Many of the world’s critical discussions on space related political and legal issues take place under the auspices of OOSA through the regularly scheduled meetings of COPUOS and its subcommittees. Subjects such as nuclear power sources in outer space, space debris, and equitable allocation of geo-stationary orbits for satellites are discussed in the context of five international treaties that provide the framework for today’s international space law. These treaties, developed by the Committee between 1967 and 2003, provide the framework for today’s international space law.
UNVIE actively works with OOSA to improve the quality of life throughout the world by supporting workshops, seminars, and training programs for developing nations in the use of space technology. The UN Program on Space Applications, implemented by OOSA, effectively partners with local and regional actors to combat global problems posed by land degradation, desertification, infectious diseases, declining air quality, and natural disasters, while working to promote both distance-learning and telemedicine through space-based resources and technologies.
On 11 June 2002, former U.S. Ambassador to International Organizations Kenneth Brill presented the Director of OOSA with a moon rock collected by Apollo15 Astronaut James Irwin in 1971. The lunar sample, currently on loan from NASA, is displayed in the Vienna International Center.