The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) was set up by the General Assembly in 1959 to govern the exploration and use of space for the benefit of all humanity: for peace, security and development. The Committee was tasked with reviewing international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space, studying space-related activities that could be undertaken by the United Nations, encouraging space research programmes, and studying legal problems arising from the exploration of outer space.

The Committee was instrumental in the creation of the five treaties and five principles of outer space. International cooperation in space exploration and the use of space technology applications to meet global development goals are discussed in the Committee every year. Owing to rapid advances in space technology, the space agenda is constantly evolving. The Committee therefore provides a unique platform at the global level to monitor and discuss these developments.

The first meeting scheduled for 2024 is the 61st session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee held from the 29th of January to the 9th of February 2024 in Vienna, Austria.

Find more info HERE.

SCHEDULE OF INFORMAL MEETINGS OF STSC WORKING GROUPS

• Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space
      - First informal meeting: 1 February 2024, 14:00-16:00, in M7, M-Building, VIC / MS Teams.
      - Second informal meeting: 2 February, 10:00-12:00 in M7, M-Building, VIC / MS Teams.
      - Third informal meeting: 5 February, 10:00-12:00 in M7, M-Building, VIC / MS Teams.
      - Fourth informal meeting: 5 February, 14:00-16:00 in M7, M-Building, VIC / MS Teams.
      - Fifth informal meeting: 6 February, 10:00-12:00 in M7, M-Building, VIC / MS Teams.
      - Sixth informal meeting (if necessary): 6 February, 14:00-16:00 in M7, M-Building, VIC / MS Teams. 

• Working Group on the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities:
      - First informal meeting: 31 January 2024, 13:30-14:50, M2, M-Building, VIC / MS Teams.
      - Second informal meeting: 1 February 2024, 13:30-14:50, M2, M-Building, VIC / MS Teams.
      - Third informal meeting: 5 February 2024, 13:30-14:50, M2, M-Building, VIC / MS Teams. 
      - Fourth informal meeting: 7 February 2024, 9:30- 10:00, M2, M-Building, VIC / MS Teams.

• Working Group of the Whole will have an additional (8th) formal meeting on Wednesday p.m. in M-Plenary. 
  
  

SCHEDULE OF OTHER MEETINGS

• Space and Global Health Network meetings: 5 February, 13:00-15:00, and 6 February, 9:00-11:00, Hybrid, Room M0E100
• International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) Steering Committee meeting: 30 January, Room M5, Hybrid, 9.30 - 18.00.
• Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) meeting: 31 January, Room M5, Hybrid, 9.30 -18.00 
  
  

SCHEDULE OF INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS

• Space science and technology for promoting peace: Draft General Assembly Resolution   
  - 30 January, 13:00-15:00, M2, M-Building
  - 31 January, 9:00-10:00, M3, M-Building
  - 1 February, 9:00-10:00, M3, M-Building
  - 2 February,13:00-15:00, M2, M-Building
  
  
• Consultative Mechanism on Lunar Activities: Non-paper by the delegation of Romania
  - 5 February, 13:00-15:00, M3, M-Building
  - 6 February, 9:00-10:00, M3, M-Building
  - 7 February, 9:00-10:00, M3, M-Building
  
  

SIDE EVENT INFORMATION

• " UNOOSA Leadership Strategy", side event organized by the Office for Outer Space Affairs, 29 Jan. 2024, starting 1 p.m. Vienna time (CET), room M2 at the VIC.
• "Space4Women: Progress and Updates", side event organized by the Office for Outer Space Affairs, 30 Jan. 2024, starting 1:15 p.m. Vienna time (CET), room M3 at the VIC.
• " IADC at 30: The Work of the IADC in Tackling the Challenges of attaining Sustainability in the Space Environment", side event organized by the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) and UK Space Agency (UKSA), 30 Jan. 2024, starting 6:30 p.m. Vienna time (CET), at the ESPI premises.
• "Initiative for International Year of Planetary Defence" side event/reception organized by the European Space Agency, 31 Jan. 2024, starting 6:15 p.m. Vienna time (CET), Mozart Room at the VIC.
• "Access to Space for All: Overview and Updates for 2024", side event organized by the Office for Outer Space Affairs, 31 Jan. 2024, starting 1:15 p.m. Vienna time (CET), room M3 at the VIC.
• "Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society", side event co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Spain, the Permanent Mission of Chile, European Southern Observatory (ESO), the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) and the Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS), 1 Feb. 2024, starting 6:15 p.m. Vienna time (CET), room M3 at the VIC.
• "The Strategic Value of Earth Observation: Maximizing the Benefits for Governments and the International Community", side event organized by the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) and the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), 5 Feb. 2024, starting 6:30 p.m. Vienna time (CET), at the ESPI premises.
• "Spacetalk - Space Operations Coordination Platform", side event organized by Switzerland, 6 Feb. 2024, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Vienna time (CET), room M2 at the VIC.
• "UN/Portugal Management and Sustainability of Outer Space Activities Conference", joint side event co-organized by the Government of Portugal and the Office for Outer Space Affairs, 6 Feb. 2024, starting 1:15 p.m. Vienna time (CET), room M2 at the VIC.
• "World Space Week Association Reception", side event organized by the World Space Week Association, 6 Feb. 2024, starting 6:30 p.m. Vienna time (CET), Mozart Room at the VIC.
• "Outer Space in the Zero Draft of the Pact of the Future: Perspectives and Next Steps", joint side event co-organized by the German UN Mission Vienna and the Office for Outer Space Affairs in kind cooperation with the German Space Agency at DLR, 7 Feb. 2024, starting 1 p.m. Vienna time (CET), room M3 at the VIC.
• "Space - Youth - Future Generations", joint side event co-organized by the Government of Austria, Space Generation Advisory Council and the Office for Outer Space Affairs, 7 Feb. 2024, starting 6 p.m. Vienna time (CET), room M2 at the VIC.
• "UK/UNOOSA Collaboration on Space Sustainability: Announcing Phase 4", side event co-organized by the United Kingdom and the Office for Outer Space Affairs, 8 Feb. 2024, 9:30-9:50 a.m. Vienna time (CET) in the space exhibit, ground floor at the VIC.
• Reception hosted by the Delegation of Romania to the STSC and the Chair of STSC, 8 February 2024, starting 6:15 p.m., Vienna time (CET), Mozart Room at the VIC.