Roscosmos attends UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

MOSCOW, June 2 (Itar-Tass) -- The 54th session of the United Nations
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) opened on June 1
in Vienna. The event marks two remarkable anniversaries: 50 years of human
space flight and the 50th anniversary of COPUOS establishment.
Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) Deputy Head Sergei Savelyev took part
in the high level meeting of the Committee that was held on the same day.
In his speech he emphasised the importance of Yuri Gagarin's space mission
for mankind, and stated Russia's position aimed at strengthening the role
of the Committee in keeping space free of arms for further research.
Savelyev also attended a roundtable discussion on the present and
future of space exploration.
A space exhibition inaugurated on June 1 at the Vienna Centre contains
Roscosmos' stand that features Gagarin's bust made specially for the
agency. Savelyev handed over the bust to the exhibition.
Famous Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov is also attending the events in
Vienna.
The United Nations' interest in outer space started soon after the
launch of the first satellite in 1957. Recognising the vast potential of
space technology for overcoming problems on Earth, the U.N. member states
established the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space (COPUOS) and tasked it with developing a legal framework for the
conduct of activities in outer space and also facilitating the use of
space-based technology.