Small satellites, space debris, sharing outer space benefits considered by two subcommittees.

Prospects for using small satellites to bring the benefits of space technology to developing countries and discoveries in measuring and assessing the dangers posed by space debris--man-made objects in orbit around the Earth, including defunct and fragmentized satellites--were among the key issues reviewed by the thirty-third session (12-23 February, Vienna) of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

The Committee's other subsidiary body--the Legal Subcommittee--ended its thirty-fifth session (18-28 March, Vienna) with a new compromise text on how best to ensure that the benefits of space research were shared with developing countries. The draft, formulated as a resolution for the General Assembly's consideration, represented a breakthrough in debate on the subject, since it emphasized that States were free to determine all aspects of their cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space on an equitable and mutually acceptable basis. Modes of cooperation would be tailored to suit the countries concerned.

An earlier proposal by Brazil and 11 other developing countries had focused on the development of indigenous space capabilities by all States, exchange of material and equipment, and transfer of technology. A counterproposal, sponsored by Germany and France, had stressed that States' participation in such cooperation should be guided by the need to allocate resources efficiently.

Among other issues, the Legal Subcommittee found that there was no need to review or revise the principles governing the use of nuclear power sources in outer space, adopted by the Assembly in 1992.

It continued discussion on the definition of outer space and the use of the geostationary orbit, which is located approximately 22,300 miles directly above the Equator and permits continuous contact between a satellite and a single ground station. Satellites in that orbit appear to be stationary in the sky, since their orbits are synchronized with the earth's rotation.

The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, in noting that relatively low cost micro- and small satellites could make significant space capabilities accessible to a wide range of users, including students, engineers and scientists in many countries, recommended that the UN Space Applications Programme should devote more attention to those issues. Following the Subcommittee's 12 and 13 February meetings, a symposium on the use of such satellites to meet the needs of developing countries was held.

Also, in line with a multi-year plan adopted in 1995 for dealing with space debris, the Subcommittee formulated a chapter on their measurement, covering a wide range of methods. Chapters on modelling of the debris environment and on mitigation options were to be added in coming years.

The session also showed signs of a general move towards agreement on convening a third UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), following several years of debate on the question. The emerging consensus was based on an event of restricted duration--no longer than one week--and scope that could cover the intended objectives. Two earlier conferences had been held in Vienna in 1968 and 1982.

Other issues discussed by the Subcommittee related to: the use of nu-clear power sources in outer space; remote sensing; geostationary orbit; regional centres for space science and technology education in developing countries; space transportation systems and planetary exploration; developments in astronomy and space medicine; and progress in the International Geosphere-Biosphere (Global Change) Programme.