Vienna: Once the exclusive domain of a handful of technologically advanced countries, outer space is now within the reach of emerging nations from the Global South, as costs fall and technology becomes more widely available.
According to EMM, the exploits of the long-established spacefaring nations, particularly the US, may still dominate headlines, but countries such as Zimbabwe, Honduras, and Malta are signalling their intention to reap the benefits of space-related activities. These smaller states, among others, are applying for membership of the UN body which helps to shape internationally agreed rules on the peaceful use of outer space, aiming to prevent a new Wild West free-for-all that could potentially lead to conflict.
UNOOSA’s Space Law for New Space Actors project supports these emerging spacefaring nations in developing robust legal and policy frameworks for outer space activities. The Space4Women initiative has developed the Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit for the Space Sector to help organizations commit to gender equity, promote equal opportunities, and empower women and girls through dedicated programming. Another flagship initiative, UN-SPIDER, provides specialized capacity-building on the use of space applications for disaster risk reduction and emergency response.
Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1959, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) plays a central role in shaping international space law, addressing emerging issues such as space sustainability and fostering cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of outer space. The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), serving as the Committee’s Secretariat and as a capacity-builder, supports this work by helping countries build the necessary legal, institutional, scientific, and technical capacities needed to kickstart their national space ecosystems and economies.
The 68th session of COPUOS is set to convene on 25 June, providing a platform for these discussions and developments, which can be followed via UN WebTV.