United NationsOffice for Outer Space Affairs

Updates:

• Update 7 July: Online registration open

Introduction

The Office for Outer Space Affairs has been organizing a series of workshops and conferences on space law and policy over a decade. This year, the Office will hold the United Nations Conference on Space Law and Policy from 19 to 20 November in Vienna, Austria.

International and regional cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space helps to bring the benefits of space technology applications to broader stakeholders, both governmental and non-governmental, and to expand and diversify national space programmes. Policy and regulatory frameworks at the national, regional and international levels are of paramount importance for providing the necessary basis for States, particularly developing countries, to address challenges to sustainable development and to meet development goals. It is, therefore, necessary to continue strengthening the linkages between international space law and the conduct of space activities.

Over years, the General Assembly has, in its resolutions on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of international law, including the relevant norms of international space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, The Assembly has also reaffirmed the importance of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space in order to meet emerging new challenges, especially for developing countries. The Assembly recognizes that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the prevention of an arms race in outer space with a view to promoting and strengthening international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

In today's world, where the number of actors engaged in space activities increases every day, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that all actors comply with the international space law.

The successful implementation and application of the international legal framework governing space activities depends on the understanding and acceptance of such framework by policymakers and decision makers. The availability of professionals who can provide sound legal advice and share information and knowledge about space law depends on adequate education and training opportunities in space law and policy.

This Conference aims to promote adherence to the five United Nations treaties on outer space and to assist States in implementing those treaties. It also aims to examine challenges associated with the growth of space actors and the existing legal framework as observed by practitioners of space law and to identify measures that could be taken to address those challenges. The Conference further aims to enhance capacity-building opportunities in space law, which could also help States, particularly developing countries, meet their development goals.

Conference Objectives

Preliminary Programme

The Conference will provide an overview of and examine the legal and regulatory approaches across the full lifecycle of space debris, structured around three core themes: i) translating space sustainability into national legal and regulatory frameworks; ii) operationalizing the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (ARRA), by exploring its obligations, benefits, and national implementation in practice; and iii) addressing legal aspects related to emerging space operations, including on-orbit servicing, active debris removal, and satellite transfer.

Working Methods

(1)     Speakers and Moderators

Speakers and Moderators of the Conference will be invited by the Office, considering their expertise and background as well as gender and regional balance.

(2)     Selection of Participants

Applications for participation should be submitted together with a short text (in English, 300 words at maximum) describing the motivation for participating in the Conference. If the number of applicants who wish to join in person exceeds the venue capacity, the Office will select participants based on their expertise and motivation, while also taking into account gender and regional balance. The applicants will be duly notified of the selection result. Please note that the organizer is unable to respond to inquiries regarding the selection.

The Conference will be held in a hybrid format. Please note that online participants will only be able to view the proceedings and will not be able to interact with participants on site.

(3)     Others

Invited participants may not transfer their invitation to a third party. In the event of cancellation, the Office will offer the vacant spot to the next applicant on the waiting list.

Invitation letters will be sent to participants attending in person. Please note that the organizer is unable to issue certificates of completion or similar attestations.

Participants

The Conference is being planned for a total of 200 participants including decision- and policy-makers from national space agencies and governmental bodies, experts from the space community, private sector representatives, researchers/students from academia that are involved in space activities, representing developing and developed nations from all economic regions.

The Office seeks to achieve the balanced participation of women and men to ensure gender parity.

Financial Support

Within the limited financial resources available, a limited number of selected participants will be offered financial support to attend the Conference. This financial support will defray the cost of travel (a round trip air ticket - most economic fare - between the airport of international departure in their home country and Vienna, Austria) and/or room and board expenses for the duration of the Conference.

Due to limited availability of financial support, not all applications for travel support can be accommodated. In this respect, applicants and their nominating organizations are strongly encouraged to also identify additional sources of sponsorship to allow them to attend the Conference. Sponsored participants will receive detailed information upon notification of their selection.

Language of the Conference

The working language of the Conference is English.

Registration

The completed application form  should be submitted on-line to the Office for Outer Space Affairs.
Please note that on-line application for is available on the website of the Office for Outer Space Affairs at the following address:

• Registration form for  funded participants  (in-person attendance): Deadline is 6 p.m.,29 August 2025 (Vienna Time)
  https://forms.office.com/e/YqnEg8hXXk
  

• Registration form for  self-funded participants  (in-person attendance): Deadline is 6 p.m., 30 September 2025 (Vienna Time)
  https://forms.office.com/e/bXgKXaT0Pn
  

• Registration form for  online participants : Deadline is 6 p.m., 5 November 2025 (Vienna Time)
  https://forms.office.com/e/Kk2XFJ75pw
  

*Please note that in order to visit Austria, foreigners, depending on their nationality, may have to obtain an entry visa. All visa applicants are required to  possess a passport valid not less than 6 months after visa expiration. In addition, passports of the applicants should have at least two blank pages for stamping by the Immigration Officer.

Life and Health Insurance

Life and major health insurance is  the responsibility of each selected participants or his/her institution or government . The organizers will not assume any responsibility for life and major health insurance, nor for expenses related to medical treatment or accidents.

Medical facilities for first aid in case of emergencies will be provided at the Conference venues; for serious emergencies, immediate transportation and admission to a hospital shall be provided, with the understanding that all participants of the Conference possess valid individual insurances.

Further Information and Contact Details

For information regarding the submission of nominations for attendance and funding, please contact

Mr. Hinata Oshima

Office for Outer Space Affairs

unoosa-spacelaw@un.org

For latest information and updates, please frequently visit this webpage.