, including 3U and 6U satellites, 10 kilogram satellites. We have worked on mission such as remote sensing and IoT data collection and space exploration and lunar positioning. We are now moving from demonstration to utilization. These satellites can support earth observation, maritime communication, positioning navigation, and capacity building. They can become real infrastructure. To make space useful for more people, we are building a semi-mass production system for microsatellites. We work with partners to build a supply chain. This allows us to support resilient and flexible constellations. We have established our own ground station also in Japan. With these ground stations, we can control our satellites and provide ground station for our partners. And this is our remote sensing demonstration nanosatellites includes visible and near infrared and hyperspectral sensor cameras. Hyperspectral imaging makes it possible to understand materials and the conditions that are difficult to see with normal optical images. For example, it can help with vegetation analysis, tree species classifications, pollution detection. This slide shows example images and analysis from this NANSAT satellite. For example, using the wavelength bands, we can analyze vegetation, water, soil, other features. This slide shows a VDES demonstration satellite. VDES means a VHF data exchange system that can support two-way communication and higher data rates in ocean. This can contribute to maritime safety, port digitalization, and more efficient ocean operations. For Japan, the ocean is central to our economy, food, energy, transport, and security. For many islands and coastal countries, the ocean is also essential. So maritime space infrastructure is not only a security issue, it is also development issue and resilience. And also this slide shows our demonstrations of this satellite in Fiji. In remote areas and islands, ground networks are often limited. Using satellite IoT sensors can send data directly to satellites, This can support rainfall monitoring and early detection of risks such as fire, volcanic activity, and other disasters. And also this is showing the vessel and maritime monitoring demonstration also. VDS and IoT satellites can enable direct to satellite communication from ship, buoy, and maritime sensors. It can support vessel monitoring buoy data collection, AIS data collection, fishery management, coastal monitoring, and disaster response. However, satellite data alone is not enough. This platform can combine optical satellite data, weather data, drone data, vessel data, and IoT communication. It can support agriculture, disaster response, and maritime issues, greenhouse gas monitoring, and climate change. The key is open and flexible integrations. Many type of data already exist, Landsat, Sentinel, and many space agencies data, and the weather data, and the local data available. But the challenge is how to use them. We saw developing our ArcGIS Insights, our data platform. This platform integrates these data and provide practical applications. The important point is usability. Advanced technology must be simple enough for real users, for farmers, local officials, and field workers do not need to be satellite experts. So we are developing this very simple web-based smartphone applications. And this platform also provides water management applications. We combine satellite precipitation data, elevation data, river and basin data, land cover, soil moisture, and ground records. By integrating these disasters, we can support precipitation visualization, water level forecasting, wildfire risk assessment, and other applications. This is important for climate adaptation. So this is our international collaboration is supported by Japanese government also. We are working with partners in Brazil, Paraguay, Kyrgyzstan, and Vietnam, Rwanda, Chile, and Africa, and ASEAN, and European countries. These activities include satellite developments and satellite operations, human resource development, satellite component. So this slide shows examples of our international cooperation in Paraguay. Our platform is used for agriculture support and disaster prevention. It can monitor soybeans, sheath permits, planting status, flood risks, and hazard maps. In Brazil, satellite imagery and AIS data can support maritime monitoring, including offshore oil platform monitoring and oil spill detection. In Kyrgyzstan, satellite data and IoT sensors can support glacier observation and greenhouse gas monitoring. And in Fiji, IoT can support weather monitoring for remote islands. These examples are different, but the basic structure is the same for the integration platform. We combine this open satellite data, our own satellite, which can IoT data collection and the local data, and combining and integrating with AI technology, then we adapt the platform to local needs. This is not model where Japan completes everything fast and then export it it is a model of mutual learning with partner countries so through these activities we would like to contribute more open and the inclusive use of space this is also connected to Japan visions of a free and open in the Pacific uh this Vision free and open Indo-Pacific should not be only a diplomatic concept. It should be supported by practical activities and infrastructure. Space technology and geospatial platform can help countries build their own autonomy and resilience. And this should be done together with governments, the United Nations, and universities and companies, local communities. So we would like to collaborate with our partners in the world of it. Yeah, thank you very much.


COPUOS · Vice-Chair [2:43:26]:

Thank you very much for your presentation. The next presentation on my list is on why flexible and multifunctional space infrastructure is needed for future space expansion by the representative of Austria. Madam, you have the floor.


Austria [2:43:49]:

Thank you for the opportunity for that presentation, Madam, Mr. Vice Chair, distinguished delegates. So we have spent 60 years building remarkable things, structures in space, and yet look how we have done it. Almost every mission has been an isolated expedition, a single spacecraft built for one single purpose, flown once. and then discarded, left in orbit or burned up on reentry. On Earth, we do not live in that way. We live on infrastructure, roads, power grids, ports, shared systems, build up over time that outlast any single use. We are now planning to live on the moon and later even Mars. But between the infrastructure of Earth and the habitats we can imagine on the moon, there is today almost nothing. So my question is simple. What has to exist in that space in between, and why it must look different from what we build now? The plans are real, lunar bases, cislunar logistics, missions to Mars. Every one of them assumes a layer of support that does not yet exist. Power grids, factories in space, communications, navigation, the ability to repair and replace. You cannot build that layer the way we build missions today. One bespoke, expensive spacecraft at a time, each thrown away at the end of its life. The cost compound, the launch mass compound and nothing you send up helps the next mission. Expeditions by definition do not accumulate into infrastructure. So let us ask what infrastructure is as its core because the answer tells us what we need. First, infrastructure is shared. One power grid serves a whole city instead of every building running its own generator. Second, it's multifunctional. The same network feeds the hospital, the factory, and the family home. Uses with nothing in common expect that they all need power. Third, it's modular and incremental. We extend the grid as the city grows. Fourth, it is serviceable. It's built to last for generations and when the transformers fails, replace the one part, not the whole network. And fifth, it's sustainable. It meant to last for all the generation not to become a waste. Let me be precise about one thing, a system that can do only one thing once, it's not an infrastructure, it is one of expedition. Now measure today's spacecrafts against that definition. The standard model, a dedicated bus with its own large solar arrays for every mission, is bespoke, costly to launch, technically hard to build, needs extensive and costly testing, flown for a single purpose and then discarded. The last point matters here especially because a discarded spacecraft either remains as debris in the very orbits future missions must use or it reenters and burns releasing metallic compounds into the upper atmosphere whose effects we cannot yet understand. On every count, sharing, multifunctional serviceability, sustainability, the model we rely on today fails the test of infrastructure by a lot. So what we meet the definition today, our team at set lives has been developing something that will be all means fit the very definition starting with one building block, a tile. Tiles stack flat for launch, so they travel compactly at a lower cost. Once in orbit, they unfold to form a unit. Several units talk to a form a larger structure. We call a mosaic. The mosaic carries a standardized interface so independent payloads can plug into it and share the same structure. the same power and the same position in space. It's modular, serviceable, tile by tile, and built to be reconfigured rather than thrown away. Let me make this concrete with one example. Picture one mosaic in lunar orbit supporting a base at the south pole. On the one structure, drawing on one pulled power supply, we host four functions at once parallel. First, a mapping payload service the surface, choosing landing sites, watching over the base. Second, an onboard computing payload processes that imagery in orbit with edge AI, so the base need to not need to spend its cars surface power and limited computing on raw data. Third, data will be transmitted via intersatellite and ground to space laser communication links back to Earth. And fourth, quantum secure communication payload protects the command and key channels the base depends on. They all share the same proportion system that keeps them in orbit. Each of these alone is power hungry. Today, each would demand either its own large expensive satellite or a constellation of small ones too weak to do the job efficiently. But on the shared mosaic, one supply feeds all four. This is precisely how a power grid works on Earth. It is the difference between four spacecraft sharing a ride and a single piece of infrastructure. So return to the question, why do we need flexible and multifunctional space infrastructure? Because the future we are planning on the moon and beyond depends on a layer of support that needs to be shared, adaptable, serviceable, and durable. In order to also be a guarantee to manned space missions and cannot have single points of failure. And that layer cannot be built as a series of expedition and we need to start building real modular infrastructure. Thank you.


COPUOS · Vice-Chair [2:49:58]:

Thank you very much. Since you still have three minutes of your time, I will allow a question or two if there are any immediate questions. Otherwise, we will move to the next presentation. I see none, so then I would suggest that we proceed since we have the extension of interpretation by 10 minutes until 11:10 granted and beyond 11, beyond 1:10, we will then continue with the last fifth presentation without interpretation. So the fourth presentation on my list is on the Italian roadmap in space exploration by the representative of Italy.


Italy [2:50:44]:

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair and distinguished delegates. On behalf of the Italian delegation, I'm proud to present today the Italian roadmap in exploration, space exploration, highlighting the main national initiatives as a contribution to this global endeavor with aim to foster available exchange of knowledge in line with the spirit of COPUOS. Does it? I'm sorry, it seems like it's not working. I'm pushing.


COPUOS · Vice-Chair [2:51:55]:

Is it working now? Or.


Italy [2:52:05]:

Does it work now? Yes. Okay.


COPUOS · Vice-Chair [2:52:06]:

Please. You have the floor.


Italy [2:52:08]:

Thank you. Yeah, thank you. Well, I need to be back here. Yeah. Thank you. So again, Italy considers space exploration as a domain of paramount importance, where the Italian Space Agency coordinates national efforts, activating the government's vision and serving as a central hub between the technical and scientific communities. Exploration programs are global enterprises that Italy, through the Italian Space Agency, implement both as a member of the European Space Agency and within the framework of bilateral and multilateral corporations with strategic partners. Such a prominent role is reflected by ASI involvement and leadership within international bodies, including COPUOS, ICJ, and others. Reflecting this peak of international trust and national excellence, NASA recently announced the selection of the Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano as the pilot for the upcoming Artemis III mission. This long-term commitment has positioned Italy at the forefront of the exploration sector over the past decades, ranging from the construction of pressurized modules for the International Space Station the leadership in the ESA ExoMars mission in addition to these larger scale capabilities Italian interplanetary nanosatellites successfully participated in the NASA Dart and Artemis one mission a recent success was marked by the lugre gnss experiment landed and operated on the Moon in March 2025 within the framework of an asi NASA joint initiative Currently, ASI programmatic framework for exploration includes a wide portfolio of projects varying in destination, scale, and objectives, with the moon standing at its core. A diversified set of initiative is under development focused on specific priority areas where technological advancements and national programmatic goals converge into comprehensive and balanced outlook. A brief overview of some of these key projects will be presented here, hereafter. The Multipurpose Habitation Module is the flagship element of this framework and the crucial contribution from Italy to NASA operational Artemis campaign. As a pressurized habitat to support astronauts surface activities, the MPH addresses key technology gaps of the NASA Moon to Mars architecture to allow sustained exploration. The importance of MPH was recently reinforced by adoption of NASA of the Ignition Agenda, which further accelerate the effort to establish a permanent moon base at the lunar south pole. Leveraging the expertise in pressurized space infrastructures, the module is designed to accommodate two astronauts for surface mission lasting from seven up to 30 days. supported by a state-of-the-art environmental control and life support system. Engineered to endure extreme thermal variations and abrasive lunar dust, the laboratory features autonomous and crewed operations and mobility to post-landing relocation. Following the recent completed NASA ASI system requirements review, The program is now advancing towards its preliminary design review, planned next year, targeting a launch from Kennedy Space Center in 2033. ASI has identified in situ resource utilization as high priority technology domain and the key enable for the long term sustainability of lunar surface activities. To this end, the ORACLE project has been funded to demonstrate the extraction of oxygen from lunar regolith by a thermochemical process. The operational sequence involves collecting and processing 100 grams of regolith to produce carbon monoxide and traces of other gases, from which pure oxygen will be subsequently extracted. While operating parameters are currently being optimized in laboratory plants, the flight model is under development, targeting deployment and operation on the moon in 2029. In parallel, ASI space community is actively developing a comprehensive set of scientific instruments under ASI management. A key piece of this effort is the Earth Moon Mars initiative that includes a suit of payloads to monitor the earth and deep space from the lunar surface expanding Italy reach through strategic Global Partnership as is also supporting the development of an imaging spectrometer for the Rashid the three lunar Rover under preparation by the Mohammed Rashid bean Space Center of the United Arab Emirates Within the framework of European Space Agency, Italian industry play a leading role as a prime contractor in major programs to support lunar exploration. Key examples include Argonaut, the cargo lander that will ensure autonomous European access to the lunar surface starting from the beginning of the next decade, and Moonlight, the satellite infrastructure that will develop dedicated communication and navigation services to support robotic and crewed missions around and on the moon. Still within ESA lunar exploration content, initiative with a strong Italian signature is the Lunar Meteoroid Impact Observer, LUMIO, a CubeSat-based mission dedicated to monitor, detect and characterize meteoroid impact flashes on the lunar far side. Operating from halo orbit around the Lagrange point L2, the spacecraft will deliver crucial data to refine global models of the lunar meteoroid environment with their own benefits in lunar situation awareness. Funded by ASI through the ESA GSTP program, the NanoSat will be ready for launch and operation at the end of 2028. Prospect represent another key ESA initiative with a significant Italian contribution. Shifting the focus to the surface science, this robotic laboratory is designed for the drilling, extraction, and analysis of terrain samples at the South Pole to determine distribution and status of volatiles, including water ice. The core Italian contribution centers on PROCEED, an advanced sampling system capable to penetrating up to one meter into lunar regolith. Prospect will reach lunar surface in 2027 as part of a NASA commercial CLIPS initiative under ESA-NASA agreement. The same Italian competence in subsurface exploration will also apply to Mars with the ESA ExoMars mission, where the Rosalind Franklin rover features an advanced drilling system capable of penetrating up to two meters into the Mars terrain. The retrieved samples will be then analyzed to detect complex biomolecules and to determine past environmental availability conditions. Also, the drill hosts the instrument MAMIS, an Italian miniaturized infrared spectrometer that will analyze the mineralogical composition of the borehole wall. The rover and its complex payload are expected to operate on the ancient plains of Oxia Planum at the end of this decade. To support surface missions during preparations and operations, ASI is funding the Lunar Mission Simulation and Control Center in Turin. Leveraging the expertise gained with the already active Rover Operation Control Center established for ESA to Mars missions, the infrastructure will include a specialized moon terrain arena. to simulate regular mechanics and local illumination conditions, and to conduct a large variety of ground tests in a representative environment. Altogether, the presented initiative strongly consolidates the role of Italy in the global exploration scenario. Italy consistently demonstrates its ability to cooperate, shape the future of deep space endeavors. Moving forward, this comprehensive national strategy ensures that Italian excellence remain at the forefront of both international partnership and national capabilities, securing a leading role in the human return to the moon and in the journey to Mars. Thank you.


COPUOS · Vice-Chair [3:01:15]:

Thank you very much. And now the last presentation on my list is on enabling multi-jurisdiction in orbit servicing. Insights from the UK funded RPO regulatory sandbox by the representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Please, you have our attention.


UKSA · Regulatory Reform Manager · Lara Zanoni [3:01:39]:

Thank you, Chair. Distinguished delegates, it is a privilege to present to this committee today on behalf of the Rendezvous and Proximity Operations, RPO, Operators Consortium, AstroScale, ClearSpace, and the Orbit. three commercial operators working at the frontier of in-orbit servicing technology. I am Lara Zanoni, regulatory reform manager at the UK Space Agency. I am grateful for the opportunity to share the findings of a body of work that the United Kingdom has funded and convened, and that we consider a valuable contribution to the committee's ongoing discussions on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. The findings and proposals I will present today are those of the RPO Operators Consortium and do not represent the policy or official position of the UK government. Just one second. A regulatory sandbox is a structured environment in which novel activities can be assessed against existing regulatory frameworks. before they're fully brought to market and before regulatory gaps translate into live compliance problems. The RPO sandbox represents its first substantive application in the UK space sector. Its first objective were to identify gaps in the UK licensing framework as applied to RPO missions, develop practical recommendations, produce tools for consistent mission authorization, and inform policy by sharing findings directly with the UK government and the UK's independent space regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, CAA. The sandbox was commissioned by the UK government and delivered by the consortium in close collaboration with them and the CAA. Its outputs are now directly informing updates to the CAA guidance on operator licensing for RPO missions and UK government policy development and regulatory changes. The sandbox ran across two stages between the end of 2024 and early 2026. Those stages involved iterative licensing simulations, stakeholder workshops and collaborative analysis between the industry consortium and the UK government and independent regulators. The consortium developed a detailed target mission concept, a realistic multi-phase RPO mission and mapped the full UK licensing process against it. This highlighted regulatory challenges and gaps, and generated detailed recommendations across safety, security, sustainability, liability, and international obligations. Working directly with the CEA and the UK Space Agency in dedicated workshops, the consortium then refined those recommendations, tested them against complex operational scenarios, and produced practical tools. At the heart of the sandbox was a realistic licensing simulation. The consortium modeled a representative RPO mission that reflects the actual structure of commercial in-orbit servicing operations, IOS. That is a servicer spacecraft conducting multi-phase operations, so inspection, life extension, relocation, and end-of-life removal, on client spacecraft operated by multiple different operators across multiple jurisdictions. with not all client spacecraft known at launch. That scenario exposed the full complexity of licensing an IOS mission under a national framework. The simulation tested six key areas of assessment, national security, national interest, international obligations, safety, security, and sustainability. Across those areas, it revealed 63 discrete regulatory challenges. The associated recommendations constitute a roadmap for the regulatory development work required to make the UK an encouraging licensing country for commercial IOS missions. Of all the challenges identified, those arising from the multi-jurisdiction nature of IOS are the hardest to resolve at a purely national level and the most directly relevant to this committee. typical IOS mission involves the services spacecraft operator authorized by its national authority and the client spacecraft operator, which may be authorized by a different state. In addition to the states of authorization of both spacecraft, other states might be involved. These include the states of registry and the launching states. Three categories of challenges emerge from this structure. First, jurisdiction, control, and consent. There is no established mechanism for the state of registry to signal its consent or its conditions for servicing operations conducted on objects under its jurisdiction. Second, authorization and supervision in joint operations. It is often unclear which state must authorize and continuously supervise each phase and which regulatory requirements apply. Third, responsibility and liability. The joint and several liability of launching states under the Liability Convention raises questions about financial exposure, particularly where the objects concerned were launched before such services were contemplated, or where a launching state has no direct role in the RPO activity itself. These are not theoretical problems. They are the problems that commercial operators encounter when they try to contract for in-orbit services today. As part of the sandbox, the RPO Operators Consortium produced two practical instruments to address these challenges. While these instruments do not constitute UK government policy, we consider it valuable to bring them before this committee in a spirit of transparency and with the aim of furthering constructive dialogue among member states. The first instrument is an IOS checklist for states. This is a structured decision support tool intended for use by states authorizing multi-state IOS activities. It addresses state-level treaty obligations across the three challenge categories I have just described, so jurisdiction and consent, authorization and supervision, and responsibility and liability. The checklist is designed to guide the authorizing state through the key legal questions that may arise in this context. The purpose is not to impose new treaty obligations. but to help make existing ones more operational, to offer states a common language and a structured process for the coordination that international law already requires, but practice has not yet formalized. The second instrument is an operator consent letter template. This document is designed to formalize the client spacecraft operator's consent to servicing, identify the relevant national authorities, confirm that the authorizing state has been notified, and commit the client operator to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. Together, these two instruments are offered as a basis for discussion on how to support consistent treaty compliant authorization of multi-jurisdiction IOS missions at both the operator and state level. Both instruments remain open to further refinement through consultation with interested states. The full text of both has been lodged by the consortium with the UN LTS information repository. Let me close with three points. First, what the sandbox delivered. A comprehensive detailed list of regulatory challenges were identified and addressed across the UK licensing framework. Recommendations have been provided to the UK Space Agency and the CAA and outputs are feeding directly into the new IOS regulatory policy and guidance improvement. The collaborative simulation accelerated regulatory readiness for both the regulator and prospective license applicants. Second, the sandbox as a model. The approach is scalable and transferable. Any state can adopt this methodology for RPO or other innovative activities. Structured government regulator industry collaboration reduces uncertainty and builds shared understanding on both sides. And it produces operationally grounded tools, not abstract policy, but instruments that operators and regulators can use immediately. Third, the RPO operator consortium proposal to Copious. Member states are encouraged to consider exploring the IOS checklist as a possible framework for structuring multi-jurisdiction authorizations discussions. And the UK and the consortium invite consideration of how Copious could address multi-jurisdiction IOS more directly with a view to developing international frameworks that reflect the commercial reality of this emerging sector. The commercialisation of in-orbit servicing is coming, and it's coming fast. The international community has an opportunity now to build the frameworks that would allow this industry to operate safely, sustainably and in compliance with international law. The RPO Operators Consortium and the United Kingdom stand ready to support this work. Thank you, Chair.


COPUOS · Vice-Chair [3:11:03]:

Thank you very much, distinguished delegates. I will shortly adjourn this meeting. Before doing so, I would like to inform delegates of our schedule of work for this afternoon. We will meet promptly at 3 p.m. and we will continue our consideration of agenda item five, general exchange of views. We will continue and hopefully conclude our consideration of agenda item six, Ways and Means of Maintaining Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes. Time permitting, we will begin our consideration of agenda item seven, report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on its 63rd session. We will then suspend the plenary meeting so that the working group of the whole can hold its second meeting. Following the adjournment of the working group, meeting, we will then resume the plenary to proceed with technical presentations. I would like to once again inform delegations that the updated version of the non-paper prepared by the Chair of the Working Group of the whole has been uploaded to the session webpage for consideration at the formal meeting of the Working Group of the whole scheduled for this afternoon. Five technical presentations are scheduled for this afternoon. Delegates are reminded that the full schedule of technical presentations is available on the session's web page. I would also like to inform delegates that the consultations with the chair of the working group on the status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space with permanent observers and other stakeholders, including space agencies on the topic of information sharing on space activities and implementation of Article 11 of the Outer Space Treaty will be held in conference room M5 from 1 to 3 PM. The informal consultations will be held in hybrid format via Ms. Teams with a hybrid connection made available also for interested member states to join. The Ms. Teams link is provided in the information circular dispatched on June 1st, 2026. The agenda of this consultation is available on the session's web page. I would also like to inform delegates that informal consultations led by the Russian Federation on the draft resolution of the United Nations General Assembly entitled Space Science and Technology for Promoting Peace will be held from 1:00 to 1:55 p.m. in conference room M2. I would also like to inform delegates that the informal consultations of the working group on the use of nuclear power sources in other space will be held in conference room M2 for from 2 to 3 p.m. The informal consultations will be held in hybrid format via Ms. teams with a hybrid connection made available to member states. The Ms. link is provided in the information circular OOSA 2026 58 dispatch on June 1st. The schedule of the consultations is available on the web page of the session. I would now like to give the floor to the Secretariat to provide information on side events. Please.


UNOOSA · Secretariat [3:14:25]:

Thank you very much, Madam Vice Chair. Distinguished delegates, at lunchtime now it's going, there are two side events. A side event entitled China's Seven Decades Celestial Path, Shared Space, Shared Future, organized by China is ongoing from 1:00 PM. in boardroom D of the C building. A side event entitled Enabling Multi Jurisdiction in Orbit Servicing, insights from the UK funded RPO regulatory sandbox organized by the United Kingdom and Office for Outer Space Affairs will be held from 2:00 PM in conference room M3 and via virtual connection. And there'll be also announcement that Space for Ocean Alliance is right now having a standing lunch from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM next to M6 and cordially invited. Thank you very much, Madam Vice-Chair.


COPUOS · Vice-Chair [3:15:17]:

Thank you very much for the information provided. I believe there are no questions or comments to this proposed schedule. Distinguished delegates, this meeting is adjourned until 3 p.m. this afternoon. Thank you.