  The United Nations Programme on Space Applications, implemented by the United
Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, promotes the benefits of space-based
solutions for sustainable economic and social development. The Programme
assists Member States of the United Nations to establish indigenous capacities
for the use of space technology and its applications. In the past the Programme
has primarily been focusing on the use of space applications and on basic space
science activities. However, in recent years there has been a strong interest
in a growing number of space-using countries to build space technology
capacities, for example, the ability to develop and operate small satellites.
In reaction to this development, the United Nations in cooperation with the
International Academy of Astronautics has been organizing annual workshops on
small satellites in the service of developing countries. Space technology
related issues have also been addressed as part of various other activities of
the Programme on Space Applications. Building on these experiences, the Office
for Outer Space Affairs is now considering the launch of a new initiative,
preliminarily titled the United Nations Basic Space Technology Initiative
(UNBSTI), to promote basic space technology development. The initiative would
be implemented in the framework of the Programme on Space Applications and its
aim would be to help building sustainable capacities for basic space technology
education and development, thereby advancing the operational use of space
technology and its applications.
