For information only - not an official document

UNIS/OS/419
18 June 2012

United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Concludes 55th Session in Vienna

VIENNA, 18 June (UN Information Service) - The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) has concluded its deliberations over ways and means to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes and to ensure that space technology and its applications continue to benefit many areas critical to all humanity at its 55th session, held from 6 to 15 June.

The Committee agreed on a new agenda item, "Space and sustainable development", to consider, among others, the outcomes of the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and the use of space technology and its applications for socioeconomic and sustainable development.

The Committee also agreed to commemorate in 2013 the fiftieth anniversary of the first space flight by a woman, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova on 16 June 1963, with a special panel consisting of prominent women in the space-related fields of space exploration, science, technology, education, business and policy to address the contribution of women to space activities on the topic "Space: building the future today".

Other highlights of the 55th session of the Committee included:

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For further information, please contact:

Romana Kofler
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-4962
Email: romana.kofler[at]unoosa.org