At a time of geopolitical tensions, ensuring space is used for peaceful purposes and that it benefits all humanity is no easy task, but for over 60 years it has been the mission of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
As we mark World Space Week (4–10 October), UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini underlines there is still a “shared commitment to peaceful and sustainable space,” and that her office is working to ensure the benefits of space reach everyone, everywhere.
Competition and congestion in space
Humanity’s interest in exploring and understanding space, and mining its resources, is increasing day by day. Space is becoming more congested, with satellites launched by over 90 countries.
Despite being a zone of competition, space has so far avoided becoming an area of direct conflict. But with several actors in the playing field, coordination and space governance has become a lot more complex.
“Everybody knows there’s so many things being launched into space. People think it’s the Wild West. Our office has a mandate to get a handle on it,” says Briton Holla-Maini, who has led the UN’s space office since 2023.
Maintaining peace and sustainability in space
UNOOSA plays a vital role in space traffic coordination and promoting sustainability. It supports, for example, countries in understanding the fundamentals of space law.
With over 100 lunar missions planned from now until 2030, UNOOSA’s initiative, ‘One Moon for All’, helps strengthen global coordination.
Lunar missions range from scientific research to commercial ventures, such as mining and establishing human settlements. These missions need to coordinate to ensure they are not going to the same spot at the same time.
“While these activities of course present immense opportunities for advancing our knowledge and understanding, and even fostering economic growth, they still present significant challenges in terms of governance, safety, sustainability,” says Holla-Maini.
Satellite debris landing on Earth is also a key area for the UN space office. Although rare, these events can occur and are increasing in frequency.
“Our office has been contacted five times this year already,” says Holla-Maini, who references a UN framework which sets outs the rights and obligations of states should this happen.
UNOOSA also coordinates planetary defence against asteroids. Asteroid 2024 YR4 recently made the headlines when UNOOSA sounded the alarm that its probability of impacting Earth in 2032 rose as high as 3%. An Earth impact has now been ruled out, but UNOOSA coordinated with governments and agencies who were able to monitor the asteroid.
“Our role is always as a capacity builder. Many countries around the world do not have the capacity to do this kind of work,” details Holla-Maini.
Space technologies in everyday life
Space can bring many benefits to life on Earth, and this year’s World Space Week focuses on the theme ‘Living in Space’.
“It invites us to imagine what daily life might look like beyond Earth. But it also challenges us to consider how space innovations are already shaping life on Earth,” explains Holla-Maini.
Many familiar products, from memory foam mattresses, to solar panels and water recycling systems, were originally developed for the space industry.
“We’re already living in space because every time we use the maps on our phones or in our cars, every time we check the weather forecast, every time we make a digital payment, we are relying on satellites.”
Enhancing climate resilience
Data from satellites can also be used to monitor climate trends and signs of extreme weather.
Whilst high-resolution data is often managed by commercial entities, making it expensive, or used for military purposes, meaning it’s inaccessible, space agencies and private actors provide UNOOSA with free imagery in support of missions that achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
“It can be deployed to help with climate disaster resilience, connectivity, health, education, and bridging the digital and data divide,” details Holla-Maini.
Carbon emissions can be tracked, sea levels monitored, heat maps crafted, and the scale of damage can be assessed when disasters strike. It can even be used to monitor illegal fishing, pollution and environmental crime.
In Brazil, for example, the high-resolution technology has helped crack down on illegal deforestation.
“You can literally see from space when criminal actors are clearing just a small road to drive in their equipment. That enables the enforcers to go in and crack down before the illegal deforestation has occurred,” says Holla-Maini. In one year in Brazil, this helped prevent 40 illegal raids.
Space is the province of all humankind
As part of its mission to ensure space benefits all humanity, UNOOSA helps developing countries in particular use space technology effectively. It has assisted, for example, countries such as Guatemala, Mauritius, Kenya, Nepal construct their very first satellites.
“There is an assumption that space is only for those who have satellites and space agencies, which means a critical mass of member states do not participate in space governance. And that is a problem. We need the voice of everybody.”
Every single UN member state, whether spacefaring or not, is represented by the UN’s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
“We need the UN Space Office more than ever to keep Member States together around the same table, discussing and working together on space governance. We cannot afford to let current geopolitics divide Member States and let them all go off in their own direction.”
The agency is also working to increase the representation of women in the space sector. Its Space4Women programme provides mentorship, training and visibility to women in the sector, and UNOOSA provides a toolkit to help institutions design more gender inclusive policies and programs.
“Space is not a distant dream. It’s already a shared reality. And if we work together, it can help us solve Earth’s most pressing challenges,” concludes Holla-Maini.