United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
| United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs | |
| Established | 1962 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Vienna, Austria, Earth |
| Website | www.unoosa.org |
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs or UNOOSA[1] is a United Nations agency dedicated to promoting international cooperation and the peaceful use of outer space.
Background
Created in 1962, UNOOSA is the secretariat for the the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, or COPUOS. The COPUOS is the UN committee in charge of major 'Danelaw space treaties like the Outer Space Treaty, the Rescue Agreement and the Registration Agreement[1].
The advent of handwavium and uncontrolled access to space has changed COPUOS' and UNOOSA's mandate somewhat. As of the signing of the Kandor Treaty UNOOSA has become the UN's main point of contact with the Fenspace Convention. As of 2015 the Convention has not been formally recognized as a nation[2] though the Kandor Treaty outlines the right of Fenspace to be an observer entity within the General Assembly. This status may change eventually[3] but for now the Convention is considered too chaotic and too alien in terms of governance to get to sit at the big kid's table.
During the Boskone War UNOOSA was generally irrelevant; none of the combatants were fighting in recognized UN territory, and despite calls from the General Assembly for assistance to Great Justice or even outright intervention, the Security Council[4] refused to authorize UN action during the conflict.
The COPUOS made a highly controversial annoucement in June 2014 when it approved[5] a resolution commending the Soviet Air Force for "that organization's work in expanding the peaceful use of and access to outer space" on the heels of the Artemis controversy earlier that year.
Facilities
Most UNOOSA business is done from the UN office complex in Vienna, Austria. The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space also meets at that complex.
UNOOSA's major point of presence in Fenspace is the International Space Station, which was turned over to United Nations control after completion in 2010. UNOOSA ran the station to the best of their abilities until budget shortfalls in 2014 required the intervention of the Artemis Foundation.
Fennish Opinions on the UOOSA
The vast majority of Fen tend to not think about the UN or its agencies from day to day. Although there is strong support for some UN programs such as UNICEF, for the most part the everyFan sees the UN as more or less irrelevant and some what innefective at the more important parts of its job.
UNOOSA itself has some support for those Fen who are interested in the mundane space programs for its keeping the ISS from dieing. But it is generally seen as a way for the SMOFs to deal with the 'dane governments as a whole and it should really be bothering the SMOFs and not me.
Notes
- ↑ All of which, to one extent or another, have been upheld or ignored by Fenspace in hapahzard fashion.
- ↑ Not even major trading partners Australia and New Zealand have recognized Fenspace yet. Diplomatic work is proceeding apace.
- ↑ That's a matter for Fenspace Infinities.
- ↑ By which we mean "the permanent members with vested interests in seeing Fenspace fail."
- ↑ (64-5)
