United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

General Assembly Resolution 32/196

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

32/196. International co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space

Recalling its resolution 31/8 or 8 November 1976,

Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,1

Reaffirming the common interest of mankind in furthering the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and in continuing efforts to extend to interested States the benefits derived therefrom, as well as the importance of international co-operation in this field, for which the United Nations should continue to provide a focal point,

Reaffirming also the importance of international co-operation in developing the rule of law in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space,

Commemorating the twentieth anniversary since the launching into orbit of the first man-made object, Sputnik, which marked the beginning of the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and of international co-operation in this field,

Recalling with satisfaction its resolution 32/195 of 20 December 1977 concerning the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,²

1. Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space;

2. Invites States which have not yet become parties to the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space,³ the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects⁴ and the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space⁵ to give early consideration to ratifying or acceding to those international agreements;

3. Notes with satisfaction the considerable progress achieved by the Legal Sub-Committee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and by a working party of that Committee in the elaboration of draft principles governing the use by States of artificial earth satellites for direct television broadcasting,6 and the work done in formulating a tentative text of a principle of "consultation and agreements between States"⁷ and a draft preamble;⁸

4. Further notes with satisfaction that the Legal Sub-Committee;

(a) Achieved significant progress by formulating six additional draft principles relating to the legal implications of remote sensing of the earth from space;9

(b) Continued its efforts to complete the draft treaty relating to the moon;

5. Takes note with appreciation of the resolution adopted by the Legal Sub-Committee paying tribute to its Chairman, Mr. Eugeniusz Wyzner, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his assumption of office;¹⁰

6. Recommends that the Legal Sub-Committee at its seventeenth session should:

(a) Continue, as matters of high priority:

(i) Its efforts to complete the elaboration of draft principles governing the use by States of artificial earth satellites for direct television broadcasting;

(ii) Its detailed consideration of the legal implications of remote sensing of the earth from space, with the aim of formulating draft principles;

(iii) Its consideration of the draft treaty relating to the moon;

(b) Continue to discuss questions relating to the definition and/or delimitation of outer space and outer space activities, and also bear in mind questions relating to the geostationary orbit;

7. Notes with satisfaction that the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space at its fourteenth session continued:

(a) To consider in detail both the current pre-operational/experimental phase and a possible future global/international operational phase of remote sensing of the earth from space;

(b) To make progress in the implementation of the United Nations programme on space applications;

8. Recommends that the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee at its fifteenth session should continue its work on the matters before it, giving priority to the three items mentioned in paragraph 71 of the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space;¹¹

9. Further recommends that the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee at that session should set up a working party to consider, in accordance with paragraph 75 of the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,11 all the factors and any further relevant information concerning a possible United Nations conference on outer space matters;

10. Endorses the recommendations of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space:

(a) That the Secretary-General, for consideration by the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee at its fifteenth session, should:

(i) Undertake the studies and prepare the documentation on questions relating to remote sensing of the earth from space, as referred to in paragraphs 40, 44 and 49 of the Committee�s report;11

(ii) Prepare a factual study on the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit with a view to enabling a study to be made of the different aspects of its utilization;

(b) That the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee, at its fifteenth session, should examine the subject-matter referred to in subparagraph (a) (ii) above;

11. Further endorses the recommendation to strengthen, within available resources, the role of the two remote sensing centres referred to in paragraph 73 of the report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee,¹² and, in this connexion, expresses its appreciation to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Government of Italy for the holding of international training courses on the application of remote sensing for the benefit of developing countries;

12. Endorses the invitation to the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraph 48 of the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,¹³ to explore, within the existing resources, the possibility of continuing, expanding and co-ordinating programmes of the United Nations and its agencies involving the use of satellite remote sensing data, particularly for the benefit of developing countries, and to report thereon to the Committee;

13. Expresses its appreciation to all Governments which acted as hosts to, offered fellowships for, or otherwise assisted in the holding of, international training seminar and workshops on space applications, particularly for the benefit of developing countries;

14. Endorses the proposed United Nations programme on space applications for 1978;

15. Approves a continuing sponsorship by the United Nations of the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station in India and the CELPA Mar del Plata Station in Argentina;

16. Requests the specialized agencies to continue to provide the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space with progress reports on their work relating to the peaceful uses of outer space;

17. Welcomes the report submitted by the World Meteorological Organization on its tropical cyclone and the World Weather Watch,14 in response to General Assembly resolution 31/8, and notes in particular that the satellite has revolutionized the initial detection of tropical cyclones, that the availability of five meteorological geostationary satellites by 1978 would mean that all tropical areas of the world would be under constant surveillance and that the success of the project depends upon continued and increased committal of essential resources to this programme, and calls upon the World Meteorological Organization to intensify its efforts in this field and to report thereon in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Assembly;

18. Requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to continue its work, in accordance with the present and previous resolutoins of the General Assembly, to consider, as appropriate, new projects in outer space activities and to submit a report to the Assembly, to consider, as appropriate, new projects in outer space activities and to submit a report to the Assembly at its thirty-third session, in which would be included its views on which subjects should be studied in the future;

19. Expresses its deep appreciation to the Government and people of Austria for making possible the holding of the twentieth session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space at Vienna and for their generous hospitality in this regard.

108th plenary meeting
20 December 1977

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 1472 (XIV) of 12 December 1959, 1721 E (XVI) of 20 December 1961 and 3182 (XXVIII) of 18 December 1973,

Noting that the advance of science and technology has enhanced the knowledge of, and interest in, the peaceful uses of outer space and international co-operation in this important field, to the benefit of mankind and to the advantage of all States, whatever their level of economic and scientific development,

Recognizing the importance of participation in the work of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space of States from all regional groups on the basis of equitable geographical distribution,

Welcoming in this connexion the fact that States belonging to all regional groups have expressed interest in becoming members of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,

Aware of the need to ensure that the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space carries out its work in the most effective way,

Having discussed the report of the Committee on the Peaceful uses of Outer Space,15

1. Decides to expand the membership of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space from thirty-seven to forty-seven;

2. Requests the President of the General Assembly, taking due account to the present membership of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, to appoint the new members not later than 31 January 1978, in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical distribution;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to ascertain the views of Member States on ways and means of allowing participation of additional Member States in the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and, after having received the opinion of the Committee, to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-third session.

108th plenary meeting
20 December 1977

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The President of the General Assembly subsequently informed the Secretary-General¹⁶ that, in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution B above, he had appointed the following members of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: Benin, Colombia, Ecuador, Iraq, Netherlands, Niger, Philippines, Turkey, United Republic of Cameroon and Yugoslavia.

As a result, the Committee is composed of the following Member States: ALBANIA, ARGENTINA, AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, BENIN, BRAZIL, BULGARIA, CANADA, CHAD, CHILE, COLOMBIA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, ECUADOR, EGYPT, FRANCE, GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, GERMANY, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF, HUNGARY, INDIA, INDONESIA, IRAN, IRAQ, ITALY, JAPAN, KENYA, LEBANON, MEXICO, MONGOLIA, MOROCCO, NETHERLANDS, NIGER, NIGERIA, PAKISTAN, PHILIPPINES, POLAND, ROMANIA, SIERRA LEONE, SUDAN, SWEDEN, TURKEY, UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, UNITED REPUBLIC OF CAMAROON, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, VENEZUELA and YUGOSLAVIA.

Note

1. Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/32/20).

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2. Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex.

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3. Resolution 2345 (XXII), annex.

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4. Resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex.

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5. Resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex.

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6. Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/32/20), annex VII.

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7. Ibid., annex V.

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8. Ibid., annex IV.

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9. A/AC.105/196, annex III, appendix A.

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10. Ibid., para.14.

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11. Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/32/20).

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12. A/AC.105/195.

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13. Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/32/20).

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14. A/AC.105/197.

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15. Official Records to the General Assembly, Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/32/20).

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16. A/32/499.

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