11 months in space: a record; 1987 achievements in space lauded by UN Committee.

Cosmonaut Yuri V. Romanenko returned to Earth on 29 December 1987 after spending 326 days-nearly 11 months-on board Soviet space station Mir, the longest time any person has ever spent in space.

China, using satellites launched by its "Long March 2" rocket, can for the first time beam educational television programmes to 2000 small receivers throughout the country including rural and remote areas. It also launched its 20th and 21st recoverable satellites, used for Earth observation and microgravity experiments.

The Andean States-Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela-signed an accord to build satellites in the future.

Nigeria has proposed a project for regional co-operation in remote sensing applications for Africa. It also is considering a national action plan for applying science and technology to development, with special emphasis on developing technical training programmes in Africa.

The United States in the next few years looks forward to sending exploratory spacecraft to Mars, Jupiter and Neptune. In the aftermath of the tragic "Challenger" explosion in 1986, it is working towards reestablishing its space transportation system, hoping to resume space shuttle launches in August 1988.

Western Europeans resumed launch operations of their Ariane rocket, with launches in September and November 1987, putting into orbit communications satellites for the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Eutelsat), Australia (Aussat) and the Federal Republic of Germany (TV SAT).

An astrophysical observatory-the special module Kvant-was launched by the USSR, docking with space station Mir. The module carried X-ray telescopes developed as a joint venture with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, Switzerland and European Space Agency (ESA).

These were among the developments in space activities in 1987 noted by John Carver of Australia, Chairman of the Scientific and Technical SubCommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, as it met in New York from 16 to 26 February.

As part of the Sub-Committee's discussions, countries described the status of their current space activities and their plans for the future. New places to go . . .

To the edge of the

solar system?

The USSR is planning an orbital station around Mars and hopes to place an automatic vehicle on its surface in the early 1990s. The United States is developing missions to study the sun, Jupiter, Venus and Mars, some jointly with the USSR.

The United States spacecraft Galileo in October 1989 is to examine the composition and physical properties of Jupiter, the solar system's largest planet, and its moons.

Czechoslovakia reports that it will participate in an international project in 1988-1989 to investigate Mars, Phobos-one of Mars' two moons, the sun and interplanetary space.

The Mars "Observer", the first of a new class of United States spacecraft to explore the inner solar system, in 1992 is to place an unmanned spacecraft in Mars orbit to conduct geoscience and atmospheric studies.

The United States and ESA are co-operating in the Ulysses project, scheduled for launch in 1990, to observe interplanetary medium and solar phenomena.

In August 1989, the United States spacecraft Voyager 2 is to reach Neptune. Voyager 1, launched in 1977, will continue to probe the interplanetary medium while approaching the heliopause-the edge of the solar system.

Joint projects

The number of joint space projects, involving nations from all regions with widely differing political philosophies, continues to grow

The USSR in 1987 launched the international bio-satellite Cosmos 1887 with experiments and equipment developed by scientists from Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania, the Soviet Union, the United States and ESA. INTERCOSMOS, the joint space programme of the socialist countries, continues its activities.

The global meteorological satellite network-consisting of geostationary and polar orbit satellites launched by Japan, the United States, the ESA, the USSR and India-continues to provide weather observations to all interested countries.

Co-operative activities under the April 1987 Soviet-American agreement on co-operation in the exploration and peaceful use of outer space are being developed, as are activities under similar agreements concluded in 1987 between the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom, Finland and Australia.

Remote sensing

The Philippines reported that its National Mapping Resource and Information Authority-the country's principal remote sensing agency-had used satellite data in agency-had used satellite data in the preparation of a natural resources inventory, land use plans, geological studies and environmental surveys,

Using remote sensing satellite data, China had taken an inventory of its natural resources arid developed thermatic maps of vast regions of" its territory. It had recently discovered a significant coal deposit in the north of the country, as well as a vein of gold in the province of Sinkiang. It had also built a centre for the collection and processing of meteorological data supplied by satellites 'in polar orbit.

France noted that it was spending some $4 million to provide technical aid in remote sensing to regional centres in Burkina Faso, Kenya and Thailand as well as to activities in Zimbabwe, Indonesia and Colombia.

Canada was active in remote sensing, providing technical assistance to countries in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. It was developing plans for an advanced geographic information system capable of integrating remote sensing arid topographic, ocean and climate data bases to monitor change on the North American continent. It also would use data from its planned RADARSAT satellite in that svstem.

And for the future. . .

* The 13 States members of ESA have approved a long-term programme for the Agency covering its activities until the end of the century, the heart of which includes the Ariane V launch vehicle, the Hermes manned space plane and the Columbus space station. Goals include: manned space flights, satellite launches, and work of astronauts in outer space.

* Australia is planning an international space port on the Cape York peninsula iii Queensland.

* India is developing its Augemented Satellite Launch Vehicle to carry a 150 kilogram satellite developed in co-operation with the Federal Republic of Germany.

* The United Kingdom will conitinue studies of a single-stage-toorbit, horizontal-take-off-andlanding reusable space vehicle.

* Japan will continue work on developing its H-11 launch vehicle capable of launching a 2,000 kilogram payload into geostationary orbit.

* The United States Govenment is encouraging its private sector to invest in space activities. United States private companies have already signed 14 contracts to launch up to 28 commercial communication satellites.

* The United States is stressing the use of expendable launch vehicles (ELVs) in its civil programme, for missions not requiring the unique (:apabilities of the space shuttle. Its National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced a plan to acquire ELVs for some of its missions.

* Flight and system tests have begun in the USSR on a new powerful multi-purpose "Energia" launch vehicle capable of carrying into Earth orbit payloads of more than 100 tonnes, including reusable orbital spacecraft, large orbital station modules and other large spacecraft for scientific and industrial purposes.

* The Soviet Union proposed the observance in 1992 of the thirtyfifth anniversary of "Sputnik" by holding a major international conference to discuss the exploration and future uses of outer space and the best forms of international co-operation in that

area.

* Support has been given to the idea of proclaiming 1992 as "International Space Year".

The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space at its 1988 session (13-24 June, New York) called for stronger co-operation in the realm of exploring and peacefully using outer space, as well as specific projects to assist all countries, in particular developing countries. It also sought better ways to implement the recommendations of the 1982 UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE 82).

The 53-member body reviewed the work done on nuclear power sources, remote sensing and the geostationary orbit-topics under continuing review by its two subsidiary bodies. Its Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee met from 16 to 26 February in New York; the Legal Sub-Committee, from 14 to 31 March in Geneva.

The Outer Space Committee in June also discussed proposals to establish a world space organization, an international centre for joint research and technology to benefit developing countries, and a comprehensive programme of joint practical activities by States on the peaceful exploration and exploitation of outer space up to the year 2000.

In 1989, the Committee will consider a new agenda item on "Spin-off benefits of space technology: review of current status". The Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee next year will concentrate on space technology to combat environmental problems, particularly in developing countries, including a new item on space debris and pollution.

The Legal Sub-Committee will concern itself with the "legal aspects related to the application of the principle that the exploration and utilization of outer space should be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all States, taking into particular account the needs of developing countries".

Nuclear power sources

Work proceeded on draft principles relevant to the use of nuclear power sources in outer space. Concern was expressed over the consequences of re-entry of a satellite into the atmosphere and on the surface of the earth, and more information called for on expected orbital lifetime, trajectory and impact region.

Some delegations felt that nuclear power sources should not be used on board satellites in near-earthorbit, only for interplanetary missions. Activation of nuclear power sources should be carried out only after the spacecraft left earth orbit, some States said. Some nations called for an early notification and continuing supply of information to the UN Secretary-General on malfunctions of nuclear power sources.

Remote sensing

Remote sensing refers to the detection and analysis of the earth and its resources by sensors on satellites. The Committee favoured continuity, compatability and complementarity of systems for remote sensing of the earth; free distribution of meteorological information; and significant reductions in the fees charged for remote sensing data.

The Scientific and Technical SubCommittee suggested that the United Nations Programme on Space Applications emphasize longterm, project-oriented, on-the-job training in specific application areas in remote sensing and space communications.

The ITU will be holding the second session of the World Administrative Radio Conference on the Use of the Geostationary Satellite Orbit and the Planning of Space Services Utilizing It (WARCORB(2)), in Geneva &om 29 August to 5 October 1988. It is to prepare a two-part plan for the fixed-satellite service; an allotment plan for the new frequency bands; and improved co-ordination procedures in the currently used frequency bands.

The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT) is implementing programmes to meet the needs of developing countries, introducing smaller, less costly earth stations, VISTA services for isolated rural communities with inadequate communications facilities, and free use of spare INTELSAT satellite capacity for educational and medical purposes (the SHARE project). Geostationary orbit

The geostationary orbit, located 22,300 miles above the equator, is the only orbit positioned to provide continuous contact with ground stations via a single satellite. Some progress was reported towards narrowing differences in views on the use of the orbit.

In the Legal Sub-Committee, most States agreed: that the geostationary orbit, a part of outer space, was a limited natural resource which should be used rationally and economically; that it was not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, occupation or other means; and that all States should have equitable access to its use.

Other concerns: that sophisticated methods to increase the capacity of the orbit/spectrum resource would limit access by developing countries to use of the orbit; that a sui generis legal regime, additional to existing space law, needed to be created to regulate the geostationary orbit.

The Scientific and Technical SubCommittee reviewed a new study on the physical nature and technical attributes of the orbit, describing the present occupation of the orbit, space objects crossing the orbit, and the accuracy of position determination in the orbit (A/AC.105/404).

New arrangements might be needed to ensure rational and equitable use, not through a sui generis legal regime, but in conformity with existing space law and relevant decisions of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Definition of outer space

In Committee debate, some nations wanted a conventionally defined boundary between air and outer space-citing the proposed altitude of 110 kilometres or more above sea level. Other States said the need for such a definition or delimitation had not yet been established and that establishing such a delimitation might impede progress in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space.