Dr. Fredrick Jenet on UNOOSA, COPUOS, and the Future of Space Governance
Why this conversation matters
Expanding Frontiers Founder and Executive Director Dr. Fredrick A. Jenet joined the podcast This Week in Space to explain how the United Nations helps guide space activities as more nations and private companies enter the field. The episode opens with a brief note about the proposed move of Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian to Houston, then shifts to space governance and the role of civil society.
Observer status in practice
Dr. Jenet explains that the National Space Society (NSS) obtained permanent United Nations observer status in 2001. Despite the name, observer status is active: NSS informs delegates by submitting research, policy papers, and presentations aligned with Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) agenda items.
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) vs. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)
UNOOSA organizes COPUOS meetings and maintains the official registry of space objects launched by member states. COPUOS is a body of 104 member states that develops principles, frameworks, and best practices for space activities.
Summary of themes
The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 remains the foundation for state behavior in space, and the growth of commercial activity has renewed discussion around property and resource use. Space traffic management and orbital debris coordination are in early stages, emphasizing cooperation and information sharing. UNOOSA’s Action Team for Lunar Activities Consultation, co-chaired by representatives from Romania and Pakistan, is helping align national initiatives for sustained lunar activity. A “regulation sandbox” concept was also discussed—temporarily testing a tailored set of rules in a defined area (for example, a lunar ice site) before considering broader adoption.
