VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #1385 1582040
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 062026Z JUN 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0000
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0000
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0000
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0000
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0000
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0000
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0000
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0000
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0000
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0000
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0000
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0000
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0000
DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 0000

UNCLAS STATE 061385 
 
 
 
NOTE: BY CIB:DO NOT/NOT PROCESS. GIVE TO EAO FOR GUIDANCE 
 
 
 
SIPDIS, GENEVA FOR CD DELEGATION 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TSPA UNPUOS UNGA PARM
SUBJECT: COPUOS: GUIDANCE FOR 51ST SESSION OF UN COMMITTEE 
ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE, JUNE 11-20, 2008 
 
REF: A) STATE 13420; B) STATE 32313; C)STATE 008231 NODIS 
D) STATE 015164 NODIS; E) STATE 017336; F) STATE 011471; 
G) UNVIE VIENNA 000113; H) UNVIE VIENNA 000111; I) UNVIE 
VIENNA 000320 J) 07 STATE 157671; K) 07 STATE 125406 
 
¶1. FOLLOWING IS GUIDANCE FOR THE 51ST SESSION OF THE UN 
COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE (COPUOS). 
THIS GUIDANCE WILL FOCUS ON MATTERS THAT REQUIRE SPECIFIC 
ACTION BY THE COMMITTEE.  USDEL SHOULD DRAW ON DETAILED 
GUIDANCE IN REFTEL A (SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL 
SUBCOMMITTEE) AND REFTEL B (LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE) FOR OTHER 
ISSUES RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES. 
 
¶2. GENERAL OVERVIEW: THE 2008 SESSIONS OF THE SCIENTIFIC 
AND TECHNICAL AND LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEES WERE SUCCESSFUL FROM 
THE U.S. PERSPECTIVE.  THE U.S. HAS MADE PROGRESS IN 
REACHING AGREEMENT ON VITAL UN REFORMS GIVING US THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOLID LEADERSHIP ON A RANGE OF 
ISSUES IN THE UN SYSTEM.  U.S. ACTIVITY IN SPACE, BOTH 
GOVERNMENTAL AND COMMERCIAL, IS GOVERNED BY INTERNATIONAL 
AND DOMESTIC LAWS AND REGULATIONS, WHICH HAVE CONTRIBUTED 
TO THE ORDERLY USE OF SPACE BY ALL NATIONS.  AS INTEREST IN 
AND USE OF SPACE INCREASES, WE MUST PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN 
SHAPING THE SPACE LEGAL AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT.  THIS 
IS AS TRUE FOR COPUOS AND ITS SUBCOMMITTEES AS ANY OTHER UN 
BODY.  ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE WELL POSITIONED BECAUSE OF THE 
RESULTS OF UNISPACE III THAT REFLECT, FOR THE MOST PART, 
MORE ACHIEVABLE RECOMMENDATIONS THAN PREVIOUS UNISPACE 
REPORTS AND SUPPORT A NUMBER OF USG PRIORITIES IN 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE COOPERATION.  COPUOS MEMBERS WILL 
CONTINUE TO DRAW UPON THE UNISPACE III REPORT AND THE 
RECENT REPORT TO THE UNGA ON PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN 
IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF UNISPACE III (A/59/174) 
IN FORMULATING PROPOSALS FOR NEW AGENDA ITEMS AND OTHER 
COPUOS-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES. USDEL SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 
OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW LINKAGE BETWEEN USG SPACE ACTIVITIES 
AND THEMES IN THESE REPORTS. 
 
¶3.  SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENT OF USA 193: 
 
REFTELS C-F CONTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SUCCESSFUL 
ENGAGEMENT OF USA 193 AND THE STEPS TAKEN TO INFORM THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE UN.  PER REF F, THE 
UN OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS (UNOOSA) WAS ADVISED THAT 
USA 193 WAS NOT CARRYING A NUCLEAR POWER SOURCE ON BOARD. 
PER REFTELS D AND E, THE USDEL TO THE 45TH SESSION OF THE 
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE ADVISED MEMBER STATES 
ON THE DECISION TO ENGAGE USA 193 AND THE SUCCESSFUL 
IMPACT. REFTELS G AND H REPORTED ON REACTIONS TO THOSE 
NOTIFICATIONS. PER REFTEL B, USDEL TO THE LSC ADVISED THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE INTERCEPT AND REFTEL I REPORTS ON 
REACTIONS. IN ITS GENERAL STATEMENT, USDEL WILL INFORM THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SUCCESSFUL INTERCEPT OF USA 193 BASED 
ON GUIDANCE CONTAINED IN REFTELS D AND E. USDEL SHOULD 
REFER TO THOSE SAME CABLES FOR FURTHER GUIDANCE IN RESPONSE 
TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD ARISE. 
 
¶4.  WEAPONS IN SPACE: SOME DELEGATIONS MAY RAISE THIS ISSUE 
AS A TACTICAL DEVICE TO EXERT PRESSURE ON U.S. NEGOTIATORS 
IN THE CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT (CD) OR OTHER DISARMAMENT 
BODIES. IF THIS ISSUE IS RAISED, USDEL SHOULD STRESS THAT 
THE FIRST COMMITTEE OF THE UNGA (DISARMAMENT AND 
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY) AND THE CD WOULD BE THE MORE 
APPROPRIATE MULTILATERAL FORA TO DISCUSS ARMS CONTROL 
MATTERS RELATED TO OUTER SPACE.  [BEGIN NOTE: THE UNITED 
STATES SEES NO NEED FOR NEW OUTER SPACE ARMS CONTROL 
AGREEMENTS AND OPPOSES NEGOTIATION OF A TREATY ON OUTER 
SPACE ARMS CONTROL. THE U.S. WILL SUPPORT "SUBSTANTITVE 
DISCUSSIONS" ON SPACE TRANSPARENCY AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING 
MEASURES (TCBMS) AS PART OF A CONSENSUS WORKPLAN FOR THE CD 
THAT INCLUDES THE COMMENCEMENT OF NEGOTIATIONS ON A FISSILE 
MATERIAL CUTOFF TREATY. THE U.S. IS WORKING WITH THE 
EUROPEAN UNION TO DEVELOP PROPOSALS FOR NEW VOLUNTARY TCBMS 
THAT CAN BE ADOPTED BY ALL RESPONSIBLE SPACEFARING NATIONS 
(REFTEL I). LAST YEAR, THE U.S. ALSO ATTEMPTED TO WORK WITH 
RUSSIA TO JOINTLY SPONSOR A UNGA FIRST COMMITTEE THAT WOULD 
INITIATE A GROUP OF GOVERNMENT EXPERTS STUDY ON VOLUNTARY 
TCBMS THAT COULD HELP TO ENSURE PREDICTABILITY, ENHANCE 
STABILITY, AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF MISUNDERSTANDING IN 
THE CONDUCT OF SPACE ACTIVITIES (REFTEL J). ALTHOUGH LAST 
YEAR'S ATTEMPT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, THE U.S. IS WILLING TO 
WORK WITH RUSSIA AGAIN THIS YEAR ON A RESOLUTION THAT CAN 
WIN CONSENSUS SUPPORT. END NOTE.]  THE U.S. OBJECTIVE IN UN 
COPUOS AND ITS SUBCOMMITTEES IS TO UNDERSCORE THE 
UNPRECEDENTED INTERNATIONAL SPACE COOPERATION NOW UNDERWAY 
AND REINFORCE RESISTANCE TO INCREASING CALLS IN THE CD AND 
ELSEWHERE FOR NEGOTIATIONS ON BINDING OUTER SPACE ARMS 
CONTROL AGREEMENTS.  THAT OBJECTIVE MAKES IT PARTICULARLY 
IMPORTANT FOR THE USG TO PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN COPUOS 
AND ITS SUBCOMMITTEES.  USDEL MAY DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING 
ADDITIONAL POINTS AS NECESSARY: 
 
-- THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOR ARMS CONTROL TO SOLVE. TODAY 
THERE IS UNPRECEDENTED COOPERATION IN CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL 
SPACE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING AMONG FORMER COLD WAR 
ADVERSARIES.  AN EXTENSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM FOR 
LIMITING CERTAIN USES OF OUTER SPACE ALREADY EXISTS.  THE 
EXISTING MULTILATERAL OUTER SPACE LEGAL REGIME ALREADY 
ADEQUATELY DEALS WITH THE ISSUE OF WEAPONS IN SPACE. 
 
-- THE UNITED STATES IS COMMITTED TO THE PEACEFUL 
EXPLORATION AND USE OF SPACE BY ALL NATIONS FOR PEACEFUL 
PURPOSES.  "PEACEFUL PURPOSES" INCLUDES APPROPRIATE DEFENSE 
ACTIVITIES IN PURSUIT OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND OTHER GOALS. 
 
-- WE TAKE SERIOUSLY OUR COMMITMENT TO EXECUTE ALL U.S. 
ACTIVITIES IN THE EXPLORATION AND USE OF OUTER SPACE IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW, INCLUDING THE OUTER 
SPACE TREATY, WHICH INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE THE CHARTER 
OF THE UNITED NATIONS, IN THE INTEREST OF MAINTAINING 
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY AND PROMOTING 
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING. 
 
¶5. SPACE APPLICATIONS PROGRAMME (SAP) AND IMPLEMENTATION OF 
UNISPACE III:  THE COMMITTEE PRESENTED TO THE 59TH SESSION 
OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN OCT 2004 A REPORT ON PROGRESS 
MADE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF 
UNISPACE III (A/59/174).  THE REPORT DREW ON THE RESULTS OF 
12 TOPICAL ACTION TEAMS AND SUBMISSIONS FROM MEMBER STATES, 
ORGANIZATIONS WITH OBSERVER STATUS IN COPUOS, AND OTHER 
ENTITIES IN THE UN SYSTEM. 
 
¶6.  GENERALLY, THE WORK OF THE SAP AND FOLLOW-UP TO 
UNISPACE III SHOULD REFLECT THE THEMES BELOW. USDEL SHOULD 
EVALUATE SUGGESTED FUTURE AREAS OF WORK ON THE BASIS OF 
THESE THEMES. 
 
-- BROADER PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE 
MONITORING AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE EARTH AND ITS 
ENVIRONMENT; 
 
-- BETTER USE OF EXISTING MECHANISMS FOR INTERNATIONAL 
COOPERATION, E.G. THE COMMITTEE ON EARTH OBSERVATION 
SATELLITES (CEOS), THE GROUP ON EARTH OBSERVATIONS(GEO), 
INTEGRATED GLOBAL OBSERVING STRATEGY (IGOS), THE INTER- 
AGENCY SPACE DEBRIS COORDINATION COMMITTEE (IADC) AND THE 
INTERNATIONAL CHARTER ON SPACE AND SPACE DISASTERS; 
 
-- DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON SPACE RESEARCH AREAS AND 
STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; 
 
-- IMPROVED COORDINATION AND LESS DUPLICATION AMONG UN 
ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN SPACE ACTIVITIES; 
 
-- STRENGTHENED REGIONAL SPACE COOPERATION; 
 
-- PROMOTION OF CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS AND USE 
OF OUTER SPACE; AND 
 
-- GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, 
AS WELL AS INDUSTRY, IN SAP ACTIVITIES. 
 
¶7.  USDEL SHOULD DRAW ON DETAILED GUIDANCE IN REF A FOR 
SPECIFIC ISSUES RELATING TO THE WORK OF THE STSC.  IN 
GENERAL, THE LAST SESSION OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE WAS VERY 
PRODUCTIVE, YIELDING POSITIVE RESULTS THAT SUPPORTED USG 
PRIORITIES FOR THE UN SYSTEM'S INVOLVEMENT IN PROMOTING 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE COOPERATION.  PROGRESS WAS MADE UNDER 
MULTI-YEAR WORKPLANS ON SPACE-BASED SYSTEMS FOR GLOBAL 
NATURAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT, NEAR-EARTH OBJECTS, THE 
INTERNATIONAL HELIOPHYSICAL YEAR 2007, THE INTERNATIONAL 
POLAR YEAR 2007-2008, AND THE USE OF NUCLEAR POWER SOURCES 
IN OUTER SPACE. 
 
AT ITS 2006 SESSION, THE STSC RECOMMENDED THE ESTABLISHMENT 
OF THE UN PLATFORM FOR SPACE BASED INFORMATIONFOR DISASTER 
MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SPIDER).  SPIDER WAS 
ENDORSED BY COPUOS AND THE UNGA AND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AS 
A PROGRAM UNDER THE UN OFFICE OF OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS AND 
WILL REPORT TO AND RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM COPUOS THROUGH 
UNOOSA.  SPIDER IS BEING DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR ALL 
COUNTRIES AND RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO 
SPACE-BASED INFORMATION AND SERVICES RELEVANT TO DISASTER 
MANAGEMENT, TO SERVE AS A BRIDGE CONNECTING THE DISASTER 
MANAGEMENT AND SPACE COMMUNITIES, AND TO FACILITATE 
CAPACITY-BUILDING, PARTICULARLY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. 
 
THE PROGRAM WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH INTERNATIONAL 
INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE GLOBAL EARTH OBSERVATION SYSTEM OF 
SYSTEMS,THE INTERNATIONAL CHARTER ON SPACE AND MAJOR 
DISASTERS, THE IAEA INCIDENT AND EMERGENCY CENTER, AND THE 
INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION IN ORDER TO 
AVOID DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS.  THE PROGRAM WAS INTENDED TO 
BE SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND THROUGH A 
REARRANGEMENT OF PRIORITIES OF THE UNOOSA.  THE U.S. AGREED 
TO SPIDER WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ADDITIONAL 
ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH SPIDER WOULD NOT, AS FAR AS 
POSSIBLE, HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE CURRENT PROGRAM 
ACTIVITIES OF UNOOSA NOR ON THE UN REGULAR BUDGET. (UNGA 
61/110) HOWEVER AT THE 2007 UNGA, A RESOLUTION WAS PASSED 
CALLING FOR AN ADDITIONAL $600,000 FROM THE UN REGULAR 
BUDGET FOR SPIDER STAFF. THE U.S. DISASSOCIATED FROM THE 
RESOLUTION AND MADE A STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD EXPRESSING 
OUR UNHAPPINESS WITH THE IMPACT ON THE BUDGET.  THE 
LANGUAGE IN THE RESOLUTION WAS SUPPORTED BY AUSTRIA AND 
GERMANY WITH COMPLICIT SUPPORT OF THE CHAIR, BRACHET. 
AUSTRIA, CHINA, GERMANY, AND SWITZERLAND ARE PROVIDING 
DIRECT SUPPORT TO SPIDER.  WE HAVE STATED THAT USG AGENCIES 
RESPONSIBLE FOR DISASTER EARLY WARNING AND MITIGATION WILL 
NOT CONTRIBUTE RESOURCES TO SPIDER, BUT THAT THEIR PRODUCTS 
WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST IN 
RESPONSE TO DISASTER SITUATIONS. 
 
   AT THIS SESSION, THE USDEL SHOULD: 
 
¶A. REITERATE THAT THE U.S. DOES NOT SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN 
THE UN REGULAR BUDGET FOR SPIDER AND EXPRESS OUR 
DISAPPOINTMENT THAT A NUMBER OF MEMBER STATES CHOSE TO 
DISREGARD THE AGREEMENTS MADE AT THE STSC LAST YEAR WITH 
REGARD TO SPIDERS FUNDING. 
 
¶B. REITERATE THAT USG AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR DISASTER 
EARLY WARNING AND MITIGATION WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE RESOURCES 
TO SPIDER, BUT THAT THEIR PRODUCTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE 
AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST IN RESPONSE TO DISASTER 
SITUATIONS. 
 
¶8.  REPORT OF THE LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE:  REFTEL B CONTAINS 
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE. THE 2008 SESSION OF THE LSC PRODUCED 
SOME USEFUL RESULTS AND WAS NOTABLE FOR A NUMBER OF 
POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS THAT BODE WELL FOR USG INTERESTS IN 
THE FUTURE.  AMONG THESE WERE 1) THE ABSENCE OF ANY 
SUSTAINED EFFORT TO INTRODUCE MATTERS CONCERNING SPACE ARMS 
CONTROL; 2) THE PARTICIPATION OF GOVERNMENTAL AND NON- 
GOVERNMENTAL LEGAL EXPERTS; AND 3) THE SUBSTANTIVE 
DISCUSSION OF STATE AND INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE UNDER THE 
REGISTRATION CONVENTION.  RUSSIA FAILED TO GENERATE 
SUBSTANTIAL MOMENTUM FOR ITS PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP A 
COMPREHENSIVE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL SPACE LAW.  THE 
SUBCOMMITTEE ADOPTED THE US PROPOSAL FROM 2007 TO CONSIDER 
AS A SINGLE YEAR ITEM NATIONAL MECHANISMS RELATING TO SPACE 
DEBRIS MITIGATION MEASURES.  SEVERAL UNFAVORABLE PROPOSALS 
FOR NEW AGENDA ITEMS WERE NOT ADOPTED AT THE 2008 SESSION 
OF THE LSC. IN THE EVENT OTHER DELEGATIONS RAISE THESE 
PROPOSALS IN ANY SUBSTANTIAL WAY, USDEL SHOULD REITERATE 
POINTS IN REFTEL B. 
 
¶9. SPACE AND SOCIETY:  MEMBERS WILL EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON 
THE LATEST NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO INCREASE 
AWARENESS OF THE BENEFITS OF SPACE ACTIVITIES. LEADING 
EXPERTS IN GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIA, THE NEWS MEDIA AND THE 
PRIVATE SECTOR COULD BE INVITED TO INFORM THE COMMITTEE 
ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THAT AREA. AT THE LAST SESSION 
OF COPUOS, THE COMMITTEE AGREED TO CONTINUE TO CONSIDER 
UNDER THIS ITEM THE SPECIAL THEME OF SPACE AND EDUCATION. 
THIS YEAR, PRESENTATIONS WILL BE MADE ON EFFORTS TO BRING 
SPACE INTO EDUCATION AND TO DEVELOP HUMAN RESOURCES IN 
SPACE SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.   THE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER 
WAYS FOR INCORPORATING SPACE INTO EDUCATION AND USING SPACE 
BASED TOOLS FOR MEETING THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL ON 
ACCESS TO EDUCATION. THE U.S. DELEGATION WILL HAVE A 
STATEMENT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. 
 
¶10. SPACE AND WATER:  ENTITIES OF THE UN SYSTEM, MEMBER 
STATES, AND OBSERVER ORGANIZATIONS WILL EXCHANGE 
INFORMATION ON THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE USE OF SPACE- 
RELATED TECHNOLOGY FOR WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.  THE U.S. 
DELEGATION WILL HAVE A STATEMENT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. 
 
¶11. SPACE BASED GEOSPATIAL DATA FOR SUSTAINABLE 
DEVELOPMENT:  FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BRAZIL HAS SOUGHT TO 
REVISIT THE 1986 PRINCIPLES ON REMOTE SENSING FROM SPACE IN 
THE LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE. DURING THE 2006 SESSION OF THE LSC, 
BRAZIL SHIFTED GEARS AND PROPOSED THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE 
CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF COOPERATION IN PROMOTING THE USE 
OF GEOSPATIAL DATA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. USDEL, 
FRANCE, JAPAN AND GERMANY CONVINCED BRAZIL THAT THIS TOPIC 
WOULD BE BETTER SUITED FOR COPUOS. BRAZIL CIRCULATED A 
WORKING PAPER DURING THE 49TH SESSION OF COPUOS ON THE 
BASIS OF THE DISCUSSIONS AT THE LSC.  THE COMMITTEE AGREED 
TO A MULTIYEAR WORK PLAN FOR A NEW ITEM ENTITLED 
"INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN PROMOTING THE USE OF SPACE- 
DERIVED GEOSPATIAL DATA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. 
BEGINNING THIS YEAR, THE COMMITTEE WILL IDENTIFY EXISTING 
INTERNATIONAL FORA WHERE COUNTRIES UNDERTAKE DISCUSSIONS 
REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SPACE DERIVED GEOSPATIAL 
DATA IN ORDER TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS.  AT THIS 
SESSION THE COMMITTEE WILL HEAR PRESENTATIONS FROM INVITED 
EXPERTS ON EXPERIENCES IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF APPROPRIATE 
INFRASTRUCTURES FOR SPACE-DERIVED GEOSPATIAL DATA 
COLLECTION, PROCESSING AND APPLICATION, INCLUDING TRAINING, 
TECHNICALINFRASTRUCTURE AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS. 
 
¶12. FUTURE WORK OF COPUOS: GERARD BRACHET, FORMER CHAIR OF 
COPUOS, PRESENTED A PAPER AT THE 50TH SESSION OUTLINING HIS 
VIEWS ON THE FUTURE WORK OF COPUOS AND ITS SUBCOMMITTEES. 
THE PAPER IS AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE COULD 
POTENTIALLY ACCOMPLISH IN THE FUTURE AND RECOGNIZES THAT 
THIS WORK MUST BE CONDUCTED IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT 
NEGATIVELY IMPACT NATIONAL SPACE PROGRAMS.   THE PAPER 
ENJOYED GENERAL SUPPORT ALTHOUGH DETAILS FOR IMPLEMENTING 
HIS SPECIFIC PROPOSALS WILL HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT.  SOME 
TOPICS, SUCH AS PROMOTING THE USE OF GLOBAL NAVIGATION 
SATELLITE SYSTEMS, THE USE OF SPACE SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING 
OF THE EARTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH, SATELLITE 
TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND NEAR EARTH 
OBJECTS, ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD OR ARE BEING DEALT WITH IN 
COPUOS IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.  OTHER TOPICS WILL REQUIRE 
FURTHER COORDINATION WITH KEY DELEGATIONS.  PROPERLY 
HANDLED, FUTURE CONSIDERATION OF ALL OF THE TOPICS WILL 
AFFORD THE USG THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AN UNDERSTANDING 
OF, AND SUPPORT FOR, U.S. SPACE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND 
TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF U.S. SPACE CAPABILITIES AND 
SYSTEMS. 
 
¶13. USDEL SHOULD CONTACT KEY DELEGATIONS TO ASCERTAIN THEIR 
REACTIONS TO THE PAPER AND THE LIKELY DISPOSITION OF THE 
SUGGESTED TOPICS.  DEL SHOULD NOTE THAT WE ARE GENERALLY 
SUPPORTIVE OF BRACHETS EFFORTS AND SHARE THE FOLLOWING 
COMMENTS RELATED TO THE TOPICS IDENTIFIED IN THE PAPER: 
 
¶A.  CONTRIBUTION OF SPACE SYSTEMS TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING 
AND TO GLOBAL MONITORING OF PLANET EARTH 
 
WE SUPPORT CONTINUED ACTIVITY IN UN COPUOS IN THIS REGARD. 
AGENCY PROGRAMS TO ADVANCE EARTH SCIENCES FROM SPACE 
OBSERVATIONS CAN CONTINUE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN 
SUPPORT OF THIS ACTIVITY AS THEY HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.  WE 
AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO INVITE THE DIRECTOR OF THE 
GEO SECRETARIAT TO ADVISE THE UN COPUOS SCIENTIFIC AND 
TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE (STSC) AT ITS ANNUAL SESSION ON GEO 
ACTIVITIES WHICH BEAR ALSO ON THE WORK OF THE STSC. 
 
¶B.  COORDINATION OF GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEMS 
 
WE SUPPORT CONTINUED ACTIVITY IN UN COPUOS RELATED TO GNSS, 
AND SPECIFICALLY, SUPPORTS THE RECOMMENDATION OF ANNUAL 
REPORTS TO THE STSC BY THE CHAIR OF THE NEWLY-FORMED 
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE ON GNSS, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED AS A 
RESULT OF A UNISPACE III RECOMMENDATION. 
 
¶C.  CONTRIBUTION OF SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TO SUSTAINABLE 
DEVELOPMENT 
 
WE SUPPORT CLOSER COORDINATION BETWEEN UN COPUOS AND THE 
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND IN SUPPORT OF 
THAT ENDEAVOR, THE ESTABLISHMENT WITHIN UN COPUOS OF A 
DATABASE OF SUCCESSFUL SPACE APPLICATIONS IT COULD RELY ON 
TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY TO 
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. 
 
¶D.  LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF SPACE ACTIVITIES 
 
THE U.S. PARTICIPATED IN INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON THIS 
TOPIC HOSTED BY THE FRENCH MFA ON FEBRUARY 7/8, 2008, IN 
PARIS.  THE CONSULTATIONS INCLUDED A CROSS-SECTION OF 
COPUOS MEMBER STATES, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND 
COMMERCIAL SPACE OPERATORS.  THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE 
FEBRUARY INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS AGREED TO CONTINUE THE 
CONSULTATIONS AND EXCHANGE OF RELEVANT VIEWS ON THIS 
SUBJECT WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF DRAFTING AN OUTLINE DOCUMENT 
THAT COULD GUIDE FURTHER WORK IN THIS AREA BY THE STSC, NO 
EARLIER THAN 2009.  HOWEVER, FRANCE, FOLLOWING UP ON 
BRACHETS RECOMMENDATION, AND APPARENTLY INFLUENCED BY 
PRESIDENT SARKOZYS FEBRUARY 11, 2008, SPACE POLICY SPEECH 
AT KOUROU,(JUST PRIOR TO THE 2008 STSC SESSION), ANNOUNCED 
ITS INTENTION TO PROPOSE "THE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF 
SPACE ACTIVITIES" AS A NEW AGENDA TOPIC FOR THE FULL 
COMMITTEE AT ITS 51ST SESSION IN JUNE 2008 AND INTRODUCED A 
PAPER AT THE STSC FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE COMMITTEE.  THE 
PROPOSAL WILL INCLUDE A WORK PLAN FOR THE PERIOD 2009-2011, 
WHICH WOULD CULMINATE IN THE FINALIZATION OF A DOCUMENT ON 
"BEST PRACTICES FOR SPACE OPERATIONS." 
 
IN THE COURSE OF CONSIDERING THE FRENCH PROPOSAL, THE USDEL 
SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT 
THE FUTURE WORK OF THE INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS AND ANY 
PROPOSAL TO THE STSC IS PROPERLY FRAMED: 
 
(1) THE PAPER INTRODUCED BY FRANCE AT THE STSC IS 
PREMATURE AND IS NOT FULLY ALIGNED WITH THE RESULTS OF 
THE INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOT 
PREPARED TO AGREE TO THE PAPER AS DRAFTED.  OUR STRONG 
PRFERENCE IS TO USE THE INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS LED BY 
FRANCE TO DEVELOP A MULTIYEAR WORK PLAN THAT COULD BE 
INTRODUCED NO EARLIER THAN 2009 FOR A DECISION BY 
COPUOS.  IT IS PREMATURE TO AGREE TO A MULTIYEAR WORK 
PLAN AT THE PRESENT SESSION WITHOUT MORE IN DEPTH 
DISCUSSION ON THE TIMING AND SUBSTANCE OF THE PROPOSAL. 
(2). FUTURE WORK WILL ADDRESS BEST PRACTICES ASSOCIATED 
WITH SPACE OPERATIONS, PROCEDURES AND POLICIES FROM 
PRE-LAUNCH THROUGH END OF LIFE ACTIVITIES, (NOTE: THESE 
EFFORTS SHOULD BEAR IN MIND, BUT NOT DUPLICATE OR 
REOPEN, THE ACTIVITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS BEING 
UNDERTAKEN IN THE STSC WORKING GROUP ON NUCLEAR POWER 
SOURCES IN SPACE AND THE WORK OF THE STSC AND IADC ON 
ORBITAL DEBRIS MITIGATION. END NOTE); 
 
(3). THE FUTURE WORK SHOULD INVOLVE INPUT FROM  STATE 
MEMBERS, SPACE FARING NATION REPRESENTATIVES, 
COMMERCIAL SPACE OPERATORS AND PROVIDERS ON THEIR  BEST 
PRACTICES ASSOCIATED WITH SAFE SPACE OPERATIONS, 
PROCEDURES, AND POLICIES; 
 
(4). FUTURE WORK COULD INCLUDE THE PREPARATION OF A 
CONSOLIDATED LIST OF BEST PRACTICES ASSOCIATED WITH 
SAFE SPACE OPERATIONS; 
 
(5). FOR FUTURE REFERENCE: IN THE EVENT THAT IT IS 
AGREED AT A FUTURE COPUOS THAT THE STSC WOULD DEVELOP 
VOLUNTARY SAFE SPACE OPERATION GUIDELINES, THOSE 
GUIDELINES WOULD: 
(a). BE NO MORE STRINGENT THAN THE ASSOCIATED 
EXISTING USG POLICIES, PRINCIPLES, 
PROCEDURES, REGULATIONS, STANDARD PRACTICES, 
AND GUIDELINES; 
(b). REMAIN VOLUNTARY FOR EVERY STATE 
RESPONSIBLE FOR SPACE ACTIVITIES AND NOT BE 
LEGALLY BINDING UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW; 
(c). NOT PROVIDE SPECIFIC OR ADDITIONAL 
PENALTIES FOR FAILING TO FOLLOW THE 
GUIDELINES, BEYOND THOSE ALREADY PROVIDED 
UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW; AND 
(d). ENSURE THAT EACH PROPOSED GUIDELINE 
MAINTAINS OR IMPROVES THE SAFETY OF 
SPACEFLIGHT OPERATIONS AND PROTECTS THE SPACE 
ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT IMPOSING UNACCEPTABLE OR 
UNREASONABLE COSTS; AND 
(e). BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ACTIVITIES AND 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STSC WORKING GROUP ON 
NUCLEAR POWER SOURCES IN SPACE, THE WORK AND 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE IADC AND THE STSC 
CONCERNING ORBITAL DEBRIS MITIGATION AND THE 
UNCOPUOS GUIDELINES ON ORBITAL DEBRIS 
MITIGATION. 
 
(6). ANY WORK OF THE STSC WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE CURRENT 
OUTER SPACE LEGAL REGIME OR ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS/ISSUES. 
THE USG POSITION REMAINS THAT: 
(a). THE 1967 OUTER SPACE TREATY, 1968 RESCUE AND 
RETURN AGREEMENT, THE 1972 LIABILITY CONVENTION, 
AND THE 1975 REGISTRATION CONVENTION SHOULD BE 
ADOPTED AND FULLY ADHERED TO BY ALL NATIONS; 
(b). THE PRINCIPLES ESTABLISHED IN THESE 
AGREEMENTS HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME BECAUSE 
THEY CREATED THE FUNDAMENTAL GUIDELINES REQUIRED 
FOR THE FREE ACCESS TO, AND USE OF, OUTER SPACE 
FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES; AND, 
(c). THESE AGREEMENTS FORM THE LEGAL BASIS FOR ALL 
OUTER SPACE OPERATIONS. 
 
(7). FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION: THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL 
AVIATION ORGANIZATION (ICAO), INTERNATIONAL 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION (ITU), EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY 
(ESA), AND EUMETSAT SHOULD BE INVITED TO SEND EXPERTS 
WITH RELEVANT EXPERTISE IN SPACE OPERATIONS TO 
PARTICIPATE AS OBSERVERS IN THE INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS 
AND FUTURE WORK OF THE STSC. 
 
(a). AN INVITATION TO THE ITU SHOULD EMPHASIZE 
THEIR POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS IN PROVIDING 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ITUS PROCESSES FOR 
COORDINATING USE BY GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITES OF 
RADIO FREQUENCIES AND ASSOCIATED ORBITAL 
LOCATIONS. 
 
(b). INVITATIONS TO ESA AND EUMETSAT SHOULD NOTE 
THEIR ROLE AS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL 
INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION WHICH HAVE 
DECLARED ACCEPTANCE OF RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS 
UNDER THE LIABILITY AGREEMENT AND THE 
REGISTRATION CONVENTION. THEY ARE BOTH 
PERMANENT OBSERVERS IN COPUOS. 
 
THE USG WILL CONTINUE TO OPPOSE: 
 
(8). USE OF TERMS SUCH AS "RULES OF THE ROAD" AND 
"CODES OF CONDUCT" AND "SPACE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT" DUE 
TO THEIR LEGAL CONNOTATIONS AND ATTEMPTS BY STATES TO 
USE THESE TERMS TO CALL FOR BINDING LEGAL INSTRUMENTS. 
THE USG WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL FOCUS ON 
THE CONCEPT OF SAFE SPACE OPERATIONS; 
 
(9). ATTEMPTS TO LIMIT USG FREEDOM OF ACTIONS AND 
OPERATIONS IN OUTER SPACE; 
 
(10). THE CREATION OR ADDITION OF TREATIES OR OTHER 
LEGALLY BINDING MEASURES CONCERNING SAFE SPACE 
OPERATIONS BY THE UNGA; AND 
 
(11). THE CREATION OF UNGA PRINCIPLES ON SAFE SPACE 
OPERATIONS. 
 
THE USG WILL: 
 
(12). CONTINUE TO VOLUNTARILY OFFER ITS UNCLASSIFIED 
SPACE OBJECT TRACKING DATA, FREE OF CHARGE, TO NATIONS 
AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL OPERATORS AND CIVIL SOCIETY; 
 
(13). REMAIN OPEN ABOUT THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ITS 
NATIONAL SPACE POLICIES: 
(a). REAFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLE OF 
FREE ACCESS TO AND USE OF SPACE BY ALL/ALL NATIONS 
FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES; 
(b). CONTINUE TO SEEK INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 
WITH OTHER NATIONS IN THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER 
SPACE; 
(c). REMAIN READY TO WORK WITH OTHER NATIONS TO 
EXTEND THE BENEFITS OF SPACE, TO ENHANCE SPACE 
EXPLORATION, AND TO USE SPACE TO PROTECT AND 
PROMOTE FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD; AND 
(d). REQUEST THAT OTHER NATIONS DEMONSTRATE SIMILAR 
TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THEIR OWN SPACE POLICIES, 
PROCEDURES, ACTIVITIES AND INTENTIONS IN OUTER 
SPACE. 
 
 
¶E.  INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SPACE EXPLORATION 
 
WE AGREE THAT UN COPUOS CAN BE AN ADVOCATE FOR 
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE EXPLORATION OF SPACE, AND 
THAT IT COULD EXAMINE HOW TO DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF SPACE 
EXPLORATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.  WE SUPPORT INVITING IAF 
TO CONSIDER THE ISSUE OF THE PARTICIPATION BY DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES IN SPACE EXPORATION AND INVITING MEMBER STATES TO 
REPORT ON SIMILAR EFFORTS THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN. 
 
THE EXISTING U.N. DECLARATION ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 
IN THE EXPLORATION AND USE OF OUTER SPACE FOR THE BENEFIT 
AND IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL STATES, TAKING INTO PARTICULAR 
ACCOUNT THE NEEDS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, ADOPTED ON 13 
DECEMBER 1996 (RESOLUTION 51/122), PROVIDES SUFFICIENT 
DIRECTION TO STATES TO DETERMINE ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR 
PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE 
EXPLORATION AND USE OF OUTER SPACE.  THE RESOLUTION ALSO 
PROVIDES ADEQUATE GUIDELINES FOR ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF 
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THEIR NEED FOR TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL OF INTERNATIONAL 
COOPERATION AS A MEANS OF REACHING DEVELOPMENT GOALS. 
THUS, WE BELIEVE THAT ANY FURTHER UN COPUOS ACTION 
PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN SPACE EXPLORATION 
SHOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RESOLUTION 51/122. 
 
¶F.  PROTECTION/CONSERVATION OF DESIGNATED AREAS OF THE MOON 
AND OTHER CELESTIAL BODIES 
 
THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE 
REFERENCE MEMORANDUM TO ENCOURAGE OBSERVER ORGANIZATIONS TO 
PRODUCE INDEPENDENT STUDIES IN THIS AREA. 
 
¶G.  ISSUES RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF "PASSENGER SPACE 
TRANSPORT" 
 
THIS TOPIC IS NOT MATURE ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED BY UN 
COPUOS IN THE CONTEXT OF LEGAL OR TECHNICAL STANDARDS.  IT 
COULD BE ADDRESSED FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PRESENTATIONS ON 
THE STATE OF THE ART OR MEMBER STATE REPORTING ON NATIONAL 
POLICIES OR REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS. 
 
¶H.  NEAR EARTH OBJECTS 
 
THIS TOPIC HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN UP WITHIN THE STSC, AND A 
WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH CARRYING OUT A THREE- 
YEAR WORK PLAN.  THAT ACTIVITY WAS SUPPORTED BY THE U.S., 
BUT ANYTHING BEYOND THE THREE-YEAR HORIZON SHOULD AWAIT THE 
OUTCOME OF THE CURRENT WORK. 
RICE