United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)

June 27, 2023

The UN Secretary-General recently appointed Indian-origin satellite industry expert Aarti Holla-Maini as Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).

About the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA):

  • It is the UN office responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
  • It forms part of the United Nations Office at Vienna and serves as the Secretariat for the UN General Assembly's only committee dealing exclusively with those issues: the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
  • Functions:
    • UNOOSA implements the United Nations Programme on Space Applications (PSA). Under the Programme, UNOOSA conducts training courses, workshops, seminars and other activities on space applications.
    • On behalf of the UN Secretary-General, UNOOSA maintains the Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space and disseminates via its website that information recorded in the Register. 
    • It also prepares and distributes documents, reports, studies and publications on various aspects of space science and technology applications and international space law.
    • It works to improve the use of space science and technology for the economic and social development of all countries, particularly developing countries.