How the UN is Shaping the Future of Space Governance

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Today, with more players than ever launching satellites, building spaceports, and planning missions to the Moon, safeguarding the shared space environment is critical. On This Week in Space, UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini explained exactly how the United Nations helps to shape space law, sustainability policies, and international collaboration—while rethinking global agreements as the space industry evolves.

How the United Nations Helps to Govern Outer Space

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is the central hub responsible for facilitating space policy, capacity building, and international cooperation. According to Aarti Holla-Maini on the show, UNOOSA supports over 110 member states through legal advice, technical assistance, and policy support.

The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) serves as the seat of global governance for space, where member states negotiate treaties and guidelines that set expectations for sustainable, peaceful, and transparent space activity. UNOOSA began as an administrative office for these meetings, but now oversees a broad range of programs: from helping emerging nations build their first satellites to maintaining the official UN register of every space object in orbit.

UNOOSA also operates programs like “Access to Space for All,” disaster response support using satellite data, space law education, and efforts focused on youth, women, and climate change.

Why UNOOSA and COPUOS Matter More Than Ever

With new challenges like orbital congestion, satellite megaconstellations, and upcoming lunar missions, UNOOSA’s neutral, trusted role is vital. UNOOSA brings together not just governments, but also private companies, academia, and civil society to develop best practices for everything from debris prevention to resource extraction on the Moon.

Importantly, as explained by Aarti Holla-Maini, the UN’s focus is not only on guidance, but also on enabling developing countries to join the space community responsibly. With over 60 countries currently seeking technical and regulatory support—often with interest in building spaceports or satellite programs—the need for international frameworks is greater than ever.

UNOOSA is also working with organizations like the UN Environmental Program to study the environmental impact of space activities, such as how burning debris might affect the ozone layer—a topic just beginning to be understood.

Adapting Space Treaties for New Realities

The core space treaties, including the Outer Space Treaty and Liability Convention, were crafted decades ago. However, UNOOSA’s director stressed that these treaties remain relevant, providing foundational principles like non-appropriation of space by sovereign nations and requirements for transparency.

Rather than reopening and renegotiating old treaties—which could risk losing existing protections—the UN focuses on creating new guidelines and recommendations that address current realities:

• Space traffic coordination: Developing mechanisms for managing increasingly crowded orbits and lunar traffic.
• Responsible resource use: Establishing procedures for notification, consultation, and benefit-sharing as more actors target lunar or asteroid resources.
• Industry engagement: Ensuring commercial companies participate constructively in shaping norms, often via national governments who are ultimately responsible for their activities.

UNOOSA and COPUOS rely on consensus, meaning any member state—large or small—has the power to block actions they disagree with. This can be slow, but it ensures buy-in and legitimacy for the resulting guidelines.

What’s Next: UNOOSA’s Future Goals

Looking 5-10 years ahead, UNOOSA is focused on a few priority areas:

• Implementing effective mechanisms for space and lunar coordination, especially as missions multiply.
• Streamlining global access to satellite data, especially for developing nations needing information for disaster response or climate resilience.
• Facilitating deeper engagement with private industry and encouraging national governments to enforce responsible standards.
• Building new platforms for dialogue on environmental impacts, airspace integration (with organizations like the International Civil Aviation Organization), and the safe rollout of spaceports worldwide.

Key Takeaways

• UNOOSA is the United Nations’ main office for global space cooperation, law, and capacity building.
• COPUOS serves as the world’s forum for space treaties, principles, and guidelines.
• UNOOSA enables both emerging and established space nations to work together and build capacity.
• Current priorities include sustainability, debris mitigation, space traffic management, and lunar activity cooperation.
• UNOOSA is increasing engagement with the private sector for practical, operational input.
• Space law treaties remain relevant, but new guidelines and consensus-based recommendations will shape future policies.
• Access to space data for disaster management and development is a major goal.

The Bottom Line

As space becomes more congested, competitive, and accessible, UNOOSA plays a critical role in brokering cooperation, establishing trusted norms, and guiding both nations and companies toward a sustainable future. According to UNOOSA’s director on This Week in Space, the next decade will bring new challenges, but also opportunities for smarter, and more inclusive, effective space governance.

For more expert discussions and space policy updates, subscribe to This Week in Space: https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/197