The United Nations General Assembly, in December 1999, declared October 4-10 as World Space Week for celebration each year at the international level. The first World Space Week is being celebrated this year.

Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE-III) held in July 1999 recommended the World Space Week to be celebrated with the aims of:

• Increasing the awareness of the society about the benefits of Peaceful Uses of Space Science and Technology
• Recognize the contributions, the Space Science and Technology can make to the betterment of human condition.

In addition to World Space Week, the other important recommendations encompass the subjects of protecting Earth's environment, an integrated Space-based natural disaster management system, universal access to Space-based communication services, enhancing the capacity building through development of human and budgetary resources in the developing countries etc. UNISPACE-III is the result of increased level of current Space activities, which started with a modest beginning in 1950s.

Space Science and Technology, and their applications grew at a tremendous pace in the 20th century. The technological concepts to launch manmade satellites into the Earth's orbit were studied in a precise manner only from the last decade of 19th century. Gaining the technological capabilities in this field, erstwhile USSR launched successfully the first artificial satellite, Sputnik-I, on 4th October 1957. The satellite was launched using an ICBM called R7, and the satellite weighed 83.6 kg. It demonst ted the scientific and technological concepts, and opened for the first time the Outer Space for utilization by the mankind.

The growth from then onwards was rapid. Thousands of satellites were launched covering scientific satellites, remote sensing satellites, communication satellites, micro-gravity experiment satellites, inter-planetary probes and deep Space missions. The first manned Space mission led gradually to the present status of astronauts being able to work in Space. Space stations and long the duration stay of human beings in Outer Space have come into our reach.

The Space Science and Technology had also opened up a tremendous opportunity for applications which benefits human development. Communication satellites helped to connect people across continents easily. Broadcasting to the millions of viewers in the one-third geographic area of the Earth from one geo-stationary satellite has become a regular feature. Taking the imageries of the Earth from the vantage points of Earth's orbit give us an excellent capability to view the agricultural and environmental cha es in a synoptic manner. Processing of new specialized materials in the micro-gravity environment is leading us to new levels of knowledge. Inter-planetary and deep Space missions help us to understand the origins of the Universe.

Space activity, by its nature, transcends the national boundaries, and demands sincere international cooperation. As the satellites move around the globe, the cooperation from all the countries is needed to allow the routine Space operations and also to handle the emergencies. Outer Space was recognized, right from the beginning, as a common resource of human kind. These fundamental aspects led to formation of standing Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space of the United Nations in 1959. Thus the i ernational cooperation followed the developments in the Space Science and Technology very closely. The UN-COPUOS meets every year and deliberates on technical, legal, political aspects of the development of Space field and the activities of Member States. The Committee maintains a fine balance between various aspects and recommends to the UN General Assemble on the long term measures to be adopted, UN-COPUOS, during its last 40 years of work, created five international Treaties in the subject of Outer S ce.

The foremost of these Treaties is "Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies". This Treaty was adopted in December 1966 and opened for signature on 27th January 1967, and it entered into force on 10th October 1967. It is popularly known as the Outer Space Treaty. The Articles of the Treaty spell out the noble principle such as:

• The Exploration and use of Outer Space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic and scientific development.
• The Exploration and use of Outer Space shall be the province of all mankind.
• Outer Space shall be free for Exploration and use by all States, and is not subject to national appropriation.
• The parties to the Treaty undertake not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying Nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction.

This Treaty was the cornerstone for international cooperation in the Outer Space. This Treaty came into effect on 10th October 1967.

UNISPACE-III recognized the significance of these two days i.e., 4th October, which opened mankind's access to Space, and 10th October, which brought in an egalitarian Treaty into effect. Both these developments led to Exploration of Outer Space for peaceful purposes, and wide variety of applications of Space Science and Technology. Hence the recommendation of UNISPACE-III to celebrate 4-10 October as World Space week.

Incidentally India played a leading role in all the three global Conferences held by UN on the subject of Outer Space. Dr Vikram Sarabhai was elected as Vice President and Scientific Chairman of the First UN Conference held in 1968, Prof Yashpal worked as Secretary General of the Second UN Conference held in 1982 and, Prof U R Rao was elected as the President of the Third UN Conference, UNISPACE-III held in 1999. Indian Delegation worked for many years in the COPUOS Sessions for the success of UNISPACE- I, and for adopting unanimously the Vienna Declaration containing all the recommendations.

Indian Delegation to UNISPACE-III was headed by Dr K Kasturirangan, Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Dept. of Space, Government of India. In his address to the Plenary he said "With its ability to integrate diverse aspects which affect quality of life, Space inspires a new vision to humanity, new vistas for cooperation and progress towards a common destiny .... Such rapid advancements in technology and its application, if not properly integrated into the entire structure of society, pose the danger of isol ing large sections of society, thus making human civilization fragile..... In short, space should become a strong instrument to meet the challenges of next millennium, namely, finding sustainable paths of development."

With such guidance, ISRO celebrates the first World Space Week in all its Centres.