Outer Space: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, 62nd session, 1018 meeting

Good afternoon, distinguished delegates. I now declare open the 1018th meeting of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Distinguished delegates, this afternoon we will continue our consideration of Agenda Item 3, General Exchange of Views. We will continue and hopefully suspend our consideration of Agenda Item 4, Space for Sustainable Development, Technology and Its Applications, including the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, pending the consideration of the draft contribution to the High-Level Political Forum and consideration of the item by the Working Group of the Whole. We will begin our consideration of Agenda Item 5, Space Debris. I'd also like to inform delegates that the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities will hold its first meeting today. There will be 4 technical presentations this afternoon. I'd like to inform delegates that the schedule of technical presentations is available on the session webpage and in the Daily Journal. Are there any questions or comments on this proposed schedule?

I see none.

Distinguished delegates, I would like to continue our consideration of agenda item 3, general exchange of views. Before I move on to the list of speakers, I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to distinguished delegates to kindly focus on substantive issues to ensure we make the most of our time together. I now turn to the list of speakers. The first speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Paraguay.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Señora Presidenta.

Madam Chair, on behalf of the Republic of Paraguay, we'd like to express our gratitude for your leadership of the sessions of this subcommittee. We reiterate our commitment to fully support the goals of COPPOS. On this occasion, we would like to share with you some of the initiatives that we are carrying out to promote space development in the Republic of Paraguay, particularly highlighting international cooperation as a fundamental pillar of strengthening the global space community. The project Paraguay to Space in its first— has concluded its first stage successfully. The second stage is currently underway and involves the development of the next Paraguayan satellite. This will be called GuaraníSat-2, a CubeSat of 3 units which is designed to promote project-based learning. The project is a collaborative effort between the Paraguayan Space Agency, academia, and various national and international organisations. I'd like to highlight cooperation with countries such as Japan, Mexico, Italy, and the United States. The objectives of the mission include Proving a store-and-forward mission using LoRa, the study of the magnetic anomaly of the South Atlantic, redirection of the onboard signal using a COTS programmable logic device, a demonstration orbit of a system of deployable solar panels, and finally a baseball controller for failure-tolerant algorithms. The Paraguayan Space Agency, in cooperation with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, continues to implement a flagship program for our region, the first project of technical cooperation in the area of space led by JICA in Latin America, and the second at a global level. This project is called Applied Space Program Management for Socioeconomic Development, has a— is going to run for 2 years and has 3 key modules: strengthening human talent in science, space science and using space technology for the development of the agricultural sector and the adoption of more efficient measures to address natural disasters. This effort will not only set the, set the foundation for more ambitious initiatives, but it'll also significantly strengthen the capacities of Paraguay in the space sector in order to position us in the future as a regional benchmark in this strategic area. On another point, the Paraguayan Space Agency, AEP, continues to carry out activities with the aim of motivating secondary school students in studying and developing skills in science, engineering, technology, art, IT, meteorology, and mathematics. Young students, guided by their teachers and engineers from the AEP, are carrying out activities which go from planning and defining a satellite mission right up to designing terrestrial nodes for the reception of information sent by in-orbit satellites. The Paraguayan Space Agency, AEP, continues to build national capacity through its Laboratory for Earth Observation and Geographical Information Systems, GEO Lab, promoting the use of geospatial data as a key tool for taking strategic decisions in cooperation with government institutions, academia, and the private sector. In this framework, we are working together with national and international institutions to develop the New Generations GEO Lab program and the first extracurricular remote sensing education project for secondary students in Paraguay. We're also working with SENAVE in promoting projects to modernize the agricultural sector together with the National Emergency Secretariat in analyzing and monitoring fires for better risk management, and together with the Japanese ArcEdge business to develop a mobile application which will provide agricultural farmers with access to geospatial data optimizing productivity of the sector. We also continue to build capacity in all areas of the space sector through developing laboratories, the development of laboratories like that of the Space Lab Laboratory and the Earth Observation and Geographical Information Systems Geolab Laboratory. Moreover, in the international context, we're strengthening our presence through active participation in relevant organizations and fora such as the International Aeronautics Federation, the International Astronautics Academy, World Space Week Association, Space Generation Society Campbell, and the Observations Group, and so on. Finally, we would, we would like to thank our partners and associates, uh, for their cooperation provided. At the same time, we refer our commitment to the SDGs, working for the peaceful use of outer space and its contribution to the well-being of humanity. This commitment strengthens our mission to improve the quality of life of all the inhabitants of our only home, planet Earth. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished delegate of Paraguay for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Israel. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. It is an honor to address this distinguished member of the 62nd session of the Scientific and Technological Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space. I extend my gratitude to Director Maini and the Secretary for the excellent organization of this session. Israel deeply values this platform as a cornerstone for advancing scientific and technological cooperation while ensuring the peaceful use of outer space, and we remain satisfied committed to its objectives. As we convey, it has been 487 days since October 7th, when the terrorist organization of Hamas carried out horrific acts of murder, kidnapping, and sexual violence of innocent Israeli civilians. Last month, Israel began the ceasefire process with Hamas Leading to the release of some hostages. However, many remain in captivity. We take this opportunity to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages. Chair, Israel is committed to the peaceful use of outer space, aligning its national interests with this fundamental goal. In pursuit of this vision, Israel actively promotes space science, develop its local space ecosystem, advance space education, and engage in space diplomacy, all while fully respecting international law and maintaining a longstanding commitment to space safety and sustainability. In the realm of space science and international collaboration, the Israel Space Agency has partnered with CNES on the Cluster of Cloud Evaluation, Climate, and Lightning, we call CL project. This pioneering initiative will make a significant contribution to climate change research and environmental monitoring, while also advancing innovative satellite technologies that enhance autonomy and reduce operational costs. The project started last year, and it is scheduled to be launched into space in 2027. Additionally, the Israeli Space Agency is proud to launch the first International Space Olympics this year, in collaboration with the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This initiative brings together Israeli and Azerbaijani kids to tackle space-related scientific and technological challenges. It is not only strengthen the bond between our space agencies, but also promote STEM education and inspire the next generation of global space leaders. thus significantly assisting the environmental protection bodies in Israel. Significant progress has also been made on the UltraSat project, a cutting-edge scientific satellite equipped with a wide-field ultraviolet telescope. Set for launch in 2027, UltraSat is a collaboration between the Israeli Space Agency, NASA, and the German research center DESI. also with the Weizmann Institute of Science. Israel remains a proud signatory of the Artemis Accord, and we actively collaborate with NASA to integrate Israel's technologies and expertise into Artemis missions, ensuring safe and sustainable exploration of space. Notable contributions include the AstroRad next-generation radiation vest, developed with DLR and NASA, which was successfully tested during the Artemis I mission. Recognizing the importance of robust governance in space activities, Israel is finalizing its national space legislation. This framework will define the objectives and responsibilities of Israel's space agency, foster international cooperation, and establish regulatory standards that align with global norms fostering both national and commercial opportunities. Israel will continue to be an active player at the UN Office of Outer Space, participating in the meetings of COPUSS, as well as being represented in UN-Spider, I1, and Stampede. We are also proud to support Space for Women, planning to host its annual meeting in Israel in 2025. In conclusion, Chair, I wish to express Israel's gratitude to the members of this esteemed subcommittee for their unwavering dedication to advancing the peaceful exploration and use of outer space. Together, we can continue to leverage the potential of space to address humanity's greatest challenges. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Israel for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Nigeria. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Distinguished delegates, my delegation, I'm bringing you the best wishes from the people of Republic of Nigeria. My delegation also wishes to commend the sterling qualities of the Director for UNOSA in pursuit of key objectives that inspire the formative ideas of this evolving committee since 1958. Over the years, the Federal Republic of Nigeria has continued to pursue space programs, activities, and wonderful ideas in line with the international treaties of COPUSS. Madam Chair, it is on this note that I would like to present the general activities of Nigeria through the National Space Research and Development Agency. National Space Research and Development Agency celebrated 25th year anniversary. Madam Chair and distinguished delegate, my delegation would like to bring to your notice that Nigeria celebrated 25 years of establishment of the space agency, and it was one week-long event which commenced on the 25th of November 2024 and climaxed on November 29th, 2024. This provided the country a greater opportunity to interface with the other spacefaring nations, organizations, and promote the private sectors in Nigeria. In the same note, the presidential approval for space regulations and spectrum management, Madam Chair, and distinguished delegates, I am delighted to inform you that the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GSFR, has approved the space regulations and spectrum management in Nigeria. This will be conducted by the space agency. As a result of this, the Department of Space Regulation and Spectrum Management has been established in Nigeria. This is to bring up regulatory framework in the country in the area of space technology. In the same vein, the President has approved the mainstreaming of space technology in the area of revenue generation and blockage of revenues in Nigeria. We have also established the Space Enterprise Department. Madam Chair and distinguished delegates, I'm happy to inform you that the agency has established this department to deepen and expand the space economy in Nigeria and Africa continent. In the light of this, we have partnered with African— you know, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, To organize African Space Economic Conference. Madam Chair, distinguished ladies, I'm glad to inform you that the committee is planning the 2nd edition of African Space Economic Conference and Exhibition. This is scheduled to hold on the 17th to 19th of June 2025 at Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry. You are all Invited to participate at this regional conference. Madam Chair, I'm happy to inform you that the President has approved new set of satellites for Nigeria— NigeriaSat-3, NigeriaSat-4, NigeriaSat-5, as well as the synthetic aperture radar— to replace all our aging satellites. We have also partnered with European Commission through European Space Agency to bring on board program on climate-smart agriculture, which is leveraging on space technology. We have also embarked on baseline pixel-level blockchain geospatial information service for Nigeria. This is taking a good shape.

Thank you.

Of course, our capacity building and international cooperation is doing a great job. With the support from India on high-tech, support from China on GNSS application, VFDI, ground station support, and crop water, I'm glad to inform you that Nigeria is an active member of GEOGlobal. and GeoNigeria organized GeoEvent this year, which was successful. On our astronomy program, we are still on course with putting the first African in orbit through the collaboration with Space Exploration and Research Agency of United States of America. Our African Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education is doing a great job. We have graduated hundreds of students from African— English African countries in Nigeria. Madam Chair and distinguished delegates, I would like to convey the good wishes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria, to this noble committee. he extends his sincere regards to distinguished delegates as Nigeria anticipates future collaboration in pursuit of homeland compliance with the international treaties of Cocos. Thank you.

Thank the distinguished representative of Nigeria for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Norway. You have the

Thank you.

Madam Chair, Norway wishes to thank you for chairing this 62nd session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. So please rest assured of Norway's support. As always, we express our appreciation to the Office of Armament and Space Affairs for their excellent work in preparing this session. My delegation also wishes to express our condolences to the Polish delegation on the passing away of Ambassador Misztal. Norway is pleased to see that COPUS's membership is steadily increasing, and in that respect, we welcome our new members, Djibouti and Latvia. Norway condemns Russia's illegal full-scale war against Ukraine. Norway calls for Russia to cease hostilities and unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from within Ukraine's internationally recognised borders. Madam Chair, the Pact for the Future encourages the holding of a Unispace 4 conference in 2027. This is an opportunity for COPUS to set directions toward 2030 and beyond at a high level. Norway supports the proposal to hold such a conference in 2027. The Working Group on Long-Term Sustainability shall present its final report at next year's session of the STSC. To do so, the working group must strive to reach consensus on its work during this session. We urge all member states to contribute in a constructive way so that we can move forward. Allow me now, Madam Chair, to present an update on some of the latest developments in Norway's space activities. The majority of our space activities are being carried out through Norway's participation in the space programs of the European Space Agency EUMETSAT, and the European Union. We also have bilateral agreements with several other nations regarding space research and applications. In our own capacity, Norway currently has 15 satellites in orbit, 3 of which were launched in 2024 and 1 last month. On the 14th of January this year, Nordsat-4 was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base. This is a maritime monitoring microsatellite and carries a 5th-generation automatic identification system ship tracking receiver and a first-of-its-kind low-light imaging camera. The low-light optical camera increases our ability to detect and track vessels in Norway's Arctic territorial waters by supplementing the AIS receiver aboard the satellite. The 3 satellites launched in 2024 were the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission, ASBM, The ASBM is a partnership between Space Norway, the Norwegian Armed Forces, Inmarsat, and the US Space Force. It consists of 2 satellites and was launched August 11th, 2024. The mission will provide broadband coverage in the Arctic north of the 65th latitude. As a payload on the ASBM mission, there is a Norwegian-developed radiation monitor. It will map the radiation environment in the unique orbits that the satellites are traveling through, increasing the knowledge about the space weather radiation environment affecting space infrastructure and enabling better mitigation measures. Hypso-2 was launched on the 16th of August 2024 and is a hyperspectral satellite for ocean observation. Looking ahead, we see a new generation of Norwegian small satellites for maritime surveillance for both commercial and government use. In this regard, the Norwegian Space Agency, in cooperation with national users, have established the Arctic Surveillance Program, which will be developed in close concert with national industries. On the 22nd of August, Andøya Spaceport received its launch site operator license. With this license, Andøya Spaceport is now formally a launch site operator with the overall responsibility for developing, operating, and ensuring safe operations from the spaceport. The ESA Philab has been established in Tromsø. The Arctic Philab shall foster innovative research and development of satellite-based technologies, products, and/or services with an Arctic focus. From the beginning of 2024, Norwegian Space Agency has been given civil responsibility for space surveillance and tracking, as well as space traffic management. The arrangement ensures that national needs are met within space surveillance and tracking and space traffic management, as well as handling of warnings nationally, including in emergency response settings. The arrangement will be evaluated after a 3-year period. In May last year, Norwegian Space Agency hosted the International Space University's— ISU's Executive Space Course, which was coordinated— co-organized the ISU. We look forward to productive discussions in the days ahead. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway for this statement. We will continue our consideration of Agenda Item 3, General Exchange of Views, tomorrow morning. Distinguished delegates, I would now like to continue and hopefully suspend our consideration of Agenda Item Space for sustainable development, technology and its applications, including the United Nations Programme on Space Applications. The first speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of France. You have the floor.

Madame la Présidente.

Madame Chair, delegates. With its international partners, France contributes to enhancing remote Sensing technology. Such technology is crucial to understanding climate change and to helping communities adapt. I will refer to several programs which show this to be the case. There is the EU Copernicus program, which is essential for closely monitoring climate change and supporting mitigation and adaptation measures. The second generation of satellites under the Sentinel-3 Next Generation Topography mission will be part of the evolution of the Copernicus space component. Initial data from the French-American SWOT mission, in cooperation with the Canadian and British space agencies, is already revolutionizing the fields of hydrology and oceanography. The French-Chinese oceanography satellite CFOSAT has been contributing since 2018 to our understanding of winds and waves on the ocean surface, in particular where the operation of wind and tidal turbines is concerned. In 2026, the French-Indian Trishna mission will provide for a better understanding of thermal changes, especially in urban areas. The French-British MicroCarb mission will be aimed at identifying and mapping sources and sinks of carbon dioxide across the planet. The French-German mission entitled Merlin will be aimed at atmospheric methane monitoring. As regards international space cooperation, France has prioritized contributing to the sustainable development of space and climate action.

Projects focused on the real needs of frontline communities dealing with the impacts of climate change, and this using space, social, economic, and environmental data. In this regard, the French delegation calls for parties' support in mobilizing the international community so as to enable the implementation of SCO projects through 3 specific pillars, namely the enhanced use of Earth observation data, the execution of financial resources, and the development of new services. In addition, and so as to honor its international commitments, in particular SDG 14, France proposes the launch this year of an initiative involving the space and maritime communities. Namely the Space for Ocean Alliance at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, UNOC 3. This conference will be held in June 2025 in Nice. It is organized by France and Costa Rica. At the conference, members who so wish will be able to join the initiative by signing a declaration of interest. This UN Ocean Conference convenes every 3 years. It is a one-of-a-kind multilateral platform for having continuous dialogue between maritime and space communities. The Alliance will seek to identify the pressing needs of the maritime community, in particular those of island countries. It will also seek to identify missing observations and the operational space services required for implementation of SDG 14. areas.

Thank you.

Thank the distinguished representative of France for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Japan. You have the floor.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the Japanese delegation, I am pleased to present Japan's contributions to the sustainability of life on Earth through space technology and its applications. Madam Chair, since 2015, Japan has been collaborating with UN-OSA to about the Kibo Cube Program, a capacity-building initiative for emerging spacefaring nations. This program offers educational and research institutions in developing countries the opportunity to deploy CubeSats from the Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo, on the International Space Station. To date, CubeSats developed by teams from Kenya, Guatemala, Mauritius, Indonesia, and Moldova have been successfully deployed through the Kibo Cube Program. program. The success of the program has propelled JAXA and UNOOSA to extend the Kibo Cube program until 2030. We take this opportunity to congratulate the joint team from Tanzania and Côte d'Ivoire, the winner of the 8th round of the program. To maximize Kibo's outcomes, Japan is also promoting its use through an international education outreach program called the Kibo Robot Programming Challenge, Kibo RPC, run by JAXA and NASA. That caters to students in the Asia-Pacific region. Participants of Kibo RPC learn cutting-edge methodologies and hone their skills in STEM, teamwork, and creativity. In its 5th round last year, the Kibo RPC program saw the participation of 660 teams and about 2,800 participants from 35 countries, surpassing previous years and demonstrating that the time is right for innovation. Madam Chair, Japan also contributes to the United Nations Program on Space Applications. The Kyushu Institute of Technology, Kyutech, in cooperation with UNOOSA, offers students from emerging spacefaring nations the opportunity to participate in the Postgraduate Study on Nanosatellite Technology, PNST Fellowship Program. As part of the program, students take part in the development of a nanosatellite and utilize QTEC's testing facilities. QTEC provides hands-on training, equipping students to become competent space engineers capable of contributing to their national space programs upon returning home. Madam Chair, for about 40 years, Japan has been developing and operating Earth observation satellites and promoting the use of satellite data to address global challenges and help us achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The land-observing satellites developed by JAXA, known as ALOS satellite series, contribute to various fields, including the monitoring of crustal deformation, disaster conditions, global environmental changes, and oceans. In July 2024, ALOS-4 was successfully launched on the H-III launch vehicle. Compared with its predecessor known as ALOS-2, ALOS-4 achieves both high resolution and a broader observation swath, aiding in monitoring disaster-hit areas, forests, and sea ice. Japan also supports the calculation of indicators to measure progress in achieving the SDGs. For example, JAXA has provided the Global Mangrove Map in cooperation with many domestic and international partners, which was adopted by UNEP as official data, and is available on their website for public use. Japan annually hosts the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum, APRSAP, with partners in the Asia-Pacific region. APRSAP serves as regional networking and collaborative forum for all sorts of space stakeholders. In November 2024, Japan and Australia successfully co-hosted the 30th annual meeting of APRSAP in Perth, with 560 participants from 36 countries. This year's APRSAP is taking place in the Philippines from the 18th to the 21st of November. Madam Chair, Japan is committed to continuously contributing to the sustainable space development applications. We are determined to further our efforts to benefit all of humanity through our space activities. Thank you for your attention.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, let me first of all assure you of Austria's full support. I would also like to thank UNOSCO Director Holle-Mahini and her team for preparing this session. Austria is fully aligned with the statement of the European Union, and I would also like to take this opportunity to express on behalf of my delegation Our deepest condolences at the passing of Ambassador Andrzej Misar from Poland, who so successfully led the Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities. Madam Chair, space technologies play a critical role in addressing climate change and related challenges like forest fires, floods, and biodiversity loss. Every year, innovative projects are developed. However, many face the challenge of implementing technical concepts in sustainable and effective services, which is often due to gaps in understanding and implementation. Hence, the UN Austria Symposium 2024 focused on climate action, transforming space-based technology projects into sustainable services that support policymaking. From 17th to 18th July 2024, various stakeholders shared their experiences and lessons learned, explored solutions, and discussed how to transform space-based innovation into sustainable services. A total of more than 1,400 persons registered. These came from 135 countries. Countries, 70% of which developing countries. Key topics included government support, financing capacity building, and impact measurement, with successful case studies highlighting best practices. This year's country case was Indonesia, and we would like to thank our colleagues from Indonesia and the National Research and Innovation Agency. BRIN, for sharing their knowledge, insights, and learnings with us. This event marked the 30th edition of this symposium. It is Austria's contribution to the UNOSA's World Space Applications Programme. Since the first symposium, more than 5,100 participants have taken part in the events. Over the years, we have covered a wide range of topics together, ranging from from space for sustainability to space accessibility to and youth participation. Since 2020, the symposium has addressed a range of topics focused on space for climate action in support of SDG 13. Austria remains committed to promoting space solutions for the SDGs. That is why we, together with the European Space Agency, are organizing the 2025 Living Planet Symposium in Vienna. The symposium attracts several thousand participants from all over the world, and it will take place from June 23rd to 27th, 2025. Since this coincides with our COPOS meeting, we cordially invite you to participate in this unique event. The program will be available on the ESA website at the beginning of April. Topics covered include Earth sciences, climate change and sustainability challenges, current and future Earth observation missions, digital innovation and green solutions, partnerships with industry for new applications, global cooperation, and political support. We hope to see many of you there. To advance the discussion on sustainability on Earth, and in space, the Centre of Excellence for Space and Sustainability at the European Institute for Space Policy will be established with the support of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology this year. CESS aims to develop interdisciplinary expertise, know-how on the role of space in supporting sustainable development on Earth and in space to contribute to UNOSA's efforts on space solutions for sustainable development. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Austria for this statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

Dear delegates, good afternoon. As this is the first time we are speaking out of this gender item, we would like to express our full support to you as you steer the work of the STSE. We also hope to see a successful completion of the session with the adoption of a report, and this would be done in a balanced and constructive manner. I'd also like to greet the director of UNUSA. We thank her for her work and that of her highly professional team. We are grateful for the outstanding organization of this session. We'd like to convey our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of Ambassador Mishta. We remember him as being greatly professional and an adept specialist in this area. Chair, the Russian Federation continues to attribute great importance to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including by leveraging— including by leveraging space technology. We continue to emphasize to the international community the accelerating and highly dangerous trend towards the use of large constellations of small commercial satellites and corresponding ground-based infrastructure, where such satellites are registered as civilian satellites, and yet they are used to support the military activity of foreign armed forces and to interfere in the domestic affairs of sovereign states. There are cases in which new methods are tested in this way, that is, methods for provoking domestic upheaval and changes of government, which do not conform with the so-called rules-based world order. Serious risks are being created for the safety and security of space operations and the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. This may have ramifications for many socioeconomic processes that depend directly on outer space technology. Moreover, this jeopardizes the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, which were approved by the UN General Assembly. In order to highlight the relevance of this problem, the Russian Federation has drafted an update to the draft resolution of the UN General Assembly entitled Space Science and Technology for Promoting Peace. In the revised draft, certain provisions have been enhanced, namely those on the inadmissibility of using space systems and technology to fuel armed conflicts and to destabilize the internal political situations in countries deemed undesirable. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of the exclusively peaceful exploitation of outer space. For the following purposes: for the implementation of the SDGs, for ensuring non-discriminatory access to orbit for all states, and for ensuring unconditional compliance with the principles of international outer space law, an integral part of which is the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. We would like to yet again underscore that the Russian document is focused on a specific problem. It does not clash with the annual omnibus resolution entitled International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, this being the resolution which approves the outcomes of work of COPUOS and its subcommittees. The draft resolution continues to be inherently unifying in nature. It lays out many concerns. Primarily those expressed by developing countries related to peaceful space cooperation. We hope that this document and the ideas it contains will garner support. We stand ready to engage in contacts on the sidelines of this session of the STSC with all interested states so as to build consensus around the draft and to ensure its adoption at the summer session of COPUAS.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Italy. You have the floor.

Thank you.

Honorable Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, Italy recognizes the critical role of space in enabling sustainable development through the innovative use of space technology, data, and its applications. From Earth observation and climate monitoring to telecommunications and disaster management, space-based technologies significantly contribute to addressing global challenges. Italy is committed to enhancing the uptake of space technology and data, harnessing their potential to drive socioeconomic growth. Furthermore, we strongly believe in sharing our expertise with emerging countries to facilitate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Italy has been actively supporting developing and emerging countries in building a robust space ecosystem for years, raising awareness about the sustainability of space activities and promoting their participation in COPOS and the signing of international space treaties. Currently, Italy is developing the Mattei Plan for Africa, which recognizes space as a crucial component of this renewed collaboration. As part of this initiative, Italy is committed to launching ambitious space partnerships with countries in the region to support Africa's socioeconomic growth by leveraging space technology and resources. Further details and information on the MATEI Plan for Africa will be provided later today in a dedicated technical presentation. Training and education are key to developing and growing in the space sector and beyond. Besides the planned activities for in the plan, earlier this year Italy supported training courses for space professionals developed by the Egyptian Space Agency, reaffirming our commitment to capacity building in emerging space nations and importance of partnerships. This collaboration highlights the mutual benefits of international cooperation and the shared goal of advancing space exploration and technology. Recognizing that capacity building is key to fostering international cooperation in the space domain, the Italian Space Agency is also planning to develop training courses and learning-on-the-job projects in collaboration with Latin American countries. These initiatives will further strengthen global partnerships, and we look forward to sharing more information later this year. Sustainable development is a priority for all nations in this room. We have the opportunity, through space technology and diplomacy, to fulfill our collective goals and make space a accessible to everyone. Italy strongly invites delegations here to reach out, learn, learn more about their initiatives, and explore opportunities for collaboration. As we navigate the challenges of the century, integrating space-based solutions into our lives becomes increasingly essential. The Italian delegation would like then to highlight the importance of the United Nations Program on Space Applications and its impact for emerging space sharing nations. Distinguished delegates, we need to become more and more catalysts for cooperation, ensuring that the benefits of space technology are more accessible, fostering a more equitable and sustainable future. Italy will continue to launch new initiatives focused on ensuring long-term socioeconomic impacts, engaging with emerging space nations in this domain. These efforts support broader access to space, particularly for developing nations, reinforcing our commitment to an inclusive and globally connected space community. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy for the statement. Next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Belarus. You have the floor.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, I would like to greet the distinguished delegates of the 62nd session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee.

of COP+20.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, space activities in Belarus are carried out only for peaceful purposes and are unswervingly focused on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals defined by the UN. Belarusian scientists and specialists have started operating a space system on an experimental basis for radiometric monitoring of near-Earth space. The system is intended to monitor the state of the ionosphere and to predict magnetic storms, and to benefit— this to benefit the energy system in Belarus. In order to build a 3D model of the ionosphere, the system uses signals from GPS spacecraft received by 99 stations for accurate correction, these to be found on the territory of Belarus. Using dual-frequency GPS signals, total electron content of the ionosphere is calculated, TEC. Based on the calculated TEC data, a 3D reconstruction of the Yes. The reconstruction of the state of the ionosphere over the territory of Belarus is drawn up together with our neighboring states. The reconstruction is carried out on a real-time scale every 15 minutes in an area of 800 kilometers in length, 700 kilometers in breadth, and 1,000 kilometers in height. Using the data received, maps can be built of the vertical TEC, and the index of the level of disturbance of the ionosphere can be calculated. In order to refine these 3D models of the ionosphere, the Belarusian scientists created a spacecraft in the CubeSat 6U format, which is intended for remote sensing of the lower layers of the ionosphere and refinement of the 3D model compiled on the basis of GPS satellite data. Signals and data from spacecraft will be picked up by a system for receiving radiotomographic data from low-orbital monitoring of the ionosphere developed by by Belarusian specialists. The satellite platform includes a system for electrical power with batteries, solar panels, sensors for orientation and stabilization systems, execution units for orientation stabilization systems, a navigation system, a backup onboard computing unit with assist for the orientation stabilization system, backup transceiver command and telemetric radio link, and a backup antenna system.

Thank you.

The payload on the spacecraft includes a transmitter for special coherent remote sensing signals in the frequencies 137 MHz and 400.15 MHz. According to the phase difference, the full TEC can be determined due to the different frequencies of the low satellite— of the— and the low orbit of the satellite in comparison with GPS. The use of a small spacecraft will allow for a more accurate determination of TEC and in the lower layers of the ionosphere, and thereby correct the results of monitoring the ionosphere received through using high-orbit navigation system. The control of the spacecraft will be carried out from the territory of Belarus in the frequency range 401 to 402 MHz, and this is planned for 2025 with the support of Roscosmos. Madam Chair, thank you for giving me the opportunity to inform the distinguished delegates about the achievements of the Republic of Belarus. Distinguished colleagues, thank you very much for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belarus for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Climate change represents one of the most significant challenges facing humanity, with its impacts becoming increasingly severe. Addressing this crisis is an urgent priority for ensuring a sustainable future for our planet. In this context, satellite technology plays a crucial role by providing the data needed to better understand climate change and develop effective response measures. Notably, satellites enable the observation of the majority of the 55 global essential climate variables, making them indispensable for climate monitoring. Beyond tracking changes, satellite-based data supports comprehensive policymaking, which demonstrates the practical value of space technology in advancing climate action. Recognizing this, the Korea Aerospace Administration, KASA, released a 3rd Satellite Information Utilization Plan in 2024, which focuses on enhancing the use of satellite data to address climate challenges. The Republic of Korea is leveraging satellite technology to monitor extreme weather events, such as typhoons and heavy rainfall, while also developing capabilities to track global greenhouse gases, ground temperatures, and sea surface temperatures. Key initiatives include monitoring high-concentration air pollutants and conducting long-term analysis of coastal marine ecosystems to better understand the impacts of climate change. Geostationary satellites such as GK-1 and GK-2A and 2B form the backbone of Korea's climate monitoring monitoring efforts. These satellites are used to observe meteorological phenomena, air pollutants, and climate change-causing substances. To expand these capabilities, we are currently developing the next-generation GK-5 satellite, which will focus on meteorological and space weather observations. The Republic of Korea also places a strong emphasis on international cooperation. Through projects like the NOAA Open Data Dissemination initiative, we provide meteorological data to the Asia-Pacific region and support developing countries including Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Recently, GK2A data reception and analysis systems were installed in Cambodia to enhance their local disaster response and environmental monitoring capabilities. Furthermore, the GK2B satellite plays a pivotal role in global climate collaboration. It monitors substances such as aerosols and ozone, along with air pollutants like fine dust and nitrogen dioxide. Alongside the US TEMPO and Europe's upcoming Sentinel-4, GK2B contributes to a global air quality observation network, facilitating joint research and sharing observation data. Also, through the Pandora Asian Network, we provide technical assistance and support to countries in the region, further strengthening collaborative efforts. To deepen its contribution, CASI initiated discussions in 2024 with UNSCAP to assist climate-vulnerable countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This partnership focuses on leveraging satellite data to enhance disaster response capabilities and promote sustainable development, aligning with global climate goals. Lastly, as a member of the Group on Earth Observations, GEO, the Republic of Korea remains committed to playing an active role in implementing the GEO Post-2025 Strategic Plan, which will be announced in May this year. This reflects our long-term vision of contributing to global efforts in climate monitoring and response through advanced satellite technology.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Brazil. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the Government of Brazil, I'm pleased to report to you the last year activities of the Brazilian Center for Physics Research, CBPF, concerning the Open Universe Initiative. Since the inclusion of the Open Universe Initiative among the cooperation activities in a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil and UNUSA in September 2020, we took steady steps to conclude its implementation with our international partners We organized several preparatory events such as the Open Universe Preparatory Workshop in September 2021 and the Firmamento Citizen Science Workshop in April 2023, both hosted by the New York University Abu Dhabi. At these meetings, we gave a first demonstration on how to use open data technology applied to astronomy and space sciences to contribute to the Space 2030 agenda in accordance with the plan outlined for the Open Universe Initiative and as established in paragraph 25 of the Space 2030 Agenda Resolution. Last year, with the support of the MCTI, we concentrated on the development of a resources web portal for the Open Universe Initiative, which is available at the following address: www.openuniverse.cbpf.br. A proposal was also launched for organizing an Open Universe first capacity building pilot event between 31st March and 4th April of this year, which will be held in hybrid format at CBPF in Rio de Janeiro. The capacity building event will be open to all interested participants, including students and citizen scientists. The goal of the event is to showcase the potential contributions of the initiative to capacity building for the 21st century and to the topic of space sustainable development. Registration to the Open Universe pilot event is already open and can be done via the Open Universe portal at www.openuniverse.cbpf.br/events. In addition to a 2-day workshop session, the event will have a 1-day dedicated training session for school teachers on open data science tools for astronomy and a 2-day scientific Hackathon, or Sciathon. The Sciathon will welcome up to 20 in-person participants and will be based on data and software tools developed in the context of the Open Universe Initiative and applied to the publicly available dataset of NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift XRT Observatory, which is celebrating 20 years of activity as one of the most successful X-ray astronomy space observatories of all times. The next Open Universe capacity-building event is already being prepared around the subject of another successful open data astronomical space mission, the NASA Fermi-LAT Gamma-ray Observatory. The programme of the capacity building activities is to develop data science technology to exploit the open data of professional first-class astronomical and space-based science facilities and instruments, to realise the ultimate goal of involving the citizen scientists and the general public in the scientific endeavor and discovery, thus contributing to the promotion of a knowledge and science-based society for the 21st century. For the next half decade towards the target horizon of the Space 2030 Agenda, the Open Universe Initiative, along with our international partners and with the support and collaboration of CBPF, the MCTI, and UNUSA, will continue to pursue its goal of promoting capacity building for a science-based society of the future. The Brazilian delegation will also send comments on other initiatives on sustainable development to be made available online on the session website. Thank you for your kind attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of India. You have the floor.

Madam Chair and distinguished delegates, Indian delegation would like to inform this august gathering of its significant accomplishments in the use of space technology to support sustainable development. India has always advocated the path of sustainable development to sort balance between environment and development. Towards this, space technology plays a vital role in planning and monitoring of developmental activities to meet the societal needs, at the same time minimizing their adverse impact on the ecology and environment. Madam Chair, Indian space program is unique in the sense it is user-driven, wherein missions are defined based on the societal requirements through the institutional mechanism involved in the triad of government, academia, and industry. The space applications are driven through progressive enhancements using constructive feedback mechanisms. Madam Chair, India has various national-level programs for mapping and monitoring of natural resources like wetlands, biodiversity, coral reef, forest cover, snow cover area, glaciers, and water bodies using space inputs. During 2024, the 18th cycle of the annual national-level mapping of land use land cover has been carried out at 1:250,000 scale, and the land use land cover changes and its impact on the environment are quantified. The outcome of these activities are provided as input to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC. Madam Chair, India gives high priority to research and innovations in the space applications for agriculture sector to ensure global food security. India actively utilizes space inputs for agriculture monitoring and crop production forecasting for 10 major crops. Work is underway to extend it for more crops. The space inputs are also used for village-level crop yield estimation and for optimizing the crop cutting experiments required for crop yield assessment. Madam Chair, India has showcased the potential of space inputs in implementation and monitoring of world's largest rural employment guarantee program under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Space technology has been used for mapping and monitoring more than 6 crores assets activities generated under this Changes brought in due to the implementation and monitoring of natural resource management activities, and with the help of high-resolution satellite data, have been quantified. High-resolution thematic database for land use, land cover, drainage, settlement, rail, and road is generated using space inputs as part of Space-Based Information Support for Decentralized Planning . Activities. The database and asset planning tool are made accessible across country through Bhuvan Panchayat portal to support the decentralized planning activities. Madam Chair, capacity building of human resource to exploit the potential of Earth observation data in sustainable development is well known and well acknowledged by India. Through the UN-affiliated Center for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific, CSSTEP. Over past 29 years, 70 postgraduate courses and 87 specialized courses are conducted, benefiting more than 4,000 participants from more than 65 countries. Madam Chair, India has developed necessary expertise to take the benefits of space technology to the grassroots levels and has demonstrated the same through various application projects for sustainable development in various sectors. Thank you, Madam Chair, and distinguished delegates, for your kind attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of India for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Costa Rica. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In line with our long tradition for protection and conservation of the environment, And in our capacity as co-chairs of the 3rd United Nations Oceans Conference, together with our friends from France, we would like to take advantage of this agenda item to reiterate the importance that Costa Rica attaches to Sustainable Development Goal 6 on the sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The protection of water resources is something which starts locally and extends to become universal. Requiring urgent attention and political commitment at all levels. This commitment should come hand in hand with using all technology available in order to ensure the correct protection, regulation, and management of water. In this regard, space applications have a fundamental vocation. They are one of the strategic tools to effectively achieve this goal. In 2024, in the run-up to the Oceans Conference, We organized a high-level event on Ocean Action: Submerged in Change in San Jose in Costa Rica. Subsequently, here in Vienna and also together with France, we organized an event with the same name to continue to provide momentum to the conference, where the majority of specialized agencies and international organizations shared their experiences on contributions to protecting the ocean. This included UNOSA. Costa Rica aspires to increase the use of science, space science and applications for the management and scientific investigation that we can do related to water so that we can effectively combat persistent and unsustainable patterns in the use of territory and with natural resources such as poor waste management, which causes watercourse contamination, the pressure of urban growth, intensive productive practices, or those which use a lot of water as well as other agendas which contradict conservation efforts. The generation of satellite data and other tools generated through space navigation support the taking of decisions based on scientific rigor. This is a management model that we should always support. Costa Rica stands ready to continue to support the discussion around this issue. standing on a permanent manner through multilateral forums where it plans to ensure that the protection of hydro— that water resources get the best possible political visibility. Costa Rica welcomes the efforts of the Secretariat in achieving the midterm review of the Space 2030 Agenda and will continue to carry out the corresponding coordinations in order to make a national contribution. At the same time, we applaud the establishment of a UN-Spider office in Latin America. We've mainstreamed in our national foreign policy the concerns around water, and we have done for some time now. For example, our country celebrated the announcement of the International Decade for Water 2018-2028 in its plan of action. In 2023, during the United Nations Conference on Water in New York, Costa Rica underscored the importance of investing in substantive improvements for the government's governance of water management and the participation of all stakeholders. The parallels between space and the ocean are broad. In this regard, we'd reiterated our recognition of this resource as being a global public good indispensable for intergenerational peace and justice. Both need to be regulated through robust international governance. We welcome the report that we analyzed under this agenda item as a result of the joint work between the government of Costa Rica UNOSA, and the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Water Prize, with whom we held a conference in San José, Costa Rica in 2024 with the support of the Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation to promote the use of space technology and in water management for the benefit of developing countries. The conference was part of the Space for Water initiative and was the 6th international event focused on space technology applications for water. Madam Chair, finally, please allow me to reaffirm that Costa Rica believes internationally in addressing water in a cross-cutting manner in various conferences and forums of the international— of the United Nations, including in this prestigious COPWAS body, as well as another competent international forum to make progress on implementing our Blue Agenda as a strategic guide for the Costa Rica and water diplomacy. Thank you.

Statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Indonesia. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Because this is the first time my delegation delivers a statement, we would like to express our gratitude to you as the chair of this session. We also would like to extend our appreciation to the director of UNOSA and her team for preparing The Indonesian delegation associates itself with the statement of the Group of 77 and China in the agenda of the general statement. In our national capacity, we would like to add the following remarks to item Agenda 4. Madam Chair, the government of the Republic of Indonesia is attached to the importance of space applications for sustainable development. Indonesia actively uses remote sensing to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, particularly for no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, life below water, and life on land. Furthermore, Remote sensing applications are utilized for agriculture, watershed health, slum area mapping, coastal and marine monitoring, and disaster mitigation. Regarding international cooperation, Indonesia participated in the Asian Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation, ASEAN COSTI, and related meetings in Singapore held in October 2024. Indonesia also initiated regional cooperation collaboration on utilizing space-based technology for integrated ocean monitoring. With the support of UNSCAP, Indonesia conducted country training or GEMS and Pandora data application for air quality monitoring for— from 13th to 14th November 2024 in Bandung, Indonesia. My delegation would like to extend our appreciation to OSAA and countries and international agencies for any assistance that enables Indonesia to participate in activities of the UNPSA in 2024, among others: UN-Austria Symposium 2024 on Climate Action, held in July 2024 in Graz, Austria; IAF Emerging Space Leader CanSat Competition 2024, held by NASA and Space Studies Program, 2024, and also UN-Germany workshop on the International Space Weather Initiative in June 2024 in Germany. We welcome the report on the midterm review of the Space 2030 Agenda, and Indonesia hopes that international cooperation can be further enhanced. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia looks forward to developing more international cooperation on the participation of space technology in sustainable development. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia for the statement. We will suspend our consideration of Agenda Item 4, Space for Sustainable Development, Technology and Its Applications, including the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, pending the consideration of the draft contribution to the High-Level Political Forum and consideration of the item by the Working Group of the Home. Regarding draft contributions to the High-Level Political Forum, I understand that a non-paper with draft contributions has been just made available on the session website. As I recognize that delegation may need some time to review the non-paper, I'd like to suggest that we take up the consideration of non-paper at a later date. Distinguished delegates, I would like now to begin our consideration of Agenda Item 5, Space Debris. The first speaker on my list is a distinguished representative of the United States of America. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair and distinguished delegates. The United States would like to once again emphasize the importance of mitigating risks from orbital debris for the safe operations of current and future space activities. The year 2024 set another record for human space activities with 257 launches worldwide and the deployment of close to 2,500 satellites. As we continue to expand the exploration of space, the global space community needs to follow the UN COPUSS space debris mitigation guidelines, the mitigation guidelines developed by the Interagency Space Debris Coordination Committee, and other commonly adopted best practices to limit the generation of new orbital debris and better preserve the near-Earth space environment. The United States provides the U.S. Space Catalog, which contains both active satellites and trackable debris, as well as collision warning information, which has been made public to all space users at no cost for more than a decade. The Department of Commerce seeks to enhance United States space object cataloging and data sharing efforts as it prepares to assume the Civil Space Traffic Coordination functions from the Department of Defense in the future. These efforts to provide both continuous service along with data sharing improvements underscore the U.S. commitment to assisting affected mission operators to avoid collisions with cataloged objects and also avoid the creation of more debris through inadvertent collisions. Chair, NASA has led measurement modeling, protection, and mitigation initiatives on orbital debris across the spectrum of large and small debris for more than 40 years. We continue measurement efforts to monitor the ever-changing orbital debris environment and to improve object tracking and conjunction assessment capabilities. The collected data is used for developing and updating modeling tools for mission support, and these tools are used for risk assessments and protection against orbital debris by hundreds of operators, governments, industry, academia, and research groups across the world. Orbital debris is a key component of sustainability, which is a priority for us. NASA issued its first Space Sustainability Strategy focusing on the near-Earth space environment last year. This strategy establishes NASA's plans to address challenges associated with space activities, orbital debris, and other issues connected to space sustainability. These examples show the strength of our contributions to better understand and manage risks from orbital debris. The United States is committed to continuing our leadership and efforts to collaborate with the international community to mitigate risks from orbital debris for space sustainability, from the near-Earth space environment to cislunar space. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States of America for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative

Chair, distinguished delegates, thank you for the opportunity to share key steps New Zealand has made towards addressing the important challenge of space debris. In 2024, New Zealand was the 3rd in the world for the number of annual orbital launches, and we take our responsibilities as a launching state very seriously. We are committed to ensuring that space activity taking place in and from New Zealand is conducted safely, responsibly, and sustainably. New Zealand's regulatory regime is particularly important for ensuring our space activities are carried out sustainably. Authorisations of space activities from New Zealand are contingent on the provision of an orbital debris mitigation plan that meets international standards, among other requirements. Requiring an orbital debris mitigation plan is intended to limit the proliferation of space debris by space objects launched from New Zealand. This reduces the risk of collisions in space and the potential for debris to cause damage in orbit and upon atmospheric atmospheric re-entry. New Zealand has work underway to amend our space regulations, including our orbital debris mitigation requirements. This will ensure that we continue to support international best practice in this area. New Zealand also recognises the importance of space situational awareness for space sustainability. We undertake tracking of all space objects that launch from New Zealand to monitor compliance with orbital debris mitigation requirements. New Zealand has also been working to enable space debris remediation efforts such as active debris removal and satellite servicing operations that can extend the useful lifetime of satellites on orbit. We have established a regulatory pathway for active debris removal and other satellite servicing missions to launch from New Zealand. This ensures that these activities can proceed safely and securely and in a manner that is consistent with the UN space treaties. In 2024, an active debris removal technology demonstration launched from New Zealand, and we are pleased to see Astroscale here with us at UN COP26. Last year, New Zealand and the United Kingdom entered into a non-binding arrangement describing how the 2 countries would work together on joint active debris removal and on-orbit servicing missions. This includes by establishing principles that help to address legal, policy, and regulatory challenges. We hope that this work will help other countries as they look to enable novel space space activities that will benefit the safety and sustainability of Earth orbit. New Zealand has also funded research into active debris removal, focusing on developing advanced concepts for multi-active debris removal missions. The research has looked at engineering cost and policy requirements for removing multiple space debris objects with a single servicing satellite on a single mission. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative from New Zealand for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia. You have the floor.

Your Excellency, Madam Chair, Thank you. Of this session, esteemed delegations, ladies and gentlemen, peace be upon you. It has been several years of dedication towards a sustainable and safe space environment through technical, regulatory, and financial efforts seeking solutions for the increasingly growing challenges of space utilization. We are at a finite and delicate moment in the evolution of the space industry As space becomes increasingly accessible and its commercial, scientific, and technological potential grows, the opportunities for innovation and global advancements are vast. But this rapid expansion carries with it critical challenges to the long-term sustainability of the space ecosystem. The future of human space missions is now not only affected by the already challenging environment of space, but also by those made by us humans. Space orbits are rapidly becoming more congested, positioning basic human life needs at risk as critical terrestrial infrastructure depends on space applications. Space debris growth in the orbits are not only susceptible for collisions and reentries, but also on human space missions with aspirations towards return to the to the moon and beyond. Realizing these various challenges on all levels, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Space Agency, is accelerating the efforts of tapping into all fields of space situational awareness chains, from technical to human capabilities, as part of its sense of responsibility resembled— represented in its vision and mission for the benefit of all. Moreover, it is worth noting that the Saudi Space Agency has considered space situational awareness as one of its key focuses and areas of active work. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Space Agency, took an important step as a pivotal project for space situational awareness in 2021 with the commissioning of its Space Objects Tracking Center. The center has been in operation since then, working with many stakeholders internally and externally with the clear objective of raising the technical operational readiness to track, monitor, and report potential collisions and space weather predictions. With futuristic vision towards sustainable space, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Space Agency, is in the process of launching the Space Situational Awareness Hub headquarters in Riyadh, focusing on the research and development to invest in human capital and publish scientific research as a critical contribution to the space and scientific community. We we invite all delegations to participate in the second edition of the Space Debris Conference in 2026, which we hope will constitute a milestone in international cooperation efforts that bring. Together solutions, experiences, and ideas from, from all over the world into one place to maximize the benefits from initiatives and efforts aimed at space sustainability and addressing the challenges of space debris. On the morning of Wednesday, we will hold a side event about Saudi experience in space. It's called Space Up Economy. We call— we invite everybody to participate with us. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for all the delegations for their attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of China. You have the floor.

Distinguished delegates, Chair, China has always placed great importance on the issue of space debris. We have consistently supported research on specialized space debris programs, promoted the engineering application of space debris response technologies, strengthened state debris mitigation management, encouraged space debris standardization, and actively engaged international cooperation exchanges and information sharing. I will now provide an overview of China's efforts regarding space debris in 2024. First, we have conducted scientific research and capacity-building initiatives focused on space debris. We've added several specialized special— specialized space debris telescopes to continuously monitor debris-intensive regions in low Earth orbit, as well as debris in medium and high orbits. This has allowed us to gather information on space debris movement and characteristics. We've also developed new methods for processing observation data of dark and faint space debris, improving detection rates and detection processing accuracy. These methods were effectively applied to several satellite fragmentation events worldwide in 2024. We have developed and released spacecraft survivability access software, which we've used to evaluate the on-orbit survivability of multiple spacecraft. Additionally, we've continued research various space debris removal methods, conducting ground experiments to verify low-cost active and passive removal technologies and performing onboard flight tests. Secondly, China is advancing the improvement of its space debris regulatory and standardization system. We are actively promoting the implementation of the UN Registration Convention and China's measures for the administration of registration of space objects. We have completed restoration of Chinese space objects launched into orbit in 2023 and are facilitating the domestic and international registration of Chinese aircraft to be launched in 2024. To strictly standardize regulatory review of space debris throughout the entire lifecycle of spacecraft, and in accordance with the UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and the current international developments, we have actively revised relevant space debris mitigation policies and regulations. These revisions include stricter requirements and more detailed quantitative review of space debris mitigation programs and measures for spacecraft and launch vehicles. In line with the implementation and enforcement of these policies and regulations, 4 national standards on space debris will be formally implemented in 2024. Additionally, we are actively formulating several other relevant national standards and engaging with the ISO to further promote alignment between Chinese and international standards. Thirdly, China is actively participating in international cooperation on space debris. The Chinese government has been actively involved in the work of IADC including contributions to space debris mitigation guidelines, large constellation announcements, and the long-term evolution modeling studies. China is also addressing the issue of space debris in Earth-Moon space, who have initiated an internal joint research task within the Working Group on Environment Database. China has Initiated has also engaged in research cooperation under the framework of Apsco. In cooperation with member states, we have conducted training and exchanges on space, outer space sustainability, and telescope observation systems. We I've conducted in-depth analysis of the disintegration of the Long March 6A carrier rocket upstage, and we have implemented effective technical improvements for the rocket model, and no further anomalies have occurred on subsequent launch missions. Chair, China places great importance on the role of the subcommittee of the COPUOS in addressing space debris issues. We are ready to expand international exchanges and cooperation on space debris. and work closely with our international counterparts. By contributing Chinese wisdom and strength, we aim to ensure the long-term sustainable development of human space activities. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of China for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of France. You have the floor.

Madame la présidente, mesdames et messieurs.

Madam Chair, delegates, we are all aware of the risk of seeing the very possibility of normally conducting activities in outer space compromised when it comes to launches, low orbit or geostationary satellite operations, human presence in orbit around the Earth. All of these activities are so critical to the social economic development of states and will no longer be able to be conducted without the support of space systems. It is for this reason that the issue of space debris is critical to France. Our priority remains space debris mitigation. This is because there continues to be large question marks over space debris remediation, both from an economic and technical perspective, which at this stage stands in the way of dealing with this critical issue. Our engagement on this matter is manifest in our active participation in all forums which have a hand in the drafting of standards on— or guidelines on space debris mitigation. At the international level, CNES is one of the first agencies to have joined the Interagency Space Debris Coordination Committee, the IADC, in 1996 and contributes actively to its work. The IADC report on the status of the space debris environment takes stock every 2 years of the space debris population and how it has changed. We welcome the conference room paper by the IADC on this matter, that is A/AC.105/C1/2025/CRP.10. This report emphasizes an increase in debris. This should urge us to collectively apply mitigation measures. In particular, the IADC and UN Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines. CNES also conducts long-term modeling activities concerning the orbital population, as well as activities to protect satellites from small space debris under 1 centimeter. CNES also conducts research to reduce satellite vulnerability. As regards international standardization, CNES contributes actively to the drafting of updates for the ISO norm 24113 dedicated to space debris mitigation. In 2024, France updated its national technical legislation to adapt to the emergence of new systems and to update its regulatory framework. The goal here being to limit the generation of space debris. This legislative act proposes stepping up requirements related to space debris mitigation to complement measures that are already set out, such as the non-generation of debris during the nominal operations of an object, limiting the risk of accidental disintegration, or setting a requirement for passivation or freeing up orbits which are protected upon mission completion. This legislative translation introduces the concept of restricted, restricted access to certain orbits heavily populated by space debris for non-maneuvering objects, a reduction in the residual time in orbit after decommissioning, as well as enhancing the likelihood of the success of passivation and deorbiting operations so to limit the risk of debris being created during and after object mission. This legislative act is accompanied by an innovative technological program entitled Tech for Space Care. It is conducted by CNES. Its aim is to provide manufacturers and space operators with technological solutions to enable them to comply with obligations under this act, but also to ensure compliance with the guidelines and recommendations at international level on space debris mitigation. Thank you.

The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Canada. You have the floor.

Chair, distinguished delegates, Canada recognized the pivotal role of international collaboration in addressing the challenges to safety and sustainability of the outer space environment. As a reliance on space-based applications grows, Canada reaffirms its commitment to work collaboratively with other states to advance space science, technology, and other solutions to address the complex issue of space debris. Space situational awareness remains central to Canada's approach to space sustainability. Canada continues to operate its own space telescope in low Earth orbit, the Near-Earth Object Surveillance Satellite, or NEOSSAT. Launched in 2013 and operating at 800-kilometer altitude, NEOSSAT continues its dual mission of space astronomy and space situational awareness. NEOsat has expanded its capability to track objects in low Earth orbit, including objects involving close approach with NEOsat, cislunar orbits, and beyond, such as the James Webb Space Telescope. NEOsat's unique capabilities allows Canada to contribute high-quality observation data for many applications, including orbital prediction, object characterization, and collision avoidance. Canada also leveraged data from its SAFIRE satellite to enhance international tracking and monitoring of space objects. SAFIRE contributes to risk mitigation efforts by providing essential data to— for collision avoidance and tracking space debris. Canada is actively investing in advanced space debris removal technologies. For instance, in September 2022, The government provided funding for the on-orbit demonstration of microthruster technology and further reaffirms Canada's leadership in innovating debris mitigation efforts. Chair, sustainable space operations also require robust analytical capabilities to assess the data and decision-making processes to ensure that timely and appropriate action is taken in response to close approach. Canada's Conjunction Risk Assessment and Mitigation System, CRAMS, has been operational since 2011 to provide actionable insights to private and public satellite operators based on conjunction data message produced by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network. Recent updates allow improved data quality and maneuver assessment designed to stay ahead of emerging concerns, including increased launch cadence and more, more modern on-orbit propulsion technology. Through CRAMS, Canada supports international efforts to share critical data with satellite operators worldwide to enhance safety and sustainability. Humanity is returning to the Moon, and for the first time, pursuing a sustained human presence. This time, it will not just be one country, but several countries have ambition to land humans on the lunar surface. As a Sustainable lunar presence requires strong international collaboration. This underlines the role of COPRUS as a platform for international collaboration and space governance development. Within the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Working Group, Canada submitted a conference room paper in 2023 that proposed extending relevant elements of the '21 Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines to deep space activities. Although not originally designed for deep space exploration activities, several LCS guidelines are relevant to the safety and sustainability of exploration activities related to the Moon and other celestial bodies. However, specifically including those related to the Moon is an area not— that is not clarified in the current guidelines. This includes working through considerations such as measures to avoid unfurl interference. The unique dynamics of this region mean that debris can remain for extended periods, posing a risk to lunar missions as well as Earth orbital environment. Chair, Canada welcomes the increased global attention to the issue of space debris, and we stand ready to collaborate to ensure sustainable presence— sustainable space environment for the benefit of all. Addressing this challenge holistically is essential to ensure the safe and sustainable exploration of space for future generations. Thank you.

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

You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Distinguished delegates, space technology has become integral to modern life, supporting everything from weather forecasting to satellite communications, disaster response, and monitoring climate change. A return to a pre-space age is unimaginable, and practically speaking, it is likely impossible. However, while space-derived technologies have driven significant global progress, they have also brought a growing issue: space debris. This challenge poses a range of risks, from disrupting everyday conveniences to causing potentially catastrophic and irreversible damage. Addressing both current and future space debris is therefore essential. Addressing the space debris issues requires both mitigation and remediation, and a possible framework must be established to facilitate these efforts. There have been positive moves in ensuring that satellites to be launched in the future will not contribute to space debris. For example, in some countries, operators will be obliged to— by domestic regulations to ensure that their satellites do not become debris. As for the mitigation of debris, business incentives and technological development have already already begun to function. Needless to say, we need to further enhance our efforts in this regard. As for the remediation on debris, the challenges are greater and more complex. The necessary technologies are more difficult to develop. In addition, it is also necessary to sort out and resolve complicated legal issues, questions such as how to create business incentives, who should bear the cost, and how these costs should be distributed remain difficult to resolve. Furthermore, there are sensitive national security issues involved. In this regard, the most important considerations are how to ensure transparency and build trust. Japan has consistently highlighted the urgency of this issue and has called for accelerated discussion on space debris within the COPUS framework. In 2024, Japan submitted a non-paper with proposal to advance these discussions. Chair, Japan has been exploring ways to remove large space debris for space environmental remediation. Under the collaboration between JAXA and Astroscale, a Japanese private company, the commercial removal of debris demonstration, which is called the CRD-2 project, is ongoing. The first phase of this project began last year to demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations. Until now, this project has successfully acquired the images of the target space debris, as well as successfully approaching the target to within 15 meters. Japan remains firmly committed to the urgent need for the international norms on space debris, actively working with member states to establish a shared framework. Japan has already taken concrete action by establishing domestic frameworks that align with this vision. These efforts go beyond national implementation. They serve as a stepping stone towards shaping and reinforcing international norms. These efforts not only strengthen our national governance but also contribute to shaping a global framework capable of addressing the challenges ahead. In closing, I invite all member states to accelerate our discussion on space debris and strengthen our collective commitment and work to address this critical issue for the benefit of future generations. I thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan for this statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished Representative of the Russian Federation, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, the Russian Federation shares the concern of the international community with regard to the risk inherent in the process of the space debris formation. We traditionally give significance to the COPPA Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines adopted by the UN General Assembly. Nevertheless, the swift pace of scientific and technological process means that we need to have serious work to update these principles. We believe that it is important to draw the intention of the STSC to the work of the body on reducing space debris production. We believe that this needs— we need to review the guiding principles on preventing space mitigation which have been adopted by the Committee and the General Assembly, taking into account that many delegations are indicating the key role of space debris when it comes to the problem of long-term sustainability of outer space activities, we would propose that these guidelines, the space debris mitigation guidelines, should be included in the compendium on long-term sustainability of outer space activities. In so doing, we believe that there is a need to create a universal harmonized conceptual framework, and what is crucial in our view is the issue of developing a legal definition of the significant term space debris. In this connection, the Russian Federation, together with China, is developing a dictionary of terms and determin— and definitions in the area of space debris. We are certain that this glossary will allow us to standardize our understandings and approaches in the area of space activities, and in turn, this will increase the effectiveness of the interaction of countries in the area of space security, both on a scientific and a technical level. And it will also reduce risks connected with the formation of space debris. The Russian Federation continues to be in favor of adopting generally recognized international standards aimed at managing the life cycle of spacecraft, including minimizing their impact on the— on orbit. Such an approach of course, will allow us to reduce debris in the near-Earth orbit and will also increase the security of existing and future missions. The threat of spacecraft colliding with circulating debris in orbit is becoming ever more a reality. So in the period of 2022 to 2023, we registered a significant increase by more than 100% in comparison with 2021, in the number of recorded dangerous near misses of spacecraft with the International Space Center, which is caused by the significant launch of small spacecraft and the destruction in low Earth orbit of other spacecraft. Moreover, when there is uncontrolled deorbiting, large objects are a threat. These are so-called risk space, um, objects which can achieve the— which can reach the surface of the Earth and can lead to destruction where they fall. Over the 11th— 11 months of 2024, some 162 such objects stopped working, which is more than twice as much in comparison with a similar period in 2023. So taking this into account, particular attention in our view need to be— needs to be paid to developing global norms regulating space traffic, first and foremost as a means of preventing dangerous situations in outer space. With the increase in satellite mega groups in low and geostationary orbits, the risk increase when it comes to to collisions and unintended production of new fragments of space debris. Developing a normative basis and the subsequent creation of a system to regulate the movement of objects in space, including standardized notifications about maneuvers or close passes, will be a key element in ensuring the security and long-term sustainability of outer space activities. The system for information analytical support for the safety of activities in near-Earth space, the Milky Way system created by the Russian Federation, is something that we believe to be an indispensable element of the information support for the global space traffic management. We are certain this will allow us to minimize the risks connected with unforeseen situations and improve coordination between satellite operators, and will increase transparency in the management of orbital infrastructure. The Russian Federation stands ready to actively work in this area, capitalizing on existing developments in the frameworks of international cooperation, including UN. Platforms. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Italy. You have the floor.

Honorable Chair, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the Italian delegation, I'm honored to report the national activities under this agenda. agenda item. Italy has a longstanding tradition in studying and monitoring space debris that pose a critical threat for current and future space activities. Through the Italian Space Agency, Italy participates to the European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking Framework, leading the development of 2 of the 3 services, such as the reentry and the fragmentation services. Italy also participates to the European Space Agency Space Safety Program that address, among other topics, also the space debris problem. At national level, in the last 2 years, different projects have been funded to support both scientific research and the development of new observational sensors. Regarding the scientific research, in 2023, the Italian Space Agency signed 2 collaboration agreements. The first agreement focused on the space debris and long-term sustainability and was signed with the National Institute for Astrophysics, while the second agreement focused on space surveillance and tracking and that was signed with the Politecnico di Milano. These agreements also involve several other national research centers, including La Sapienza University of Rome, University of Padua, the National Research Council, the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and the University of Naples Federico II. The research activities aim to enhance the national capabilities in space debris observation and modeling. To improve the characterization of space debris, different optical telescopes equipped with photometric filters in both Johnson-Kirzin and Sloan bands are used. The development of algorithms for orbit determination, collision avoidance risk, fragmentation analysis, and long-term orbital evolution is also addressed. These agreements also support the Italian Space Agency participation to the Interagency Space Debris Coordination Committee, fostering international collaboration in this field. Both agreements prioritize the involvement of PhD students and young researchers by offering numerous Fellowship and raising awareness about the importance of space debris for future generations. Regarding the development of new observational sensors, the Italian Space Agency is realizing a space debris laser station that will integrate an adaptive optical system and will be able to track objects from LEO to GEO orbits. Moreover, we have started the development of a network of 4 optical telescopes called FlyEye, with a field of view of more than 40 square degrees. These telescopes will be placed worldwide thanks to international cooperation with other countries. The telescope network will be remotely controlled by a control center that will be hosted in the Italian Space Agency facility of Matera, southern Italy. The control center will also collect the observational data and perform data processing to support the space surveillance and tracking services. The Space Debris Laser Ranging Station, the telescope network, and the control center are funded by the European Union Recovery Fund Next Generation EU and are expected to be completed by 2026. Madam Chair, Italy continues to reinforce international partnership, recognizing that only through a global collaboration, the challenges of space sustainability can be effectively addressed for the benefits of present and future generations. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy for the statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Currently, there are approximately 30,000 artificial objects orbiting the Earth, with about 35% being operational satellites. The rapid growth of space activities such as space internet and exploration has led to an increasing number of space objects. This rise has amplified concerns about space environment, space debris management, and space traffic management. The risks of satellite collisions and uncontrolled deorbiting are growing, making the enhanced space situational awareness critical. Against this backdrop, the Republic of Korea has been actively be working to address these challenges. Since establishing the first basic plan for preparation against space hazards in 2014, we have developed a foundation of space monitoring infrastructure and response system over the past decade. Building on these efforts, Korea launched the second basic plan for preparation against space hazards, 2024 to 2033, to guide our space risk management strategy for the next 10 years. This new plan focuses on 3 key areas. First, advancing space monitoring technology and achieving global-level space surveillance capabilities through international cooperation. Second, establishing a proactive space risk response system by expanding the scope of space monitoring. And third, promoting the space industry through data-sharing policies and creating industrial ecosystem for space surveillance. As part of this plan, the Republic of Korea is developing Kepler, Korea Enhanced Platform for Leveling Space Risk, which collects and analyzes data on space objects to assess collision and deorbiting risks. Kepler also serves as a platform for international cooperation in space situational awareness and risk analysis, supporting global efforts to mitigate space hazards. To enhance space safety, we are actively engaging in international discussions on space traffic management, and working to establish a national response system. Additionally, we aim to foster a private market for space debris mitigation technologies and services, contributing to the industrialization of space risk management. The Republic of Korea also participates in the Interagency Space Debris Coordination Committee to advance research on space debris and promote the preservation of the orbital environment. For the long-term sustainability of space activity, We are committed to sharing data and exchanging information with international space situational awareness service providers and operators, contributing to safer and more sustainable space operations. Through a proactive and systemic approach, the Republic of Korea is dedicated to addressing space debris and risk mitigations through policy development, technological innovation, international cooperation, and finally, industrial growth.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished delegate of the Republic of Korea for the statement. We will continue and hopefully conclude our consideration of Agenda Item 5, Space Debris, tomorrow morning. Before moving on, I would like to give the floor to the Secretariat for an administrative announcement.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I would like to make an administrative announcement that the conference room, Bayward 20, CRP 20, submitted by the United Arab Emirates containing its proposal for the establishment of an expert group on space situational awareness, has now been uploaded on the website for this session.

So CRP 20 containing a proposal by the United Arab Emirates for the establishment of an expert group on space situational awareness is now available on the website for this session.

And following that, informal consultations on that proposal will be held tomorrow on the 5th of February from 1:00 to 1:30 PM, 1:00 to 1:30 PM tomorrow in Room MOE 26 on the ground floor.

So the consultations tomorrow from 1:00 to 1:30 PM in Room MOE 26.

Thank you.

E26 on the ground floor, and also on Thursday, 6th February, from 9 to 10 AM in the morning in Room M5. Also on Thursday, 6th February, there will be consultations on this proposal by the United Arab Emirates from 9 to 10 AM in Room M5.

And there's one more, the request from the interpretation service. As I understand that it's difficult for interpreting some speakers who are speaking really fast, we would very much appreciate it if the delegates could be so kind as to slow down a little bit. I mean, not to go very fast when you speak. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Distinguished delegates, we will now suspend the plenary meeting so that the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities can hold its first meeting. Following the adjournment of the working group meeting, we will then resume the plenary with a view to proceeding with technical presentations. Distinguished delegates, I would now turn to proceed with technical presentations. At this meeting, we will have 4 technical presentations. Presenters are kindly reminded that technical presentations should be limited to 10 minutes in length. The first presentation on my list is on progress on laser optical technologies and retroreflectors for space traffic management. By the representative of Germany. You have the floor.

Are you going to start the slides? Ah, okay, thanks. Good afternoon, Madam Chair and distinguished delegates. Thank you all for joining this meeting. My name is Niels Bartels and I'm a group leader at the Institute of Technical Physics at the German Aerospace Center, DLR, in Stuttgart, Germany. Today it's my pleasure to share with you our recent progress on laser optical technologies and retroreflectors. Additionally, I will explain how these technologies can contribute to ground-based orbit determination of space objects, space traffic management, and ultimately the enhancement of sustainability in space. Next slide, please. The fundamental challenge that we are facing at the moment is that space is getting continuously more crowded. Specifically in low Earth orbit, the latest space environmental report of ESA estimates a total population of 11,266 operational satellites with an additional 12,000 tracked The increased space traffic also results in a rising number of threatening encounters, and latest data for these conjunctions can, for example, be viewed at the public website celestrack.org. DLR is also monitoring the space environment, and a live animation of resident space objects is available on the website bacardi.dlr.de. Next slide, please.

Next slide, please.

Efficient coordination of space traffic requires precise knowledge of the orbits of space objects. At our institute, we develop laser and passive optical sensors for the detection and orbit determination of space objects. In this presentation, I will focus on transportable sensors with low swap, size, weight, and power values. Despite their compact design, these sensors provide high positional accuracy. Passive optical detection, as shown in the left image, uses the sun as a natural energy source and is especially effective for initial orbit determination and routine catalog maintenance of space objects. Laser ranging, as shown in the right image, serves as a complementary technology for precise orbit Determination, especially in conjunction warning scenarios. With its high precision, laser ranging has significant potential to reduce the number of necessary collision avoidance maneuvers by enabling highly reliable assessments of collision probabilities. Next slide, please. As mentioned, we developed small transportable sensors for detecting space objects. The first sensor I would like to introduce is called Aparello. 2 prototypes are shown in the left image. Aparello is a passive optical steering system housed in a weatherproof enclosure. Its sensor head, shown in the middle image, is equipped with a commercial lens and an astronomical camera. The system captures images of the sky during twilight, detecting space objects in low Earth orbit As streaks in these images, see the right image. To determine the precise position of a space object, it is essential to know the start and end positions of the streaks relative to reference stars. Additionally, accurate timing of the start and end of the image acquisition is required. To improve timing accuracy, we have recently developed a laboratory calibration method that precisely measures when individual pixels on the camera chip are activated and deactivated during image acquisition. This method significantly improves sensor accuracy, particularly for objects in low Earth orbit with high angular velocities relative to the sensor. This calibration method enables position measurements of space objects with an angular error smaller than the camera's pixel resolution. Next slide, please. The second sensor that I'd like to introduce is the MiniSLR. The MiniSLR is a 600-kilogram transportable satellite laser ranging system with a small footprint. It is currently operated on the roof of our institute in Stuttgart, Germany. Miniaturing the SLR system typically the size of an entire building, was made possible by a novel design featuring separate transmission and reception paths for the laser light, along with a dome-free structure. The system uses a compact laser source where the low laser pulse energy of 85 μJ is compensated by a high laser pulse repetition rate of 50 kHz. In a recent measurement campaign, that was independently evaluated by a research group from Japan, we were able to demonstrate that the Mini SLR can compete with larger SLR stations in terms of accuracy and precision. The achieved measurements are accurate to within a few millimeters, meeting the requirements for any— for many applications in space geodesy and exceeding those needed for space traffic management. In recent years, SLR stations, including the Mini SLR, have become commercially available as turnkey systems. This commercialization is a significant development, as it reduces the effort required to operate SLR stations and makes using SLR for space traffic management technologically feasible. Next slide, please. Finally, I would like to discuss how the widespread use of retroreflectors could contribute to space traffic management. Retroreflectors are optical elements that reflect incoming light back to its source, significantly enhancing signal strength during laser ranging. Retroreflectors designed for satellites in low Earth orbit are so compact that they can be easily integrated into all satellites, including CubeSats. The top right image shows quarter-unit CubeSats measuring just 10 by 10 by 2.5 centimeters with retroreflectors mounted on all 6 faces. We are currently developing an optical technology that uses specialized retroreflectors identifiable from Earth-based stations by leveraging leveraging the polarization properties of light. Prototypes of these retroreflector arrays are shown in the bottom right image. In the future, this technology could be useful for identifying small satellites after cluster launches and mitigating issues caused by unclaimed satellites, a problem commonly referred to as CubeSat confusion. We are also developing a website to list satellites equipped with retroreflectors. The website is intended for scientific use, such as demonstrating precise orbit determination of satellites during collision warnings. This initiative is being developed in cooperation between DLR and the Institute of Air Law, Space Law, and Cyber Law in Cologne, Germany.

Next slide.

In conclusion, we are convinced that both passive optical and laser optical technologies have great potential for use in space traffic management in densely populated orbits. In this context, we described several technological innovations. A laboratory calibration method that enhances the accuracy of passive optical detection of space objects. Successful— As we described the successful design of compact and transportable SLR stations, and we introduce polarimetric satellite laser ranging as a future option for space object identification. Lastly, we highlight the opportunity to place retroreflectors on satellites to facilitate laser ranging and laser-based orbit determination, enabling more efficient planning and avoidance of conjunction maneuvers. This would support the implementation of the United Nations Long-Term Sustainability Guideline B2, which focuses on enhancing orbital accuracy, particularly for small spacecraft. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Germany for the presentation. The second presentation on my list is on Global Ocean and Climate Satellite Observation Network in China and role in the United The presentation of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science by the representative of China. You have the floor.

Distinguished Chair, Secretary, and delegates, good afternoon. I'm from National Satellite Ocean Application Service, Ministry of Natural Resources, China. It is my honor to share with you the global ocean satellite observation network in China. and its role in UN Decade of Ocean Science at this 62nd Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. Next, please. My presentation is divided into 3 parts. Part 1, China's Ocean Satellite Network Observation. Part 2, Implementation Plan in UN Decade of Ocean Science. Part 3, International networks. Let me first introduce China's Ocean Satellite Network Observation. The national— next slide, please. The National Satellite Ocean Application Service, NSOAS, is in charge of the operational work of China's ocean satellites. NSOAS was founded on September September 2000 and located in Beijing. It is a scientific research and operational service department under the Ministry of Natural Resources, MNR, People's Republic of China. NSOS has the following primary responsibilities: to make plans for China's ocean satellite and constructed satellite ground station and ocean application system; to collect, process, calibrate, and validate China's ocean satellite data, to archive and distribute satellite data for public use, to undertake marine remote sensing international academic exchange and cooperation. Next slide. In the past 2 decades, China has been making efforts to develop scientific experimental ocean satellites into operational ocean satellites. and construct observation network which aim to provide global coverage of geophysical parameters over the ocean surface. This observation network was basically built after the successful operation of the HY-1 CD, HY-2 BCD, CFOSAT, and HY-3 CESAR satellite.

Next slide.

The first ocean satellite was launched in China in 2002. After that year, 14 ocean satellites have been launched in China, and we categorize these satellites into 3 series. The first series is HY-1, which are ocean color environment satellites designed to observe global sea optical characteristics, including—

Color.

Calorific concentration, sea surface temperature, and sediment concentration, etc. The second series is HY-2, which are ocean dynamic satellites designed to observe the global marine dynamic environmental parameters, including sea surface wind field, sea surface height, significant wave heights, and sea surface temperature, etc. The third series is HY-3, and we also call it GF-3, which are ocean surveillance and monitor satellites. This satellite is a synthetic aperture radar, in abbreviation it is SAR, designed to obtain high-resolution ocean microwave remote sensing information, monitor oil spill, sea ice, sea surface wind field, and wave, etc.

Next slide.

At present, 11 satellites constitute Global Ocean Satellite Observation Network in China. There are 3 ocean color environment satellites, HY-1CDE, 5 ocean dynamic satellites, HY-2BCD, CFOSAT, and a newly launched Ocean Salinity Satellite, and 3 ocean surveillance and monitoring satellites, GF-3, CESAR-1-2, and we have also made plans for the development of new generation ocean satellites and geostationary orbit ocean satellites. Next slide. The second part of my presentation is the implementation plan of China's ocean satellites Network in UN Decade of Ocean Science. Next slide. The objective of this implementation plan is promote observation data of China's ocean satellites to international society, to calibrate and validate China's ocean satellite data with in situ observation and numerical model results in global ocean, and expand potential application of China's ocean satellite data in numerical Earth model and climate change. Next slide, please. In the first 3 years, NSOS provides China's ocean satellite data site, including HY-1CD, HY-2CD, CFOSAT, and the multi-satellite merged product. These pictures are the HY-1 Ocean Optical characteristics products include— includes a long-track chlorophyll concentration, sea surface temperature, and a long-track sediment concentration. Next slide. These pictures are the HY-2 Ocean Dynamic Environment product, includes a long-track sea surface wind, sea surface height, significant wave height, and sea surface temperature. Next slide. This picture of the CFOSAT ocean wind and wind wave product includes a long-track sea surface wave directional spectrum and sea surface wind. Next slide. This picture of the multi-satellite ocean merged product includes gridded sea surface wind, sea surface height, significant wave height and sea surface temperature with global coverage and different resolution. Next slide, please. For the whole 10 years of UN Decade of Ocean Science, NSOS will further provide and develop the new product based on new launched ocean satellites, new climate data record and the intercalibrated and merged data side. These products include a long-track ocean optical characteristics product with higher temporal spatial resolution, ocean dynamic environment product with high temporal spatial resolution, a long-track sea surface salinity, climate data record of the ocean surface wind, CDRS, and the gridded multi-satellite ocean merged product with higher temporal and spatial resolution. Next slide. The last part is a brief introduction to international network. In the cooperation— next slide, please. In the cooperation framework of CLIFOSAT, we could get information about wind and wave products of CFOSAT and highlight it in the framework of UN Decade of Ocean Science. And this project can be linked to some existing initiatives about climate change. For example, the Dragon program joint carried by ESA and most of China. Next slide.

Thank you.

We also have some potential future new partners include Argentina, Venezuela, etc. The Ministry of Natural Resources, MINR, China has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on interdepartmental cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology Innovation, Argentina in September 2023. NSOS also signed a cooperation with Venezuela Space Agency and the Scientific Research Center in September 2023. We also have cooperation with countries in Southeast Asia and Africa in ocean remote sensing applications. Next slide. Through extensive cooperation, we hope public awareness of the importance of space technology and ocean remote sensing for sustainable development can be substantially increased. Okay, that's all. Thank you all for listening.

I thank the distinguished representative of China for the presentation. The 3rd presentation on my list is on multiplan for Africa activities by the representative of Italy.

You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Yes, if— yes, thank you very much. So good afternoon, everyone. I'm happy today to introduce you to the Mattei Plan for Africa, an ambitious initiative aimed at fostering sustainable development and strengthening partnerships between Italy and African nations. Next slide, please. To provide you with a little bit of background information, Africa is currently undergoing a profound transformation, positioning itself as a key player in global economic and technological advancements. By 2050, the continent will account for over 25% of the global population, with an average age of less than 25 years. This demographic shift represents an incredible opportunity for innovation, workforce development, and economic expansion. Currently, also, Africa is the 2nd fastest-growing continent after Asia. In 2024, 11 of the 20 fastest-growing economies are African, with GDP growth projections ranging between 3.8% and 4.2%. At the Earth, South Africa's vision for the future is Agenda 2063, a long-term strategic framework that reflects the continent's and aspirations for shared prosperity, well-being, unity, and integration. The aim is to create a self-reliant Africa where citizens are empowered, economies are resilient, and opportunities are abundant. To achieve this vision, there is a strong focus on sustainable development supported by investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, health, and education. Additionally, Africa is unlocking economic opportunities in agriculture, energy, water resource management, blue economy, and digital infrastructure, all of which are essentials for long-term growth and stability. Next slide, please. Space technology is playing a transformational role in Africa's development, offering solutions to some of the most pressing challenges. The rapid advancement in satellite technology and space-based applications is helping to accelerate progress across, uh, different sectors. Um, here you can, uh, read and see some, uh, let's say, example of how space technology is making an impact. So for instance, research and innovation, the development of next-generation technology platform products and services crucial for long-term scientific progress. Bridging the digital divide is also a key element with low internet penetration in many areas. Satellite communication can ensure connectivity in these regions. Navigation and positioning satellites are supporting in air traffic management, flood mitigation, maritime surveillance, disaster response. Earth observation data with space-based data— sorry, space-based imagery and data collection are enhancing agriculture, climate monitoring, disaster management, promoting sustainability and resilience, but also governance and compliance, global partnerships, and capacity building. In particular, investing in education and training programs will help develop the next generation of space scientists, engineers, and leaders. The future of Africa's space sector is full of potential, with strong partnerships paving the way for future growth. Next slide, please. Next slide, please. Yeah. Thank you. ASEAN has been actively strengthening its collaborations across the African continent, engaging in meaningful partnerships to promote knowledge exchange, technological development, and capacity building. In particular, we have established bilateral agreements with Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa, and we ensure in this way structured cooperation in specific space activities. Additionally, um, ASIA has built strong relationships with 21 other African nations, fostering joint initiatives that can support space research, innovation, and educational programs. These collaborations demonstrate Italy's commitment to Africa's space growth, um, and reinforce the role of international cooperation to, uh, achieve sustainable development and sustainable progress. Next slide, please. This is a bit the core of this presentation. So the Mattei Plan for Africa— Mattei Plan for Africa is a strategic policy document that aims at promoting sustainable development in African states through long-term mutually beneficial partnerships rather than traditional aid-based approaches. The primary objectives include strengthening cooperation between Italy and African countries to promote sustainable economic and technological growth and establishing partnerships that involve both public and private sector stakeholders. There are priority areas that have been identified. Among this, you have aerospace partnerships and also infrastructure, both digital and physical infrastructures. There are already some pilot projects that have been launched in 9 African countries, and the Italian Prime Minister recently announced, uh, that prime— that the, um, expanded initiative, uh, to Angola, Ghana, Mauritania, Tanzania, and Senegal, underscoring the Italian government's commitment to the plan and its alignment with Africa's development goals. Next slide, please. Um, in particular, the Italian Space Agency has been actively supporting the Matei Plan through a series of initiatives. In particular, we organized last July, the Africa Space— Italy-Africa Space Leaders Meeting in Rome. I'll give you some more information later on. Um, and also a second meeting in Milan on the occasion of the International Astronautical Congress. Um, we also supported the participation of 14 fellows, uh, between— among young students and prof— and sorry, young professionals and students from 11 African countries, as well as 12, uh, and 14 institutional delegates with the opportunity to participate in the International Astronautical Congress in Milan. Um, and also we actively participated in the Kenya Space Expo Conference, Egypt International Show, and more recently, I mean, at the end of this week, uh, the Italian Space Agency president will be attending the African Middle East Space Conference. Next slide, please. Um, I just mentioned the, um, Italy, um, Africa Space Leaders Meeting in Rome. I would like to provide you some information very, very briefly, and then we can— I'm available for further information. Um, in particular, um, the, the Italy-Africa Summit involved, uh, 29 representatives from 17 countries, including the African Union. Um, and, um, we produced a white paper on space cooperation between ASI and the African space leaders, strengthening the commitment and involvement between Italy and African countries. In particular, during the event, we focused on areas of cooperation. In these areas of cooperation, it emerged, of course, the focus on education programs, training, capacity building, and infrastructure development. Next slide, please. Here, this is the list of the fellows that participated at the IAC. So, you see, we tried to cover a vast majority of— or at least having the vast representation to the Congress in Milan. Next slide, please. Of course, at the core also of the Maté Plan for Africa, there is the Broyo Space Center based in Malindi, Kenya. Um, that is a key facility for Italy's space activity in Africa. It's operated by the Italian Space Agency in collaboration with local and international partners and plays a pivotal role in space exploration and research. Um, and also historically, the, the site is positioned near the equator, which makes it, makes it an ideal site for launching satellites. The Broyo Space Center is also advanced with advanced tracking and communication technology and provides support for satellite missions, space science, Earth observation projects. And its role in enhancing Africa's space capabilities aligns with Italy's broader goals of fostering international cooperation and development through the Mattei Plan, in particular in areas as education, infrastructure, and technology transfer. Um, and through the work, let's say, at the, uh, Broyo Space Center, Italy has contributed to the growing sector in Africa, boosting regional capacity, and establishing long-term partnerships for space exploration and technological development, and in particular also for education. Next slide, please. Um, of course, the, um, the 22 African countries are members of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, um, and COPOS represents, um, an important, um, facilitator also for, and support also for emerging spacefaring nations to help them in like policy development or to strengthen like partnerships among African countries, um, but also with the— when it comes to educational outreach, with promotion of educational programs for future space scientists. Next slide, please. Um, but before actually concluding, I would like to to, um, remind you that back in 2019, when it comes in particular to education, the Broyo Space Center hosted the first course in space law, um, space science, law, and policy that has been organized by the Italian Space Agency with the Kenya Space Agency, supported by UNOSA, um, to enhance knowledge and foster cooperation in space exploration. And the course provided a comprehensive understanding of the scientific, legal, and policy frameworks governing um, space activities with a focus on Africa's growing role in space. Um, for us, the Maté Plan for Africa represents a new model of partnerships, um, that aims at prioritizing collaboration, innovation, long-term development. And, um, we would like to build together, of course, in co-creation with the African space countries, the next— pave the way, let's say, for the next future, bright future that Africa space sector has ahead of them. Thank you for your attention, and I'm available for further, um, for further information. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy for the presentation. The 4th presentation on my list is on ensuring operational capabilities of the Russian segment of the ICAO International Space Weather Service by a representative of the Russian Federation. You have the floor.

So as to ensure the operational capability at the Russian segment of the IKO International Space Weather Service, I'd like to present the following presentation. In 2019, the International Space Weather Service was established at the initiative of IKO. Space weather monitoring is a mandatory element of meteorological services. This service is included in the regulations for meteorological service for international air navigation pursuant to Amendment 78 to Annex 3 on the meteorological service for international air navigation. It is described in the Manual on Space Weather Information in Support of International Air Navigation in ICAO Doc 10100. Phenomena monitored by the service include the state of the Earth's ionosphere, disturbances of the geomagnetic field, among others. What can go wrong? There can be high-frequency communication degradation. This communication frequency is used in polar areas above the ocean. where other options are not available. What else can go wrong? Satellite radio navigation degradation. That is particularly critical when planes are landing in low visibility. What else can go wrong? Increased radiation rate for crew and passengers. The Russian Hydrometeorological Service has created the Global Space Weather Center, which together with Chinese colleagues as part of the Chinese Russian Consortium, the CRC, and 3 other ICAO-designated global centers, which are the US Center, the European Consortium PECASUS, and the Australian-Canadian-French-Japanese Consortium. So together with these centers, operational monitoring is carried out and advisories are disseminated. The Russian segment uses technology to reduce the information burden on staff on duty to increase the time interval to respond to a potentially dangerous space weather event. We have a resilient system which collects all kinds of documents and data drawing on multiple sources. These sources can be replaced with analogous sources where necessary. There are several automatic analysers which track the incoming data and create advisories. The issuance of advisories is verified by a geophysicist who also evaluates incoming data and takes decisions. Therefore, there are 2 tiers of quality control. Each of the segments, made up of the Chinese and Russian segments, is capable of fully ensuring the operation of the Global Center. If problems arise in one segment, then the other segment will take over control. In line with ICAO protocols, when the operational duty officer is off duty, a center acts as a hot backup of the duty center and provides the other center with observation data. Thus, the work of our center in terms of disturbance monitoring is carried out continuously. Our centre utilises multiple instruments and models to assess the magnitude of the events ongoing and provides forecasts. For example, we estimate the probability of the occurrence of strong magnetic storms with a lead time from 10 hours to several days. The most likely sources of such disturbances are halo-type CMEs, coronal mass ejections, with a coronal mass ejection velocity of more than 1,000 kilometers per second, accompanied by X-ray bursts and injection of proton fluxes. We calculate the radiation status on air routes during strong solar flares at various altitudes from 5 to 18 kilometers in increments of about 1,000 meters. Let me give you an example of one disturbance recorded in 2024 on May 11th.

Um, On—

in 2024, an extreme space weather disturbance was recorded. At the time, there were 6 X-class flares, including proton flares, which could cause difficulties in terms of, um, for radio communication and navigation. However, their effect was magnified by the largest magnetic storm in the last 21 years. Here we can see a ray X-ray flux chart Showing multiple threshold-breaking events during the period. There are several space vehicles and sensors which are used, including GOMES and GOES. From the right, we can see the dose rate distribution map for air routes over this period. According to our model, the advisory level conditions were met for a short period of time on 11 May from 0200 until 0200 UTC at flight level 400, which is at an altitude of 12 kilometers, which is the typical altitude for civilian airlines. If you look at the light areas on the map on the right, that is where the microsievert level was below 30, and the dark areas are where the level was above 30. A wide A wide range of requirements must be met by the Global Quality Center covering territories and different spatial and temporal details. Most importantly, it relates to the speed with which messages are issued. For example, let me cite one recent advisory about a powerful X-ray flare that occurred during our last shift in December. On December 8th, a Class X2 flare was recorded and its coordinates, origin, and characteristics were quickly processed. Within 5 minutes, at 9:13, a corresponding warning message was issued. This advisory was delivered to the AFTN terminal at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where it was processed and displayed on the website. It was also sent to other destinations. As you can see up on the screen, there is some text highlighted in yellow. This shows that the source of the advisory was our center. Now turning to international cooperation, in addition to the regulations set out in Document 10/100, there are several cooperation and coordination channels.

Yes.

Which are of relevance to our work. These include the IKO Meteorology Panel, the Space Weather Center Coordination Group, and the WMO Expert Team on Space Weather. In 2024, the IKO Space Weather Centers issued 1,060 warnings. 347 of them were for high-frequency communications and disturbances, and 713 were for global navigation satellite degradation. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you, Representative of the Russian Federation, for the presentation. Distinguished delegates, I will shortly adjourn this meeting. Before doing so, I would like to inform delegates of our schedule of work for tomorrow morning. We will meet promptly at 10 AM. We will continue our consideration of Agenda Item 3, General Exchange of Views. We will continue and hopefully conclude our consideration of Agenda Item 5, Space Debris. Time permitting, we will begin our consideration of Agenda Item 6, Space System-Based Disaster Management Support. 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. We will have 5 technical presentations tomorrow morning. Delegates are reminded that the full schedule of technical presentations is available on the session's webpage. I would like to inform delegates that the informal consultations on the Action Team on Luder Activities consultation will be held in Conference Room M3 tomorrow morning from 9 to 10 AM. Schedule of consultation is also available on the webpage of the session. I would like to now give the floor to the Secretariat to provide information on side events.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Distinguished delegates, at 6:30 PM this evening, a joint event entitled Innovation, Beauty, Inspiration: Space Design Italiano, co-organized by Italy and the European Space Policy Institute, will take place at the European Space Policy Institute premises in Vienna, and all delegates are invited. Tomorrow morning, starting at 9 AM, there will be also a side event entitled Space Up: Unlocking Space Economy, organized by Saudi Arabia, starting at 9 AM in Room M2 and also via virtual connection. All delegations are also invited.

The schedule of these side events is available on the webpage Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the Secretariat for the information provided. Are there any questions or comments on the proposed schedule? I see none. Distinguished delegates, this meeting is adjourned until 10 AM tomorrow morning.