UNCOPUOS: Wrap-up of the 52nd Session, June 3-12, 2009

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000349 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPA UNGA UNPUOS PARM SUBJECT: UNCOPUOS: Wrap-up of the 52nd Session, June 3-12, 2009 REF: A) STATE 055545 B) UNVIE VIEN 000302 C) UNVIE VIEN 000324 ¶1. (U) Summary: The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses Outer Space concluded a highly productive session on June 12th with the adoption of its report that included the addition of a new item on the agenda of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities and the approval of the COPUOS/IAEA Safety Framework for Nuclear Power Sources Applications in Outer Space. A special presentation on the collision of Iridium 33 and COSMOS 2251 was made by Brigadier General Susan Helms, U.S. Strategic Command and a briefing on the debris fields created by the collision was given by Nick Johnson, NASA. U.S. private sector advisors from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Space Policy Institute of George Washington University, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies made presentations on their international space activities. In commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo Lunar Landing, the Chief of Mission and Rusty Sweigart, an Apollo 9 astronaut, introduced a film that was shown to the Committee and employees of the UN. 60 of 69 Member States attended the session which was chaired by Ambassador Ciro Arvalo of Colombia. The STSC will meet next from February 8-19, 2010, the LSC from March 22-April 1, 2010, and COPUOS from June 9-18, 2010. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The 52nd session of UNCOPUOS was noteworthy for the scope and breadth of participation in the work of the committee. The U.S. fielded a strong delegation that included representatives from NASA, NOAA, Department of Defense (Joint Staff and U.S. Strategic Command),and State, as well as advisors from the Space Foundation, the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Space Policy Institute of George Washington University. Participation by other delegations and observers was at a higher level than in years past. In addition to the member states of COPUOS, there were 17 international organizations and 11 countries present as observers. 36 special presentations were made by member states and observers. A panel discussion was held on June 3rd to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Unispace III and the Space Generation Advisory Council convened a symposium over the weekend to review Unispace III and the implementation of the recommendations that emerged from that conference. The University of Vienna hosted an evening symposium on June 9th concerning the future of space exploration. Scott Pace of the GWU Space Policy Institute spoke at the event. Chinese astronauts Yang Liwei and Jing Haipeng addressed the committee on the flights of Shenzhou-5 and Shenzhou-7. Usdel delivered prepared statements which are available from OES/SAT and all special presentations can be accessed through www.unvienna.org. ¶3. (U) Interventions by member states and observers generally focused on their space activities over the past year and the substance of the agenda item under which they spoke. However, China, Russia and Venezuela did express concern over the potential development of weapons in space and called for a treaty to prevent the deployment of weapons in space. The U.S. general statement included an update on the Iridium-COSMOS collision of February 2009 and mentioned that all of the debris from engagement of USA 193 in February 2008 had entered the atmosphere with no known debris reaching the Earth. The Czech Republic reported on the status of a draft EU space code of conduct noting that consultations with spacefaring nations were underway with a view to reaching consensus with the greatest number of countries on a text. Following the conclusion of those consultations, an ad hoc conference will be organized for States to subscribe to the code. ¶4. (U) Per Ref A, Brigadier-General Susan Helms, U.S. Strategic Command, briefed the Russian delegation on June 8, NATO Allies and selected non-NATO countries on the morning of June 9, and the full committee on the afternoon of June 9th on the collision of Iridium 33 and COSMOS 2251. Nick Johnson, NASA's orbital debris expert, briefed the full committee on the debris fields created by the collision. Both presentations were well-received and delegates expressed deep appreciation for the transparency of the U.S. in sharing this information. Reftel C contains more detailed reporting on this matter. In addition to the briefing, General Helms met with UN Office of Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) Director Mazlan Othman and her staff where various issues including satellite registration were discussed. General Helms also addressed the UNOV staff on what prompted her to become and her experiences as an astronaut. (Comment: The presence of General Helms and her briefings were a huge hit and underscored the transparency of the U.S. space program. Her call for greater international cooperation in space situational awareness resonated with delegates and reinforced U.S. leadership in this important area. The briefings by Gen. Helms and Mr. Johnson set the stage for consensus being reached on the proposal by France for the STSC to consider the long- term sustainability of space activities as reported in para 5 below. End comment.) ¶5. (U) Over the course of the session of COPUOS, France held a series of informal consultations on their proposal for adding to the agenda of next year's STSC an item on long-term sustainability of outer space activities, to be considered under a multiyear work plan. Key delegations in the G-77 initially expressed reluctance to move forward on this idea, pointing out that it did not contribute directly to their interests, particularly in using space technology for development. However, the briefings reported in para 4 drove home the importance of developing best practices guidelines to help reduce operational risks of all space systems. Also, in order to reach consensus, the French modified the paper they circulated during the STSC last February so that the first year of work will be a general exchange of views on the topic in the subcommittee (rather than a working group) and that work can continue through 2013 (vice 2012). Also included was language that asks the committee to consider whether the set of best practices should require review by the Legal Subcommittee before endorsement by the Committee. Following is the consensus language contained in the final report. ¶6. (U) Begin text. The committee agreed that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee should include, starting from its 47th session, a new agenda item entitled "Long-term sustainability of outer space activities" under the multi-year work plan as presented below: 2010 General exchange of views on present and future challenges facing outer space activities, as well as potential measures that could enhance the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, with a view to establishing a working group open to all member states of the committee. 2011 Preparation of a report on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities and examination of measures that could enhance their long-term sustainability; preparation of a draft set of best practices guidelines. 2012/2013 Continuation of consideration and finalization of the report and of the best practices guidelines for presentation to and review by the committee. The committee also agreed that it would consider whether the set of best practices guidelines should require review by the legal subcommittee before endorsement by the committee. Once the set of best practices guidelines has been endorsed, the committee may also consider whether it should be annexed to a specific General Assembly resolution or should be endorsed by the General Assembly a part of its annual resolution on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. End text. ¶7. (U) (Comment: This new item supports USG intentions to take an active leadership role in identifying and implementing cooperative efforts with established and emerging members of the spacefaring community to ensure the safety of space assets of all nations with the view to formulate practical guidelines to preserve the space environment for future generations. Extensive interagency participation will be required to support this workplan and coordination with private operators will be essential. Washington agencies should give careful consideration to the selection of the working group chair and consult with key allies in this regard. End comment.) ¶8. (U) Based on a proposal raised by Italy at the last session of the STSC, Germany and Italy circulated a paper proposing the establishment, under the auspices of the United Nations, an international platform of data and information on objects in outer space for the promotion of a safe and sustainable development of the peaceful use of outer space, supplied on an exclusively voluntary basis, that would be freely accessible to member states. Many delegations, including the USdel, expressed misgivings over the concept pointing out that the UN is not equipped to handle this and there could be serious funding issues as well. USdel also pointed out that the public data currently available, which would be the primary source for the proposed platform, would not be sufficient for effectively analyzing possible collisions of space objects. The committee agreed to invite member states of the Interagency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) to prompt the IADC to advise the STSC on this proposal taking into account the views expressed by Member States during this session. (Comment: Apparently, there was considerable unhappiness within the European ranks about this proposal. The German Foreign Ministry was out in front pushing the idea but had failed to engage in prior coordination with the rest of Europe. France was particularly annoyed because they saw the proposal as complicating their efforts to secure consensus on their initiative. We also understand that the proposal did not enjoy support from other agencies in the German government, the German Space Agency being one of them. Now that this has been punted to the IADC, Washington agencies will have an opportunity to assess the merits, or lack thereof, of the proposal and to clarify with Germany what they are seeking to accomplish. End comment.) ¶9. (U) As occurred last year, there was extensive discussion on the criteria for granting permanent observer status to nongovernmental organizations. Bolivia, China, Cuba, Greece and Venezuela were particularly energized over the need to closely scrutinize such applications and to reconsider the criteria established in 1990 by the committee for granting observer status. The committee agreed to recommend the granting of permanent observer status to the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, an international intergovernmental organization, but consensus could not be reached on the application of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, an NGO. The committee did agree to review, at its next session, the rules and procedures for granting permanent observer status to NGO's. ¶10. (U) The committee endorsed the STSC Safety Framework for Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space. This framework was developed in conjunction with the IAEA and had been approved by the STSC in February 2009 and by the IAEA Commission on Safety Standards in April 2009. The framework is the result of six years of extensive work involving primarily experts from the IAEA, the US, the UK, Russia, the European Space Agency, and France. More detailed reporting is contained in reftel B. (Comment: This was a very significant success from a process and substantive standpoint. Getting the IAEA involved was a substantial achievement and the text of the framework reinforces US policy and practice relating to the use of nuclear power sources in space. End comment) ¶11. (U) In accordance with para 53 of UNGA Resolution 63/90 and pursuant to the working methods of the Committee endorsed in UNGA 52/56, the committee agreed that Dimitru-Dorin Prunariu (Romania), Nomfuneko Majaja (South Africa),and Raimundo Gonzalez (Chile) should be elected to the offices of Chair, First Vice-Chair, and Second Vice-Chair/Rapporteur of COPUOS respectively, that Ulrich Huth (Germany) should be elected as Chair of the STSC and that Ahmad Talebzadeh (Iran) should be elected as Chair of the LSC, all for the period 2010-2011. ¶12. (U) The committee noted that the 50th anniversary of the first session of COPUOS as well as the 50th anniversary of the first human space flights will occur in 2011. It was further noted that OOSA will assist member states in the coordination of commemorative activities that member states may wish to organize during the 2011 sessions of the committee and its subcommittees. (Comment: Washington agencies should begin now considering what activities should be undertaken in Vienna in 2011 to commemorate the flight of Alan Shepard. End comment) ¶13. (U) During its intervention on the report of the Legal Subcommittee, the U.S. Delegation paid tribute to Eileen Marie Galloway, who passed away two days short of her 103rd birthday in May 2009. Ms. Galloway was instrumental in the establishment of NASA and UNCOPUOS, and was a pioneer in matters related to space law and space policy. The tribute was echoed by the Chairman and a number of other delegations. PYATT