Dr. Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu’s opening speech at the Space Generation Advisory Council Congress, Prague, September 23, 2010
Everything happens for a reason. May be it is not entirely by chance that the opening of this Space Generation Advisory Council congress takes place on September 23, the day of autumn equinox this year. The Sun crosses the equator, enters the constellation of Libra, and the day and night are of approximately equal length. All these elements suggest balance, equal opportunities, friendship and collaboration that are basic ingredients for the activity of the members of your organization as well.
SGAC vision to employ the creativity and vigor of youth in advancing humanity through the peaceful uses of outer space is not only a statement that is politically correct. It represents an imperative requirement if we want to keep and develop a world that has to be based essentially on science, on knowledge in order to give the future generations the opportunity to live in a better, safer, more stable, ongoing developing world.
In line with the Space Generation Advisory Council, I strongly believe that the voice of students and young professionals should be heard in the creation of international space policy. As those who will be becoming the key policymakers, providers and users of space, we believe that it is imperative that their opinion is taken into account
Knowing the outer space involves many fields of connected and interdisciplinary activities. I would like to make further reference and considerations on the most important ones.
Space Exploration represents mainly the use of astronomy and space technology to explore outer space.
Curiosity is a characteristic of the human race. We are born with a primordial urge to explore, to blaze new trails, map new lands, and try to find answers for this type of questions: who are we? Where do we come from? What is the Earth? The Universe?
To become familiar with the universe beyond the earth we have to travel, to explore the outer space. This has always been a challenge along the history of the humankind. Since ancient times, humans have dreamed to leave their home planet and explore new worlds unknown to them. This dream became reality only in 1957 with the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1 that marked the start of exploring the outer space.
Every single important achievement in the exploration of the outer space involved long term programmes with specialists in new fields of activity, major investments and humongous budgets. Iuri Gagarin’s first manned space flight, Neil Armstrong’s first step on the Moon, the ongoing human activity on board of generations of orbital stations, generations of telecommunication, remote sensing, meteorological and other type of satellites, exploring the limits of our solar system and penetrating the universe by millions of light years using ultra performing space telescopes have been possible only with government and public support, budget allocations and many brilliant minds able to coordinate and carry out the necessary activities. Nevertheless, we need to understand that in order to get to know our home planet, the Earth, we need the support of the knowledge of the outer space. The Universe is part of us and we are part of the Universe. The Earth, in my opinion, is just a place in the Universe where our existence could be materialized.
Human and material investments in the outer space are long term investments and the results materialize after long years of hard work. In this context, outer space exploration, space applications, can be promoted properly by developed countries. In general, a whole chain of activities has to be in place, starting with promoting knowledge regarding the outer space and its exploration among the young generation, in schools, universities, continuing with the selection and training of specialists giving them the opportunity to make the best use of their knowledge accumulated from practical projects carried out in performing institutes and laboratories, that are at the basis of the successful space missions.
Unfortunately, there are countries where space applications, although necessary, are promoted slowly and with great difficulty, transitional governments with confusing priorities, short term oriented, neglecting the outer space field that does not bring immediate benefits. This is where you, the young generation here, have a role of paramount importance – to determine a new type of leadership, envisaging the future and ample activities with long term meaningful perspectives, such as space activities. Peaceful exploration and utilization of the outer space will bring the benefits of space technology to Earth in order to ensure sustainable development for all countries. In space activities, the efforts made are conjugated and the results are shared at global level. In this respect, the role of international organizations and other entities in the space field is of a great importance in promoting space activities at national, regional, inter-regional and global level. I would like to underline the particular role of regional mechanisms in providing platforms for enhanced coordination and cooperation between space faring nations and emerging space nations and in establishing partnerships between users and providers of space-based services.
With regard to Education and Employment, the outer space represents a field that is in full progress generating new jobs requiring a high level of education.
Space development is not a goal in itself, it is a vehicle connecting people, enabling them to exchange ideas and ideals. Education represents the future of a knowledge based society, a society we are aiming at and if we want to achieve it, we have a lot to do. The types of education and collaboration in the field of research have dramatically changed in the space communication era. Communication technologies give us the opportunity to be continuously in direct contact with the life of our planet, giving us the possibility to immediately find out what is going on everywhere in the world. There are advantages and disadvantages in this respect. Wars can be seen life on TV, at the same time with natural disasters or Oscar Awards Gala. We can take sides, we can take attitude, but we can also initiate aid campaigns or immediately intervene wherever necessary. The Earth has become a Global village.
Research and development are two sides of vast processes generating significant benefits. For instance, the UN Space Applications Programme, supported by a number of local initiatives tries to raise awareness about space technologies and their use in the daily life of this planet, especially in vulnerable regions. And here, the young generation has an important role: to provide a better coordination between research and development. International statistics show that approximately 50% of the research programmes are not used, so they can never lead to progress. Valuable ideas, ingenious solutions are forgotten among the pages of files that contain results of researches that cannot find a mechanism and practical application in order to generate value. This happens mostly in countries that are still looking for mechanisms and ways of having a benefit from research, research that is carried out from public money. Private initiatives in this field are welcome because they are result driven and their target is to obtain results from every single cent invested. For instance, the US administration initiative of using private money in promoting expensive space programmes ultimately aims at obtaining noticeable results with wide applicability that are carried out using investments that are more effectively used than in the public sector. However, some legal aspects need to be clarified in this respect.
Since we are talking about a highly dynamic field of activity where business can bring a lot of profits, we cannot imagine what would be the stock exchange market and business environment without ICT these days? Education, new specialties, like R&D or ICT activities, generate jobs and incomes. Constant innovation perpetuates this cycle.
Here, the future belongs to you, to the young generation.
Throughout the centuries, societies around the world have faced the consequences of natural phenomena such as earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. Systematic analyses of such phenomena and their impact, as reflected in the disasters they provoke, have allowed scientists to characterize the peculiarities of such natural events and identify the social trends that make societies vulnerable to such phenomena. And while, in the twentieth century, Governments established national emergency committees to respond to such events in a more coordinated manner, the increase in the number of disasters around the world has now forced Governments to rethink their strategy.
Experience has shown that activities carried out at all stages of the full disaster management cycle involve a variety of agencies both from the public and the private sectors, at different levels, and that such activities are best conducted through a coordinated approach. In disaster-risk management and emergency response it is essential to use accurate and timely information for assessing existing or emerging situations and for making decisions regarding the course of action to be taken. Despite the fact that space-based information can be useful for supporting the full disaster management cycle, it is rarely used by those in charge of coordinating and conducting related activities. Because of that, the mission statement of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) is to “ensure that all countries and international and regional organizations have access to and develop the capacity to use all types of space-based information to support the full disaster management cycle”.
Disaster management needs to be dealt with on the long term. Continuous and intense R&D is needed. The role of space based assets on the recent major natural disasters in Haiti, China and Pakistan is a solid argument for serious investments in space based solutions. Loss of life and property could have been diminished if better information was available through improved risk assessment, early warning and monitoring of disasters. In that regard, the integrated and coordinated use of space technologies and their applications can play a crucial role in supporting disaster management by providing accurate and timely information and communication support.
There are other important issues related to the environment such as natural resources, energy, and ecology both at terrestrial and outer space level. Data available from the space is important for defining alternative solutions in the field of energy. Alternative solutions for energy will automatically generate a balance in excessive exploitation of the natural resources that are already known. Excessive exploitation of natural resources causes ecologic unbalances that may lead to natural disasters.
Research and development in space science and technology is a fundamental prerequisite for any space application for the benefit of human development on Earth, for protecting and preserving the Earth and space environment for the future generations.
In the past few years, we often hear about Critical infrastructure which is a term used by governments to describe assets that are essential for the functioning of a society and economy. Critical Infrastructure Protection relates to the preparedness and response to serious incidents that involve the critical infrastructure of a region or nation.
The outer space is more and more involved in realization of security and in protection of a wide range of infrastructures and related activities. Images transmitted from the outer space, reliable communications, use of global navigation satellite systems, are only some examples of the way in which space resources can contribute to the realization of a safer and more secure environment on Earth in many fields of activity.
When talking about protection of outer space infrastructure, we will find out that space debris represent an increasing danger for active spaceships, including the ones having humans on board. Space debris comprise the ever-increasing amount of inactive space hardware in orbit around the Earth as well as fragments of spacecraft that have broken up, exploded or otherwise become abandoned. The February 10, 2009 satellite collision between active Iridium 33 and the abandoned Kosmos-2251 was the first accidental hypervelocity collision between two intact artificial satellites in Earth orbit. Many times the International Space Station maneuvered on orbit to avoid the collision with various space debris, some of them having large dimensions. This example shows the big danger already existing into the outer space for very expensive space infrastructures.
I do not intend to debate on militarization of the outer space. I will limit myself to briefly mentioning that experiments and testing carried out along years caused pollution of cosmic environment putting in danger the operation of many satellites. The 1967 Space Treaty and other treaties and international documents limit this type of activities to a large extent providing an increased security for the space infrastructure of all nations.
I do hope that no radical, extremist fracture or a drug cartel will ever have the chance to use their own satellites. This is an important topic to be reflected on from the point of view of the security of the mankind.
If we want to live in a secure environment on Earth, we have to make sure that the outer space is secure and permanent proactive action needs to be taken in order to achieve global security.
Outer space exploring should not be seen as conditional to the resolution of other social problems on Earth, but as another way to solve them. At the same time, we are witnessing the process of shifting emphasis from scientific exploration of outer space to the practical applications of space technology, a process that has triggered a whole series of actions related to the promotion of international cooperation in the uses of space technology for economic and social development. Beginning with the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space -UNISPACE in 1968, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN OOSA) has carried out programmes designed to disseminate information and provide training in the practical applications of space technology, in particular for developing countries. There are reports and studies prepared by UN OOSA ranging from background information to substantive studies in various fields of space research, including practical applications of space technology, space law and organizational questions relating to international cooperation in those fields.
The International Space Station has been in orbit since 1998 and humankind has come to understand what it needs to know regarding human space habitats and living in outer space.
Satellite telecommunications, the global widespread cable television, cell phones, GNSS systems, the Internet and a multitude of goods and services linked to space technologies are commonly not only accepted and used by a large community, but became indispensable for everyday’s life. Bill Gates and others became very wealthy as the result of a new phase of space technology development. Key thinkers and researchers are looking towards the development of human activities not only on the Moon, but on Mars and on asteroids as well.
Various entrepreneurs are developing fleets of private spaceships. Space tourism activities are developing very fast.
The vast majority of people around the world are still thinking of outer space as an elite field for astronauts and scientists, not for them. Meanwhile, unemployment is high, inspiration is low, economies are crashing, job loss is increasingly common, school systems are failing, outdated school curriculum programs in many countries are unable to motivate students to lead. In the same time people are searching for ways to create prosperous futures for themselves and their families. So, let’s find ways to expose more people to outer space development, and the result will be beneficial for all humankind.
Outer space development involves a culmination of forces – historical, legal, ideological, institutional, political, economic, psychological and structural all operating together, so that space commercialization and privatization are widespread accepted norms. In a crisis period a new trend is being set by the most powerful space nation. It calls to a large extent for more participation from the private-sector in space exploration and other programs. Already a critical number of space entrepreneurs have paved the way towards new space industries. Some have started developing private spaceship development firms and are selling tickets to trips to outer space. Millions of dollars are being offered through various prizes to spur new initiatives and increased privatization of space. For example Ansari X Prize, Google X Prize, NASA Centennial Challenges Prizes, the America’s Space Prize, the Heinlein Prize for Practical Accomplishments in Commercial Space Activities and the NASA Ralph Steckler/Space Grant Space Colonization Research and Technology Opportunity.
A new step toward accomplishing this goal is to expose students, teachers, administrators, civic leaders and public officials to cutting-edge research which highlights emerging industries in the field of outer space development. Exposing students to this type of knowledge while it is being created is cutting-edge and likely to have a seriously positive impact of their future careers. Preparing them now to lead in newly emerging industries at a time when outer space settlements are being constructed can serve as a powerful motivating force to enable them to want to excel in school.
Space has been known to engage and interest students, and it is time to take these possibilities to a place beyond mere fascination and engagement. Meaningful participation in outer space development is resulting in tangible careers opportunities.
Public outreach, touches a variety of activities aimed at promoting public awareness and understanding of science and making informal contributions to science education.
The benefits of Space Technology, both direct and indirect, have introduced new dimensions into the study and understanding of Earth’s processes towards improving the quality of life. An essential prerequisite to partaking in these opportunities is the building of various indigenous capacities for the development and utilization of Space Science and Technology. Educational programmes are being developed to cater for the regions’ interests and aspirations regarding the peaceful uses of SST for socioeconomic development, education and research, being oriented towards the dissemination of knowledge in relevant aspects of Space Science and Technology.
Outreach programmes which create and raise awareness are primarily executed through workshops and other forms of educational support to school children at all levels. There are also programmes promoting access to space science for specialists from all over the world through fellowship training programmes offered by different countries or international organizations.
Part of the work of advertising the space sector is to listen to society at large and awareness is to be promoted at the societal level.
Educate and raise awareness should be a dialectic process of presenting the case of space, listening carefully to feedback and constantly finding a balanced way to input people’s needs back into the space development plan.
Many of today’s pressing issues need a scientific response. Science can, and should, have an important role in achieving poverty reduction, environmental sustainability, food and water security, and global health. But the ability of tomorrow’s science to solve challenges humanity is confronted with, will only be met if tomorrow’s scientists learn today about real world science and its responsibilities.
Let’s act together for a better world.
ISU Alumni Conference and Reunion Presentation, August 6, 2010
I want to thank International Space University for inviting me as a guest speaker at this Alumni Conference and Reunion to share with you a view about space exploration, about UN and new initiatives promoted in this framework.
Every nice story starts with a dream. We, humans, dream about things we are connected with from the beginning of our existence. The Universe is part of us and we are part of the Universe with every cell of our bodies. The Earth, in my opinion, is just a place in Universe where our existence could be materialized. The Earth took us up in its hands, protects us as human beings, let us grow as individuals, as groups, as society, let us build, investigate, create new things for a better existence, and develop knowledge, skills and instruments to find more and more about ourselves and about our existence in the Universe.
We have reached the level of controlling things and processes on Earth, the level where we could protect ourselves of tremendous things, but also the level where we could destroy ourselves and our home planet.
During the last century we have reached new levels of science, technology, industry, economical and social development, but in the same time radically changed the natural balance of the planet we live on.
As a matter of fact, only after radical negative changes in our lives and existence, being it natural or man made disasters, wars, diseases, economical crashes, we had the straight and determination to create institutions, organizations, to start protecting us against those negative changes and to start thinking how we could better improve at the planetary level our life on a long term.
Today, going to the stars means to learn, to gather knowledge, to enrich our spirit and to chart new ways of shaping our future. But new possibilities have always been matched by new responsibilities.
The picture of Earth, taken from outer space, has revealed the unique beauty of our planet - and its great vulnerability. It has become the very embodiment of a new sense of global community - making it all the more essential that the spirit of consensus and cooperation in space activities will be further strengthened.
The limitless expanse of the cosmos does not admit of borders or national jurisdictions. Space exploration has given us the opportunity to see the Earth for what it is in the context of the galaxies around us: a tiny sanctuary of life in the midst of the multitude of the heavens. Confronted with the vastness of the universe, we often feel our insignificance. What we should feel even more is the absurdity of the divisions in our small world.
Knowledge, improving life, creating new technologies, protecting our mother planet is very tightly connected with space exploration.
When faced with the issue of space exploration, one generally has an idea of the fields of study and disciplines that are involved: technology, physics, chemistry, robotics, astronomy and planetary sciences, space biology and medicine, disciplines that are usually referred as the “sciences”. When space is investigated by robots is quite enough to add to these sciences a normal legal frame work and the full spectrum of space exploration is well defined. When we sent humans into outer space the spectrum of problems derived from this endeavour is more divers. The next generation of space explorers, when humans will resume exploring the Moon, will reach Mars and asteroids, even the new generation of space tourists, need a more profound and comprehensive approach and understanding of all aspects of a space flight. This understanding involves more disciplines as psychology and sociology, history, philosophy, anthropology, cultural studies, political sciences and of course law.
Once in space, humans are no longer just citizens of individual countries, but also of the planet Earth, caring for its overall global sustainability. The next generation for sure will explore new places and discover new worlds. Those adventures will be driven by the human desire of quest for knowledge and human curiosity. They will provide a main opportunity for equitable international cooperation. Humans divided on Earth will hopefully unite in space as citizens of one planet.
An interesting vision on Humans in Outer Space was developed at the “Humans in Outer Space” conference, held in Vienna in 2007. This vision provides a European perspective in identifying the relevant needs and interests linked with space exploration. I had the opportunity to fly and work for eight days into outer space. During the time of my training, of my space flight and after, until now, I had the opportunity to check on myself the multitude of implications and effects of a space flight, most of them being concluded at the above-mentioned conference.
When you are on orbit you become a citizen of the planet, and you have the same feeling long after a space flight, even if you represent a specific country. The view of Earth from a space orbit is the view of a fragile oasis in the vastness of the solar system and you feel the need to protect it from natural and man-made threats. To share these feelings and to act in this respect 25 astronauts and cosmonauts from 13 countries have organized in 1985 the Association of Space Explorers. Now the association with a membership of more then 350 individuals from 35 countries is a strong institution having the mission to provide a forum for professional dialogue among individuals who have flown in space, support space science and exploration for the benefit of all, promote education in science and engineering, foster greater environmental awareness, and encourage international cooperation in the human exploration of space.
With respect to progress, human space flight is a major source of innovation. It can benefit societies around the world with a variety of technological spin-offs and scientific research possibilities. Through endeavors such as the International Space Station new partnerships are built, which can cultivate international cooperation in a spirit of friendship and mutual understanding.
Technology is also an important issue of a human space flight. Humans increasingly rely on technological advancements in their everyday lives. Relationship between humans and machines will reach new dimensions, and in the process may make it necessary to readjust our notion of ‘humanity’. Space applications can have a positive impact on the quality of life on Earth and eventually beyond. Through television and internet everyone can virtually experience space flight or the vistas of planetary surfaces. In the near future space tourism may no longer be a dream but become a possibility to those interested.
All activities on earth, see, air or outer space should be in accordance with a legal framework. The legal framework for space activities needs to be further developed in a way that cultivates peaceful uses of outer space and equal rights for all humankind. Human rights will also have to be considered with regard to space flights, as new moral challenges will face humanity.
A lot of new effects of space flights will be taken into consideration and analyzed in the future.
The human factor is essential in the new era of technological advancements,. Without human presence in space, spaceflight and exploration will lack an important dimension. Global cooperative endeavours will allow fostering the further development of collaboration among peoples, societies and cultures.
Discovery is an element that could be further analyzed. Space exploration allows for discovery in two ways: it makes it possible to search for specific things, i.e. new energy resources, asteroids that put a collision risk to Earth; but it also opens up the opportunity to follow the thrust of scientific and cultural curiosity. The latter is one of the most inspiring traits of humankind since the beginning of its history and it should lead again to incredible discoveries.
Culture is a new element which could be analyzed in respect with the space exploration. Taking Europe as an example, its identity is constituted by its specific cultural approach towards both scientific and moral issues, and it will be this angle which will influence societal development as well as serve as inspiration for the younger generations. Space exploration is a challenging, cooperative endeavour that offers opportunities to further strengthen European ties and define European values and priorities.
Through space exploration, new partnerships will form. Rights are an important element of any type of partnership and cooperation. This will call for a proper legal framework serving to peacefully regulate issues such as space traffic management. Furthermore planetary protection needs to be elaborated with international partners concerning forward and backward contamination, and any space faring nation must play an important role in that context.
After several generations from now humans may think of migrating the Earth. An important question would be how will it affect human thought?
Driven by curiosity and in order to extend opportunities, humans may eventually search for settlements outside our planet. They will start to live in a new habitat. What is unimaginable today may become necessary in the future. The first child to be boom in space will mark the down of a true space generation.
We, humans, should be open to the idea of possible encounters with other forms of life in outer space, either through the discovery of life in the solar system (extinct or extant), or through the reception of extraterrestrial radio signals. We should realize that we are not alone in the universe. Such discovery may likely cause the development of a new collective identity for humanity. A new era will begin.
What people believe in, and how such beliefs are structured, has a strong binding force on societies, on Earth and eventually beyond. Human belief systems, whether religious or secular, change in the context of new living environments, and in contact with other forms of life and societies. As the merely technological or political approach will no longer be sufficient in dealing with such contacts, the humanities and the social sciences will gain in importance.
Past encounters that took place on Earth show that human beings did eventually adapt to unforeseeable realities, although often at very great costs. While the first effects of an encounter between humans and extraterrestrial life are unpredictable, humans need to be aware that they will be held morally, economically and politically accountable for their choices.
Look what a welth of problems, challenges and new effects has and will have the space exploration and specially the human space exploration.
Coming back to the organization and possibilities of our days, the current and future global implications of space exploration could be analyzed, structured and concluded by the only real global organization representing the interests of all countries, the UN.
The foundation of the UN was a necessity for the human society to deal with global problems. The organization is committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 192 Member States to express their views, through the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and other bodies and committees. Outer space is an inseparable part of our existence and activity, and it was a necessity the creation of a specialized body to deal with at the level of the UN.
Next year COPUOS will celebrate its 50 anniversary. Maybe not just by hazard, next year also, the humanity will celebrate the 50 anniversary of the first human flight into outer space. Myself I’m fortunate to be part of both anniversaries. As the 103rd human who had the opportunity to see our home planet from outside its atmosphere, no more then 20 years after Yuri Gagarin did it first, I have the great privilege to chair during this period the only UN Committee dealing with the peaceful uses of outer space.
Last year, in 2009, we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the holding of the Third United Nations Conference on Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) in Vienna in 1999. Since UNISPACE III, many developing countries have gained knowledge and experience in utilizing various forms of space technology and are ready to play a proactive role in advancing space science and technology to benefit the world.
Research and development in space science and technology is a fundamental prerequisite for any space application for the benefit of human development on Earth, for protecting and preserving the Earth and space environment, and in any exploration efforts in the Universe, and our Committee stands at the front in bringing the World together in using that technology for peaceful purposes. Our experience in this decade has demonstrated that we have the opportunity to further strengthening our common efforts at the national, regional, inter-regional and global level to contribute to the achievement of the goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.
In the last decades the applications of space activities expanded quickly and demonstrated, as I already mentioned, their usefulness in making important contributions to social and economic development. Today space activities support a wide range of efforts towards sustainable development in fields such as biodiversity and resources management, environmental monitoring, disaster mitigation and prevention, and in addressing the consequences of climate change, including areas such as food security and global health. The Committee and its Secretariat have continuously made efforts to promote and increase awareness and capacity-building in the use of space science and technology applications, at the international, regional and national level, in many of these critical areas of concern to all humanity and global development. Space tools are multifaceted and they strongly support the implementation of actions called for at the global level.
The practical benefits of space technology applications today virtually touch every facet of human endeavors extending over communication, navigation, meteorology, education, health, agriculture, resource management, environmental protection, disaster management and entertainment.
Space exploration and advances in space science and research are fundamental pillars for the operational use of space technology and its applications. We now have the opportunity to look closer into how advanced space research and exploration systems and technologies might contribute to addressing specific concerns such as the need for clean energy and drinking water, the management of natural resources, tele-education and tele-health applications and capacity building. In this sense, we also have the opportunity to look more closely into how scientific research in human space flight can become an even stronger tool for the benefit of development.
It is not the right time and place to speak about all COPUOS and OOSA initiatives with regard to space applications and programs, but I want to draw your attention to a new one which involves the most promising way of cooperation in space: the manned space flight.
The international space station became from long time the mankind's outpost in space. It is being the largest international cooperation project, and is expected to be fully completed and operational later this year. This is a milestone in international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, and offer great opportunity for us to discuss ways of utilizing this potential for research to the benefit of sustainable development and in meeting global development goals. The ISS is an excellent facility for research on science and technology and a unique symbol of international collaboration. I’m very confident that the new decision of giving more importance of the ISS in the next decade is very beneficial for the goals of favoring research and cooperation for the benefit of all.
At the podium of COPUOS sessions I have the pleasure to be assisted by the astronaut Takao Doi as the UN Expert on Space Applications. Both of us have the experience of the outer space flight on board of a space station. After many talks and analysis it was decided that The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is launching a new program called the Human Space Technology Initiative (HSTI), the objective of which is to benefit all the people of the world by utilizing human space technology such as the ISS and contributing to global collaboration and peace. UNOOSA has already been conducting the Basic Space Science Initiative (BSSI) and the International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI). The HSTI would be created in a similar manner as these UN initiatives to introduce human space technology to all countries and broaden the opportunities for participation in this ultimate endeavor of human beings.
Human Space Technology Initiative has the following objectives: (1) Expanding use of the ISS as a platform for space science and technology development; (2) Expanding use of the ISS as a platform for education and outreach programs; and (3) Discovering and utilizing human space technology applications (Spin-offs). To facilitate (1) and (2), the countries/organizations which own laboratory modules on the ISS will be asked to provide resources to non-partner countries in order to utilize the ISS more widely. As for discovering and utilizing human space technology applications, this entails getting more countries involved in discovering new spin-offs of human space technology and utilizing them to benefit humanity. The Human Space Technology Initiative will allow the UN to work with the Member States in the human space development for the first time in history. The Human Space Technology Initiative is a UN vessel to take all the people in the world to the ISS and beyond. The ISS partners can use the Human Space Technology Initiative to find new partnership with non-ISS partner countries on the utilization of the ISS. No-ISS partner countries can use the Human Space Technology Initiative to reach the ISS to conduce their scientific experiments as well as other activities such as space classrooms.
The goals of Human Space Technology Initiative are: (1) By providing non-ISS partner countries with opportunities to utilize the ISS, we will be able to expand the user community of the ISS and form a new global partnership. (2) By expanding the user community, the ISS resources will be more effectively utilized and is expected to achieve greater scientific and technological advancement. (3) Being exposed to the advanced human space technology, developing countries will be able to advance in various areas such as medicine, industries, agriculture, and science: Medicine- developing new drugs, understanding human physiology; Industry- introducing efficient production process, new materials, high-efficiency machinery; Agriculture- creating hybrid seeds, understanding advanced biology Science-astronomy, biology, meteorology, and physics. (4) By conducting outreach and education programs on board the ISS, we can inspire youth. Young people, perhaps most of all, are inspired by the potential of space exploration to hope, dream, and work together. It is the young that we must look to for the scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow.
Me, as chairman of COPUOS for the next 2 years, and most of member states, I’m sure, will fully sustain this new initiative of making space a more broader arena for cooperation. This is just the beginning of a new approach of space exploration at the level of UN. The full understanding of new challenges and effects of space exploration will require many years of studies and debates.
Space is a resource we can all share. We must work together to unlock and exploit its secrets. We must ensure that no one is left behind as we move forward in the great adventure of exploring and developing outer space.
Let’s continue to work together for a better world!
Thank you for your attention.
