General Assembly: UNOOSA

APPROXIMATE COMMITTEE SIZE: 120

General Assemblies are big committees friendly to newbies and experts alike, where delegates debate in one of the six main organs of the United Nations. All Member States have equal representation to discuss and work together. Debate in the General Assembly is spirited, as delegates must balance their responsibilities to their respective nations, allies, and the committee as a whole.

This year the General Assembly will hold the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), a United Nations office established in 1958 to promote and facilitate peaceful international cooperation in outer space. Its primary mission is to promote the peaceful use and exploration of space, to support the development of legal and regulatory frameworks for space activities, and to assist states, especially developing states, in using space science and technology for sustainable development. UNOOSA also maintains instruments such as the Register of Objects Launched in Outer Space and works with the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to address issues like the rapid increase in space debris and the governance of military activities in space.

The committee will address two pressing challenges shaping the future of space exploration: equitable access to space technology and sustainable space travel. As space becomes increasingly essential for communication, economic development, and scientific advancement, a growing divide—often referred to as the “Space Gap”—has emerged between nations with advanced capabilities and those without. At the same time, the rapid rise in satellite launches, private sector involvement, and orbital congestion has intensified concerns over space debris, environmental impacts, and the long-term viability of space activities.

Topic A: Equitable Access to Space Technology

As space technology becomes increasingly vital to global development, a growing divide has emerged between nations with advanced space capabilities and those without. While space-based systems support everything from communication and navigation to climate monitoring and disaster response, access to these technologies remains concentrated among a small number of wealthy states and private actors. This imbalance limits the ability of developing nations to participate in the global space economy and benefit from its advancements.

Topic B: Sustainable Space Travel

The rapid expansion of space activity has raised urgent concerns about the long-term sustainability of outer space. With thousands of satellites in orbit and launch rates continuing to rise, issues such as space debris, orbital congestion, and environmental impacts are becoming increasingly severe. Millions of debris fragments now travel at extreme speeds in Earth’s orbit, posing significant risks to satellites, human spaceflight, and future missions, while emissions from rocket launches and the growth of space tourism introduce new environmental challenges.

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