About the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)

Established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1959, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) is the premier international forum for developing space law and fostering cooperation in peaceful space activities. COPUOS is supported by two expert bodies: the Legal Subcommittee (LSC), which reviews and updates treaties, principles, and guidelines on issues like resource utilization, liability, and registration of space objects; and the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC), which examines technical challenges—from space debris mitigation and space-traffic management to Earth observation and capacity-building initiatives.

To engage policymakers, technical experts, and diplomatic delegations, the National Space Society contributes across four primary document formats:

• Statements
  Formal oral or written submissions delivered under specific agenda items (e.g., “Information on the activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations relating to space law”), articulating NSS positions, recommendations, and calls to action.

• Technical Presentations
  Data-driven, slide-based briefings—typically to the STSC—that showcase research findings, technology demonstrations, or feasibility studies, grounding policy debates in current scientific and engineering evidence.

• Conference Room Papers (CR Papers)
  Written documents formally circulated in advance of or during COPUOS sessions. Indexed in the UN documentation system, CR papers propose new guidelines, treaty interpretations, or collaborative programs and serve as reference materials for delegates.

• Non-Papers
  Informal background or discussion documents shared among delegates and experts but not entered into the official UN record. Non-papers foster candid dialogue, refine consensus language, and pave the way for formal submissions such as CR papers or statements.

By participating through these subcommittees and document types, NSS ensures its advocacy is both evidence-based and diplomatically effective, helping to shape norms and policies for the peaceful, responsible exploration and utilization of outer space.