Vienna: Once the exclusive domain of a handful of technologically advanced countries, outer space is now within the reach of emerging nations from the Global South, as costs fall and technology becomes more widely available. The exploits of the long-established spacefaring nations may still dominate headlines, but countries such as Zimbabwe, Honduras, and Malta are signaling their intention to reap the benefits of space-related activities.
According to United Nations, these smaller states are applying for membership of the UN body that helps shape internationally agreed rules on the peaceful use of outer space, aiming to avoid a new Wild West free-for-all that could potentially lead to conflict. The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) supports emerging spacefaring nations through initiatives like the Space Law for New Space Actors project, which aids in developing robust legal and policy frameworks for outer space activities.
UNOOSA’s Space4Women initiative has developed the Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit for the Space Sector to encourage organizations to commit to gender equity, promote equal opportunities, empower women and girls through dedicated programming, and track measurable progress. Another flagship initiative, UN-SPIDER, provides specialized capacity-building on the use of space applications for disaster risk reduction and emergency response.
The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), established in 1959, plays a central role in shaping international space law, addressing emerging issues such as space sustainability, and fostering cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of outer space. UNOOSA, which serves as the Committee’s Secretariat and as a capacity-builder, supports this work by helping countries build the legal, institutional, scientific, and technical capacities needed to kickstart their national space ecosystems and economies.
The 68th session of COPUOS is set to convene on 25 June, with proceedings available to watch via UN WebTV.