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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0007.PDF
->* ; ">^:;;1^:v;; ™;^ IN FLIGHT International, 4 January 1962 UN Agreement on Space from James Avery Joyce United Nations, New York AFTER a period of frustration lasting nearly two years, the end of 1961 saw a significant breakthrough at the United Nations on the subject of the peaceful uses of space. The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, formed in December 1959, held its first meeting on November 27, 1961; and on December 11a resolution drafted by this committee was adopted "unanimously and by acclamation" by the main Political and Security Committee. This resolution (reproduced in full below) clearly lays down the dual principle that international law, including the UN Charter, applies to outer space and that celestial bodies are not subject to national appropriation. Although it has formally to be presented to the plenary body, its unanimous backing by the 103 members of the main UN Committee—and especially the prior agreement of the USA and USSR on the text—means that its position in contemporary history is assured. The original membership of the outer-space committee comprised Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada. Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Poland, Rumania, Sweden, USSR, United Arab Republic, United Kingdom and United States. To this membership are now added Chad, Morocco, Mongolia and Sierra Leone, and the committee is asked to meet not later than March 31, 1962 and to report to the UN Assembly next year. The resolution calls on all States to inform the committee of space launchings, and to register them through the Secretary- General. The secretariat, by providing for the voluntary exchange of information on outer space by governments and non-govern mental organizations, would become "a focal point for international co-operation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space." The resolution also requests the World Meteorological Organiza tion and the International Telecommunication Union to report on such matters as "the possibility of large-scale weather modifica tion" and long-range communication by the use of satellites. On the latter point, it invites the Expanded Program of Technical Assistance and the United Nations Special Fund to give "sympa thetic consideration" to requests by member States for assistance in the survey of their own communication needs. During the five days of debate which preceded the adoption of this history-making agreement, over thirty delegations contributed a variety of viewpoints and speculations which—even if generalities prevailed—provided a conspectus of the space question of absorbing interest. Mr Adlai Stevenson of the United States presented the resolution in a speech already reported in Flight (December 21, 1961). He emphasized that the fifth part of the programme sought to give new life to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. This committee would study the legal problems and plan an international conference on outer space. It was on the subject of the composition and "veto" powers of the space committee, incidentally, that a debate arose—as it did two years ago—with the Soviet Union; but it is to be noted that, by the time the final text was put to the vote on December 11, the Continued overleaf TEXT OF UN RESOLUTION ON International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space The General Assembly, Recognizing the common interest of mankind in furthering the peaceful use of outer space and the urgent need to strengthen inter national co-operation in this important field, Believing that the exploration and use of outer space should be only for the betterment of mankind and to the benefit of States irres pective of the stage of their economic or scientific development, (1) Commends to States for their guidance in the exploration and use of outer space the following principles: (a) International law, including the United Nations Charter, applies to outer space and celestial bodies; (b) Outer space and celestial bodies are free for exploration and use by all States in conformity with international law, and are not subject to national appropriation; (2) Invites the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to study and report on the legal problems which may arise from the exploration and use of outer space. B The General Assembly, Believing that the United Nations should provide a focal point for international co-operation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, (1) Calls upon States launching objects into orbit or beyond to furnish information promptly to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space through the Secretary General for purposes of registra tion of launchings; (2) Requests the Secretary General to maintain a public registry of . the information furnished in accordance with Paragraph One above; .~ 3) Requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in co-operation with the Secretary General, and making full use of the functions and resources of the Secretariat: (a) To maintain close contact with governmental and non-govern mental organizations concerned with outer space matters; (b) To provide for the exchange of such information relating to outer space activities as governments may supply on a voluntary basis, supplementing but not duplicating existing technical and scientific exchanges; (c) To assist in the study of measures for the promotion of inter national co-operation in outer space activities; (4) Further requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to report to the General Assembly on the arrangements under taken for the performance of these functions and on such developments relating to the peaceful uses of outer space as it considers significant. The General Assembly, Noting with gratification the marked progress opened up for meteorological science and technology by the advances in outer space, Convinced of the world-wide benefits to be derived from international co-operation in weather research and analysis, (1) Recommends to all Member States and to the World Meteoro logical Organization and other appropriate specialized agencies the early and comprehensive study, in the light of developments in outer space, of measures: (a) To advance the state of atmospheric science and technology so as to provide greater knowledge of basic physical forces affecting climate and the possibility of large-scale weather modification; (b) To develop existing weather forecasting capabilities and help Member States make effective use of such capabilities through regional meteorological centres; (2) Requests the World Meteorological Organization, consulting as Continued overleaf
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