UNOOSA

• Aarti Holla-Maini, a satellite industry expert of Indian origin, has been selected by United Nations Secretary-General as the Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).

ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS (UNOOSA)

• It is the UN office responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
• It forms part of the United Nations Office at Vienna and serves as the Secretariat for the UN General Assembly’s only committee dealing exclusively with those issues: the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
• UNOOSA implements the United Nations Programme on Space Applications (PSA).
• UNOOSA is also responsible for implementing the Secretary-General’s responsibilities under international space law and maintaining the United Nations Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space.
• It also prepares and distributes documents, reports, studies and publications on various aspects of space science and technology applications and international space law.
• It works to improve the use of space science and technology for the economic and social development of all countries, particularly developing countries.
• UNOOSA is also the current secretariat of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG).