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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