Saudi Arabia Participates In COPUOS STSC 63rd Session In Vienna

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed that outer space must be used peacefully and responsibly, stressing that global principles should become "practical, measurable operational practices" and that strong cooperation, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building are essential to keep the space environment safe and sustainable for all users.

The delegation from Saudi Arabia took part in the 63rd session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which met at the United Nations Office at Vienna, reflecting ongoing national efforts to support the peaceful uses of outer space and the long-term sustainability of related activities.

The Kingdom’s representation came through the Saudi Space Agency and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, which joined discussions on key scientific and technical questions linked to outer space, in line with Saudi Arabia’s aim to contribute actively to international policy and technical dialogue on these issues.

During the session, the Saudi delegation addressed several agenda items, including the general exchange of views, space for sustainable development, space debris, space weather, the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, and links between space and global health, reflecting the breadth of topics now shaping responsible space activity worldwide.

Under the agenda item "Space and Global Health", the participation included a technical presentation that outlined Saudi Arabia’s microgravity research aboard the International Space Station, such as investigations into how changes in messenger RNA affect gene expression, and work with international partners to develop a specialised nanomaterial used in cartilage tissue regeneration.

The presentation explained that this research shows how experiments conducted in microgravity can later support scalable health solutions on Earth, as findings from space-based studies may inform new medical approaches, improve treatments and encourage further cooperation between national and international research institutions.

The Saudi Space Agency stated that the involvement in this subcommittee session reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing role in international space forums and aligns with the Kingdom’s approach to supporting the sustainability of space activities, while also strengthening engagement with global partners on technical, scientific and regulatory aspects of outer space.

By taking part in the 63rd session and contributing to discussions on topics such as debris, weather, sustainability and health, Saudi Arabia continued to support the peaceful uses of outer space and highlighted how joint work, clear guidelines and applied research can help protect the orbital environment and deliver benefits to societies on Earth.

With inputs from SPA