United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

Human Space Technology Initiative (HSTI)

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has launched the Human Space Technology Initiative (HSTI) under the framework of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications with the objective to promote international cooperation in human spaceflight and space exploration-related activities.

Meeting Information

United Nations/Malaysia Expert Meeting on Human Space Technology

(14-18 November 2011, Putrajaya, Malaysia)

- Meeting Results

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) organized the first Expert Meeting on Human Space Technology (HSTEM), held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 14 to 18 November 2011, under its newest Human Space Technology Initiative (HSTI) that was launched within the United Nations Programme on Space Applications with the objective to promote international cooperation in human spaceflight and space exploration-related activities.

The meeting, hosted by the Institute of Space Science (ANGKASA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, resulted in a general enthusiasm for establishing capacity building programmes and international collaboration on human space technology and developed a number of practical recommendations to be undertaken by HSTI, in cooperation with the developing countries, in particular those represented at the meeting.

The meeting was attended by 46 representatives from 23 countries (Azerbaijan, Canada, China, Congo, Czech Republic, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Turkey, United States of America and Vietnam), including those representing the following space agencies: Canadian Space Agency (CSA), China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Space Agency of Malaysia (ANGKASA), Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). 80 scientists and engineers from local institutions such as ANGKASA, the Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd and Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia as well as several Malaysian universities attended the meeting. [See more...]

- Programme of the meeting

Final Programme

Programme -at a glance-

- Information on venue, logistics, etc.

General Information for Participants

Please review carefully the General Information to get the latest information on the venue of the meeting, transportation, accomodation, presentation, etc.

Link to the meeting's web page at the hosting institution website

- Online Application, Information Note of the Expert Meeting

Link to the ONLINE APPLICATION, Information Note of the Expert Meeting

Background of the HSTI

The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest development ever attempted in space. Fully operational with a permanent crew of six (6), the ISS is an unprecedented facility for science and technology research (material sciences, life sciences), astronomy, Earth observation, and educational outreach. The microgravity environment of the ISS provides a unique opportunity to deepen the understanding of space science and technology as well as space medicine. As a unique symbol of international collaboration, the ISS could be regarded as one of the greatest resources for humankind to explore outer space.

HSTI will aim to create awareness among United Nations Member States on the benefits of utilizing human space technology and its applications in contributing to international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. This initiative builds on the relevant recommendations related to human spaceflight and exploration contained in the report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) held in July 1999.

The Outreach Seminar on the International Space Station was held in Vienna, Austria, on 8 February 2011. Seventeen Member States participated in the seminar along with the ISS partners: the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States of America, and the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). This seminar established that HSTI could be a meaningful mechanism for creating awareness about the potential of the ISS and the research conducted on the ISS among countries, regions, and potential users that have up to this point not been involved with such activities, thereby contributing to capacity building in microgravity science and technology education.

Objectives

HSTI will provide information to United Nations Member States on:

the ISS, its management structure, research facilities, utilization activities, and opportunities to cooperate with the ISS partners;
the use of the ISS for educational outreach programs;
examples of past cooperation activities; and
opportunities to build indigenous capacity in microgravity science education and research.

It is expected that this will lead to a greater understanding of the potential of the ISS and the research currently being conducted on the ISS among United Nations Member States. Non-ISS partners will be in a better position to assess opportunities for collaborative research which could eventually lead to a larger number of countries benefiting from human spaceflight activities.

With its unique microgravity environment, the ISS is an ideal platform for engaging students by increasing their excitement and interest in space and science and technology generally. HSTI will emphasize the importance of the ISS as an educational platform and will also aim to increase education, outreach, and capacity-building activities in developing countries.

Outreach Seminar on the International Space Station

On 8 February 2011, at the margins of the forty-eighth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), the Office, in cooperation with the International Space Station (ISS) partners, held an outreach seminar concerning the ISS.

Seventeen Member States participated in the seminar along with the ISS partners: the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States of America, and the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos).

The seminar presented the status of education and research activities on the ISS and provided information on utilization and cooperation opportunities.

The main achievement of the seminar was for the first time under the auspices of the UN, to bring together ISS partners and other countries, especially developing countries, giving them a unique opportunity to start discussions on possible cooperation and on how HSTI could play a role as an interlocutor between the ISS partners and non-ISS partners.

This seminar established that HSTI could be a meaningful mechanism for creating awareness about the potential of the ISS and the research conducted on the ISS among countries, regions, and potential users that have up to this point not been involved with such activities, thereby contributing to capacity building in microgravity science and technology education.

Please click here to see the seminar's summary, agenda and presentations.

Activity Resources

Report on Outreach Seminar on the International Space Station (ISS), 8 February 2011 (A/AC.105/2011/CRP.13)