Bangalore May Host Un Space Meet

The third United Nations meet on space, `Unispace-III, scheduled for 1999, may be held in Bangalore, the headquarters of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).

Space scientists see the selection of former Isro chief U R Rao last month by consensus as chairman of the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-Copuos), as a clear signal of the organisations intention to convene the meet here.

The selection of Professor Rao shows the thinking of the UN-Copuos on the Unispace-III, said Isro scientists. They recalled that last year, India had staked claim to hold the meet, offering Bangalore as the venue. But, the UN committee has also been considering Geneva and Vienna, where the previous `Unispace conferences were held in 1968 and 1982, respectively.

 

The UN-Copuos is expected to decide on the venue when it meets next month at Vienna, its headquarters, under the chairmanship of Professor Rao.

The committee has already decided to have the conference in 1999 and debated on a framework during its earlier deliberations.

The meet assumes significance as it would be open to all member nations of the United Nations, although the UN-Copuos has only membership of 60 nations.

Rao told reporters here yesterday `Unispace-III assumes significance as it was being organised at a time when the entire globe was benefiting from the developments of the space science, unlike `Unispace-1 in 1968 and `Unispace-II in 1982.

He pointed out that the space science was nascent at the time of Unispace-I and was only taking shape during `Unispace-II. Now, the space science has begun to make impact in every corner of the world, he said emphasising the need of the conference and the role of UN-Copuos.

Rao, the first scientist and the first from a developing country to occupy the coveted post, said Space science is no longer a luxury of the developed countries, but becoming a vital tool in everyday life.

Indian space scientists said the developing nations led by the group of 77 were in favour of holding `Unispace-III, while some developed nations had reservations about its necessity.

Group-77 had been arguing that `Unispace-III could discuss the situation created due to the end of the Cold War and end of the space cooperation between the super powers.

The decision taken at the conference would help enjoy the benefits of the space science by all nations.