UN
The UN and UK reach new partnership to support the future sustainability and safety of outer space. Credit: Nasa on Unsplash.

The United Nations (UN) has entered a new partnership with the UK Government to support the future sustainability and safety of outer space.

As part of this agreement, the UK is providing £85,000 in funds to boost international efforts.

The financing will be used to find examples for sustainable use of outer space.

The project will also inform future UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) capacity-building efforts to promote future sustainability, as well as encourage all players to optimally implement the Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities.

UK Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “As the Earth’s orbit becomes congested with potentially hazardous debris, it’s critical that we work with our international partners to secure the continued safety and sustainability of space.

“I am therefore delighted the UK is partnering with the UN to implement and promote these vital standards to all emerging and established space-faring nations, helping to ensure that outer space remains open for our next generation of astronauts.”

This is the first time a UNOOSA project has received funding from the UK Government.

It will also be the first project to be funded from the international element of the UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme, which was introduced last October.

UNOOSA director Simonetta Di Pippo said: “This project, generously funded by our UK partners, will help us ‘connect the dots’; converting the successes of multilateral policymaking into practice, and help deliver the predictability the global space economy needs to ensure its sustained growth in the years to come.”