Access to space: A new approach by the united nations office for outer space affairs

Abstract In the context of UNISPACE+50, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the first UNISPACE conference held in Vienna in 1968, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has defined four pillars to address the future of space activities and their role in development: space economy, space society, space accessibility and space diplomacy. Under the space accessibility pillar, UNOOSA intends to enable all communities, particularly in developing countries, to use and benefit from space technologies and applications. Building on previous activities and new partnerships, UNOOSA facilitates and provides (i) access to space education; (ii) access to space data; (iii) access to space technology and research facilities; and finally, for the first time, (iv) direct access to space. At the core of these activities is microgravity research, from on-ground simulation to orbital opportunities, which is one of the main tools of the Human Space Technology Initiative. This shift from on-ground space education, applications, technology and simulation to on-orbit technology is directly linked to a UNISPACE+50 thematic priority on “Global partnerships in space exploration and innovation”. At this stage, three partnership programmes are incorporated in this strategy, with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the China Manned Space Agency, and Sierra Nevada Corporation. These programmes provide access to a wide spectrum of Low Earth Orbit opportunities.