Outer Space: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, 63rd session, 1052th meeting General Assembly Date: 13 February 2026 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/asset/k1j/k1j8o6r1jw 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. --- Thailand · Chair [0:37]: Good afternoon. Good afternoon, distinguished delegates. I now declare open the 1052nd meeting of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses Distinguished delegates, this afternoon we will continue our consideration of Agenda Item 18, Report to the Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space. Are there any questions or comments on this proposed schedule? I see none. Speaker 2 [1:14]: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thailand · Chair [1:17]: Distinguished delegates, may we continue by reviewing the draft report from paragraph 2 of the A/AC.105/C.1/L.425/Addendum 7? Is the draft report— so, all right, so we continue then. Let me give the floor to the Secretary to continue the briefing with you guys. UN Secretariat · Secretary [1:47]: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, during the lunch— not the lunch break— break, we have received the amendments proposed by the distinguished delegate of New Zealand, as you can see on the screen, and I read it as follows. The subcommittee noted that the secret— Apologies, Mr. Chair. Let me just read it again. The subcommittee was informed that the Secretariat had tentatively scheduled its 64th session to take place sometime between 8th and 19th February 2027, with the understanding that the meeting may not span the entire period, with a final decision to be made by the committee. This is the language that has been proposed by the distinguished delegate of New Zealand for this paragraph 2. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Thailand · Chair [2:54]: So will we agree on that? China, please. China [3:00]: Thank you, Chair. On that new proposal, we have to flag to the committee during that time it covers our public holiday, that is Spring Festival, so we still do not have a position on how to schedule. To speed up the process, I hope perhaps we can change the subcommittee. Was he informed, the Secretary, we have tentatively scheduled 64th session to take place sometime within February 2027, and withstanding of the committee meeting maybe may not spend the entire period, with the final decision to be made by the committee. Thank you, Chair. Thailand · Chair [3:46]: This is acceptable. So instead of a specific date, we just within February 2027. Okay. Is it acceptable? Okay. All right. Thank you. We move on. Thank you. Good. You can continue your— leave me with the floor. UN Secretariat · Secretary [4:16]: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. That's basically the end of the body of the report. And the following section will be all the annexes. The first annex, the Annex 1, would include the report of the Working Group, the whole, as adopted by the Working Group and also endorsed by the subcommittee. Annex 2 would contain the Working Group's legal— long-term sustainability of outer space activities. The report was also endorsed by the subcommittee. Thank you. And the next Annex 3 would contain the report of the Working Group on the Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space as endorsed by the subcommittee. I recognize the request from the Russian Federation, please. Russian Federation [5:11]: Thank you very much, Chairman. Thank you for giving me the floor. I'm sorry, could we not go back to the sentence which had to do with the STSC next year, session next year, and it's in brackets right now? We understand that for a number of delegations, Delegations, it might be difficult to put in specific dates. However, owing to the issues that we've seen with the liquidity crisis, don't you think we might want to at least say that the session will come— it will again be held for a 2-week duration? I suppose that would be not subject to doubt or disagreement, that it would be a 2-week session. So if resources allow, perhaps we could add something like that. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [6:26]: Do you think it's good to have it? Please, New Zealand. New Zealand [6:35]: I thank the Russian delegate, this distinguished Russian delegate, for his suggestion, but the issue we have is that— well, the conversations that we've had here in plenary, in informals, in the lead-up to this particular meeting, and considering the liquidity crisis of the UN, We don't think that a 2-week meeting is realistic based on our current— based on the current circumstances. And so I'm just having a read of the text now, how it's been changed to last for 2 weeks. So no, we would bracket to last for 2 weeks and suggest that it goes back to the way it was before. Thank you. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [7:38]: Have you asked, uh, Sodasan and then China? Speaker 13 [7:42]: Yes, thank you, Chair. I think I understand the different viewpoints on this and the need for finding a path forward because we are in a state of uncertainty here. I mean, perhaps using the original language about the subcommittee noted, but then suggesting that the subcommittee noted— and I think this is factual, and I appreciate if the chair and the secretary could correct me— but the subcommittee noted that Conference Management Services recommended holding the 64th session for an indeterminate number of days. between the period of 8 to 19 February 2027. I think that that captures the reality of what we heard in the briefing, and I apologize if that's incorrect, but it allows for folks to capture this information while not committing to something to which they're not currently comfortable. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [8:39]: We have China and Brazil. China [8:45]: Thank you, Chair. We also have revised version which I think will address both Russian Federation's concerns as well as our New Zealand colleagues' concerns. I will try, but as I indicated earlier, those 8th to 19th February covers the whole public holiday of our Spring Festival, so we have to make clear that we cannot accept Yes. Specific dates. So I will start with the subcommittee was informed that the 6th— sorry, I have to find it— the 6th full session of this subcommittee was informed That the— that a 6th full session was proposed by the Secretariat to held within the second half of February 2027, with the final decision to be made by the committee. I think the second half is 2 weeks, but I want to keep it open whether you will use all the time for the second half, but keep it possibility if there is no such liquidity crisis, we agree with the Russian Federation. There's no reason why we should cut that 2-week session. Thank you, Chair. Thailand · Chair [10:43]: Vassil, please. Brazil [10:47]: Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have had many debates on liquidity crisis and on how to improve our work— methods of work. I had the impression that the low-hanging fruit was to transform a few days of the LTSC from informal sessions to formal sessions, and that would allow us to save money in translation and still have the debates we have to do— to have in some working groups and possibly also making technical presentations in a— only in English, not necessarily in the formal session. I think that would definitely help us accommodate the budget issue in case the same situation is approved. So I think we would— we have— we need to adopt some language that allows flexibility. I— to say it's 2 weeks doesn't seem to be appropriate. We could say up to 2 weeks. And I'm not sure about the period, which weeks would be better really. I think we have to look at other things, we have to see when C and D would take place, make sure we are not overlapping, and for that I would look to the Secretariat to suggest the weeks, but within these weeks we would like to have a meeting. Thank you very much. We need to use a flexible language because we don't know how situation— what the situation will be like in one year. Thailand · Chair [12:49]: Thank you. Egypt [12:57]: Thank you, Chair. Can we move this to the disclaimer to allow the discussions to be— I think we can add one or two words that can probably bring all of these points of views together within the second half of February 2027, subject to informal consultations, with the final decision to be made by the committee at its 69th session. However, I'm also sceptic whether even if we took the decision in the committee, probably the language in the decision that we will take in the committee will also make it a bit subject to any improvements hopefully or any updates related to the liquidity crisis, but when we get there. For now, probably this— hopefully this formulation would get consensus as well. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [13:47]: Yeah, I see Russian Federation. Russian Federation [13:55]: Thank you, Chairman, for giving me the floor. We're grateful to our colleagues for the wording which is currently on the screen. We're fine with it in principle. We're worried about something else though. We all understand quite well that the committee has a very ambitious task ahead of it. The committee is one of the most fastest growing bodies of the UN General Assembly. This year, 110 member states currently. So instead of discussing how together with New York we might ensure full funding so as to work effectively in the future on the committee, instead we continue to hear various proposals that we're no longer able to work as effectively as before, that we will need to reduce the number of days, that we'll need to draw— cut work on reports, and we'll have to think about how to make further cuts, and so on and so forth. We didn't hear from a single person a single time during this session how we might make a request to New York and argue for the priority of the committee's work. And I can tell you that other bodies here at UNOV are actually doing that. They're directly contacting New York and asking for funding so as to ensure that they can work in a fully fledged manner. Why are we doing something totally different? We are categorically against a year ahead of time the— as the subcommittee already voluntarily cutting our working days. Why should we be doing that? This is totally the wrong approach. What we are risking is not just scaring member states who may want to join, but actually significantly worsening the work of the committee and its effectiveness. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [16:02]: Thank you. The Kingdom, please. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [16:08]: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Just to respond to what we just heard from our distinguished colleague from the Russian Federation, completely mitigate, that we need to be innovative and to bring as many voices as we can into this committee as it grows. So I don't think the 2 things are mutually exclusive. On this paragraph, we can agree that this— with this form of words. It seems that we're going to have the committee meeting in February 2027. Another formulation that could work, although we're not suggesting it unless it's needed, is to take the original wording and just remove 8 to 19 and just have February 2027. That's also fine for us. Um, or yeah, so I think there's, there's many ways to do this, but without being prescriptive. But it doesn't mean that we are giving up on the work of the committee. Quite the opposite. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [17:27]: Thank you, UK. Germany, please. Germany [17:32]: Thank you, Mr. Chair. We would just like to note, I think we had a lot of discussions over the past 2 weeks about our methods of work and the need to be more efficient regardless of the liquidity crisis. It is our understanding that these discussions will be held and continued in the Working Group of the Whole over the past— over the next months leading up to the Committee. So, we would like to not reopen this discussion here now and just look towards these consultations in the Working Group of the Whole. I think the current formulation sufficiently addresses this and doesn't preempt any decisions that we're going to take or discuss in the Working Group of the Whole. So, this is fine. Thank you. Yeah, we would just like to move that discussion to the working group and not play it further out here right now. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [18:34]: Thank you. So, thank you for all the suggestions and recommendations. We're going to say it like this sentence. Okay, right. Thank you. Continue. UN Secretariat · Secretary [18:51]: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to just continue what I was doing to show which part of the report— I mean, which working groups' report will be reflected in which part of the annexes. The first one is the working group, the whole, and the second annex has the working group, the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. Annex 3 would have the working group's report on— the report of the working group on the nuclear power sources in outer space. And then finally, Annex 4 would contain the report of the action team on the lunar activities consultations. And also finally, Annex 5, this is a reflection of the terms of reference, method of work that was already agreed upon by the committee at its last session in June last year. It's just that it was not available in all languages, so it's now being annexed to the subcommittee's report in all languages as edited. And it comes from the conference room A/AC105/2025/CRP27/Rev4, as agreed by the committee. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. That's the end of the whole report procedural version. Thailand · Chair [20:15]: Okay. China, please. China [20:18]: Thank you, Chair. Our comment is related to the last Annex 5. We have no problem to insert that document, but I think if you refer to the Long-Term Sustainability Working Group, they have a reference to the expert group. They have a different annex number. So these documents should be annexed to that Long-Term Sustainability Working Group report. So now you change it into the procedure report. So I think perhaps either you use appendix or— annex to that Long-Term Sustainability Working Group report. Otherwise, we are confused. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [21:06]: Yeah, please clarify that. UN Secretariat · Secretary [21:24]: Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Well, thank you very much for the pertinent comment made by the distinguished delegate of China. We'll just then make that mandate terms of reference method work currently in Annex 5 turn into appendix to the report of the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities. Thank you very much for the technical correction. Appreciate it. Thailand · Chair [21:50]: Any more suggestions or comments? Speaker 33 [21:58]: Yes. Thailand · Chair [22:01]: United Arab Emirates, please. United Arab Emirates [22:04]: Thank you, Chair. We need some time to review and approve this one. Thailand · Chair [22:19]: Okay. United Arab Emirates [22:21]: Thank you. Thailand · Chair [23:12]: So, Raju is still considering the next, right? Speaker 39 [23:17]: Yeah. Thailand · Chair [23:19]: Take your time, but not too long. Yes, sir, please. Speaker 41 [23:34]: Thank you, Chair, for giving us the floor. Can you go back to Annex 2? Thailand · Chair [23:57]: While we're waiting, China raised their hand, please. China [24:01]: Thank you, Chair. Perhaps the Secretariat can show the Long-Term Sustainability Working Group report that in paragraph 1 of the expert group with addendum to that report, it meant clearly that with the mandate, term of reference, method of work, and work plan as contained in Annex 6 to the present report. So I just don't know. So that should be the LTS Working Group contained Annex 6 of the experts' group mandate. So that is why I make comments on that because you now upgrade to the full subcommittees. It seemed to me that experts group mandate and work plan was adopted by the LTS. They have no need to go to— we have no chance to consider the experts group's mandate and work plan because they report to the LTS. The LTS already make a decision to adopt the experts group mandate. So, I just don't want misunderstanding that each and every time the term of reference have to go to the subcommittees. So perhaps you can retrieve the Long-Term Sustainability Working Group report. In particular, those addendum of that report is the expert group reporting, which refer to the mandate. Thailand · Chair [25:37]: Okay. Speaker 45 [25:48]: Thank you. Thailand · Chair [25:49]: Wait, wait a second. Okay. Yes, could I please clarify and tell the floor what we're going to do? UN Secretariat · Secretary [27:08]: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. It's purely a procedural technical correction to be made, which annex number should be indicated, and it's actually correct that the Procedure-wise, it's appendix to— I mean, the part of the work of the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activity that really agreed on the terms of reference and the mandate. So that is the reason why I also agreed with the pertinent comment made by the delegation of China to be appendix to the report of the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability. Thank you. to outer space activities, just to emphasize the point that there is— it's already been agreed and endorsed by the committee, and it's so reflected. It's just a matter of the technical reflection where that part of the agreed-upon text should be. So thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Thailand · Chair [28:06]: Thank you. I don't think— I wish we don't have any more comments. And I think we have reviewed all the part of the report that we prepared, of the subcommittee report. And everyone happy on that? Do we take it that the DOCOM committee agree with the entire report that we just reviewed? Speaker 49 [28:37]: Yes. Thailand · Chair [28:45]: May I use my hammer to adopt the report? So, distinguished delegates, we have now agreed to adopt the report or pass of the report of the subcommittee to the committee. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is adopted as a whole. Speaker 51 [29:31]: Thank you. Thailand · Chair [29:35]: Thank you very much. I see someone don't smile yet. Please smile. We have— yeah, we have to give a smile. We finished the job, okay? You want to smile or you want to raise your hand and more comments? Okay, please. Argentina [30:02]: Thank you, Chair. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. Simply to thank you and the Secretariat for the tremendous efforts undertaken in order to present this document, this report to us with all of the input that has been summarized, to thank you for your goodwill in helping us, and to thank all delegations for all of the efforts made. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [30:23]: Thank you. The United States, please. United States of America [30:31]: Thank you, Chair. We'd like to echo Argentina's sentiment and thank all the colleagues in the room, but certainly especially the Chair and the Secretariat for what was not an easy path forward, but one that you trod with great success, and it's something that we can all be proud of, as we've said repeatedly throughout this session. Frankly, we have a lot to be proud of. We achieved a lot with ATLAC, SSA, and other work strands, and so to have that captured, reflected, and moved forward is a testament to the great work of every single person and every single delegation in this room. Thank you very much. Apologies, just to add a few more comments from the United States. This was a tough couple of weeks, and everyone in this room sacrificed something that was important them. So we do want to take a moment to acknowledge that, that there were very difficult decisions and there were some tough choices that were made. So thank you to everyone in this room for your coordination, for your willingness to do the really difficult work to come to this decision, which will allow us to move forward on some pretty incredible opportunities going forward. Our gratitude to everyone and, of course, to you as well, Chair, and to Arati Hallamaini for her leadership as well. Thanks to everyone. Thailand · Chair [31:59]: India and then Austria. India [32:05]: Thank you, Chair. I would like to join the other delegations and, on behalf of the Indian delegation, I would also like to thank the Chair and the Secretariat and Director Ioannoussa for the efficient conduct of the session and congratulate you on finally adopting the report. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [32:22]: Thank you. Austria. Austria [32:27]: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, for your efforts and also to the Secretariat and Director Atihola Maini. In the name of Austria as a member state and a host country, I would like to thank you very much for your efforts. It was really a very difficult session, I think, and I would especially like to thank also all the other delegations that they made so much effort, so there are many different positions that we could find a consensus. This is on the report. Thank you very much. Thailand · Chair [33:04]: Thank you very much. Vasilis. Brazil [33:10]: Thank you, Chair. I'd like also to compliment you for your leadership, your team for the hard work carried out during these 2 weeks, and all delegations for the flexibility and the good spirit in finding a solution. For the situation. But I, at the same time, I want to highlight that we have accomplished a quick fix for this session. It's not a stable solution. We will soon come back to the same question when we have the meeting of the LTAs. I think the solution we have It's not the best one. It solves the problem for now. And I think— I'm convinced that consensus is difficult, but we should try. And I still think that what we need most is a concise report. It's not a procedural report. Thank you. report. And I think that will require a change of culture, to start with a concise zero draft and a concise method of work that will not demand too much time and so that we can agree on what's essential. So Brazil looks forward to engage in on this process. And so once again, thank you so much to you, your team, and all delegations. Egypt [35:03]: Thank you, Chair. Let me start by appreciating all of the tremendous efforts that have been exerted during this session. Again, I reiterate previous— the mentions by the previous speakers that we have all compromised, and this is really appreciated. You played a significant role, Mr. Chair, so thanks to you and to the Secretariat for their efforts. I also echo what has just been mentioned by our distinguished colleague from Brazil. It's not about concepts and how are we going to deal with it during this scientific subcommittee. There were a burden and a responsibility on all of us. To have a report. Having the report was a goal for all of us, a common goal, and we realized it with this compromise. However, we need to talk. We need to keep talking and reaching probably a solution on how are we going to deal with the several mandates and agenda items that we have, including the concepts that was an issue of discussion during this session, because this issue, of course, respectfully, from our distinguished colleague from the United States, they have their principal position, and we need to address this to maintain the consensus in this august body. So looking forward to the leadership of the upcoming chair of the Legal Subcommittee, as well as upcoming chair of the— of COPUS. And on this note, as As well, I want to highlight and appreciate the suggestion that our Italian colleague introduced to the room earlier today that managed to get us to consensus. It's a very good omen and a very good start of the Italian chairmanship of the committee. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [36:45]: Thank you, Egypt. Germany and then China. Germany [36:50]: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Those were 2 challenging— 2 very challenging weeks. Our work is not getting easier, even though we wish it would get easier. We're glad we could do a lot of substantive work that gets us forward on the scientific and technical side, and we're happy that we could adopt the report at this stage. We want to thank you, Mr. Chair, both for your leadership but also for your passion and for your good spirits. and for pushing us forward even in the most dire of circumstances. I want to thank the Office and Director Hollamaini and the Secretariat, especially Takemi, for all your hard efforts in moving us forward and keeping us going. We look forward to coming back and doing all of it again. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [37:46]: Thank you. China, please. China [37:52]: Thank you, Mr. Chair. First, we'd like to echo other delegations to congratulate you for your successful work. We would like to highly commend your excellent leadership. We would also— we also noted the great efforts and preparation made by the Secretariat, which is tremendous. The adoption of the report is only the first step of our whole long journey. In front of us, there are a longer way to go. I believe your success will encourage all of the member states To continue to make efforts, stand for the completeness and the mandates of the committee, including the integrity and the mandate of the committee and the subcommittee. We wish you in your future work to continue to make success. Thank you. We also hope that the Secretariat will provide more neutral, more professional, and more efficient services. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thailand · Chair [39:23]: Thank you, Shaina, for your statements. Well, you want to say something or— Speaker 68 [39:31]: Okay. Thailand · Chair [39:32]: All right. Let me say something very short. On behalf of everyone here and also on behalf of Thailand, may I say thank you to every one of us that's trying to do our job successfully today. And I think what I have learned today from this meeting, for this 2-week meeting, first is expressing what you want, what you need, but even more important is listening. Listening is part of the cooperation and coordination. If we are listening to each other, if we express what we need, and we try to get the way that common ground to everyone, you know. I think the goal of COPUS, the goal of UN and other coordination will be successful on the peaceful use of outer space. Speaker 70 [40:45]: Yes. Thailand · Chair [40:49]: Again, I'd like to thank my secretary and also a beautiful chair, beautiful director here to make things complete and finish today. And before we close the meeting, I'm going to have the director to say something, but before she says something, may I have a proposal that, you know, to do something that we never do. Can we have group photo after we close the meeting? You know, I'm going to stand here, sit here, and, you know, it could be a new style of photo here, and it will be the very first group photo of UN, because I need this photo for my OT reimbursement. I need a— Thank you. Thank you. UN Secretariat · Director · Aarti Holla-Maini [41:43]: Distinguished delegates, I don't want to have the last word. I will leave that to the chair, but I want to thank you all for your perseverance and your goodwill and your generosity in helping to arrive at the report. I know it wasn't easy for many of you and for the whole group. I have received during these 2 weeks multiple comments from different delegations about the need for the Secretariat to support finding more succinct ways and concise ways of moving forward, not only in the way that the report is adopted— sorry, the report is drafted, but also perhaps in making suggestions to the different chairs on how the agenda could be improved and made more streamlined and to avoid duplications and so on. So going forward from the Legal Subcommittee onwards, we will work very closely with our chairs and see what we can do to help a more efficient way of working. But thank you once again for all your efforts. Thank you. Thailand · Chair [42:52]: Thank you, Arti. Thank you very much. Distinguished delegates, I now declare closed the 1052nd meeting And the 63rd session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. We are going to have— I'm going to sit here and, you know, we're going to sit here and wait for a few minutes. We have good photo. We have photographer here. Nobody wants to take a group photo with me?