United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
Org type	Secretariat office
Status	Active
Headquarters	Vienna, Austria

UNOOSA's main office is in Vienna, Austria.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is an important office of the United Nations. It helps countries work together peacefully when exploring and using outer space. UNOOSA also helps set up rules for space activities. It helps developing countries use space science and technology to improve their lives. This includes things like using satellites for farming or watching the weather.

UNOOSA started in 1958. Its first job was to help a special group called the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). This group was created by the United Nations General Assembly to talk about how to explore space safely and for everyone's benefit. COPUOS became a permanent group, and UNOOSA moved its main office to the United Nations Office in Vienna, Austria, in 1993.

As the helper for COPUOS, UNOOSA makes sure countries follow space laws and agreements. It also advises governments and other groups on space law. UNOOSA keeps a list of all objects launched into space. It also organizes meetings to discuss space topics and supports programs that help countries use space technology.

How UNOOSA Started

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first satellite into space. This made people all over the world start thinking about space exploration. They wondered about the rules and science of using space.

On December 13, 1958, the UN General Assembly created a special group called the ad hoc Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). This group became a permanent part of the UN. They met to discuss how to explore space peacefully and with clear rules. At the same time, UNOOSA was created in New York. It was a small team of experts whose job was to help COPUOS.

In 1962, UNOOSA became a bigger part of the UN, called the Outer Space Affairs Division.

In 1967, the Outer Space Treaty became law. This treaty was created by COPUOS. It was the first international agreement to set rules for what countries can do in space.

In 1992, the Outer Space Affairs Division changed its name to the Office for Outer Space Affairs, which is what it's called today. The next year, UNOOSA moved to its current home in Vienna, Austria.

Helping the World with Space

Since the early 2000s, UNOOSA has started many projects to help countries use space peacefully.

In 2005, the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) was formed. This group helps make sure all satellite navigation systems (like GPS) work well together. This is especially helpful for developing countries.

The next year, the UN-SPIDER program started. This program helps developing countries use space technology to manage disasters and respond to emergencies. For example, satellites can help track floods or wildfires. UN-SPIDER has offices in Germany and China to help with this work.

In 2015, UNOOSA teamed up with Japan's space agency (JAXA) to create the "KiboCUBE" program. This program lets developing countries build their own small satellites, called CubeSats. They can then launch these satellites from Japan's Kibo module on the International Space Station. Thanks to this program, Kenya launched its first satellite in 2018, and Guatemala launched its first in 2020.

In 2016, UNOOSA announced a partnership with the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). This partnership gives countries the chance to send their science experiments and even people to the Chinese space station Tiangong.

Also in 2016, UNOOSA announced the first United Nations space mission. This mission will use the Dream Chaser spaceplane. It will allow developing countries to send small science experiments into space. The launch date for this mission was updated to 2024.

Since June 2023, Aarti Holla-Maini has been the Director of UNOOSA.

What UNOOSA Does

UNOOSA mainly works to carry out the decisions made by the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

The office has two main goals:

• To support discussions among governments in the Committee and its special groups.
• To help developing countries use space technology for their growth and improvement.

UNOOSA also helps coordinate how different UN agencies use space technology. This is done through a group called UN-Space. The office works with space agencies and other organizations involved in space. It also keeps the official list of objects launched into outer space for the UN Secretary-General. UNOOSA also helps countries affected by climate change get free satellite images. These images can help them understand and deal with problems like rising sea levels or droughts.

How UNOOSA is Organized

UNOOSA is led by a Director, who is chosen by the UN Secretary-General. Currently, this is Aarti Holla-Maini. The Director's Office handles public information, the list of objects in space, and programs for young people.

UNOOSA has two main parts:

• Committee, Policy, and Legal Affairs (CPLA): This section helps the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space with its meetings and work. It also helps create rules and laws for space activities.
• Space Applications Section (SAS): This section helps countries learn how to use space technology in practical ways. It focuses on making sure all countries, especially developing ones, can use new space technologies.

The Space Applications Section has three main programs:

• The Human Space Initiative: This program helps people understand the benefits of space technology.
• The Basic Space Technology Initiative: This program helps countries build their skills in basic space technology for lasting development.
• The Basic Space Science Initiative: This program helps small research groups in universities in developing countries grow in areas like astronomy and space science.

This section also focuses on using space information to help with disasters and emergencies. The UN-SPIDER program helps by providing space information for disaster management. It connects disaster managers with the space community. It also helps countries build their skills in this area.

The International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) helps countries work together on satellite navigation systems. UNOOSA acts as the main helper for ICG. It organizes workshops and training to help countries use these technologies.

Who Works at UNOOSA

People from over 50 different countries have worked at UNOOSA. This includes staff members, experts, and interns.

The people who work at UNOOSA have many different educational backgrounds. They study things like space science, physics, engineering, computer science, political science, international affairs, and law (including international law and space law).

Many important people have worked at UNOOSA over the years. These include Adigun Ade Abiodun, Vladimír Kopal, Mazlan Binti Othman, Luboš Perek, Nandasiri Jasentuliyana, and Takao Doi.

See also

In Spanish: Oficina de Naciones Unidas para Asuntos del Espacio Exterior para niños

• List of government space agencies
• United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
• United Nations Fourth Committee
• United Nations Secretariat
• Space law
• List of space agencies
• Antarctic Treaty Secretariat
• International Seabed Authority