The “Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resources Activities,” convened by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), met in Luxembourg on March 26. Jeremiasz Merkel from the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) was among the panelists.
International Collaboration for Peaceful Space Exploration
The meeting aimed to gather insights for the upcoming Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) session in Vienna in June.
Pursuing Sustainable Space Endeavors
Discussions at the European Convention Center in Luxembourg centered on human activities in space resource extraction. Merkel highlighted Poland’s growing ambitions in space, emphasizing the need for international cooperation.
Poland’s ambitions are growing, manifested in, among other things, an unprecedented increase in contributions to optional programs of the European Space Agency, amounting to nearly 300 million euros from 2022 to 2025, and the upcoming mission of a Polish astronaut to the International Space Station.
The Importance of Space Mining
Simultaneously, the “Space Resources Week” conference emphasized the significance of space mining for future space exploration projects.
Both events underscored the critical role of space in data acquisition, innovation, and public education. They advocated for transparent regulations and effective communication to society.