Country: Israel

Committee: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)

Topic: Removing Space Debris
The State of Israel is highly concerned with the danger of space debris that might bring to
mankind. The European Space Agency (ESA) estimated that there are more than 36,500 space
debris objects that are greater than 10cm and hundreds of smaller pieces that cannot be tracked
within LEO, including parts of satellites that have been broken off over time. Also according to
the ESA, there are at least 5,000 satellites still in orbit around the Earth, though only 1,950 are
still functioning. On February 11 2009, a communication satellite owned by Iridium, a US
company, collided with a non-functioning Russian satellite, both broke apart and creating a
debris field of at least 2,500 pieces. These kinds of collisions are expected to increase, even more
catastrophic as the average speed of these satellites is 14,000 kilometers per second with
thousands of them stay in “low Earth orbit”.
Like many other countries in the Middle East, Israel joined the space race very early since 1988
along with UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran or Turkey with many achievements gained by Israel Space
Agency (ISA) and several Israeli private space companies. But, Israel never forgets about
advancing technologies for sustainability. On January 27 1967, Israel ratified the Outer Space
Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer
Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. Subsequently in 1968, the state signed
Agreement on the Return of Objects Launched Into Outer Space; and the 1972 Convention on
International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects.
Israel believes in the potential of our children who with creative and curious minds will think of
plans to bring back satellites and reducing space debris. It’s the success of Tevel program in
which both Israeli and Arab high school students jointly collaborate with the ISA and the
Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry to study satellite engineering and astronomy. They
successfully launched their own eight nanosatellites into space on January 2022. In addition,
siNce 2014, the ISA has jointly collaborated with the ESA to develop the MEPS System -
Micro-Satellite Electric Propulsion System. This system will be installed on microsatellites,
designed to use low power, low weight, to be fuel efficient and enable these satellites to carry out
grater playloads and offer them longer lifespan orbiting around the Earth. The ISA, with several
commercial space companies also promoted the groundbreaking Samson Project that will launch
three nano-satellites, of up to 8-kilograms each, which will fly together in a controlled flight cluster.
They will be installed with measurement equipment, antennas, computer systems, control systems
and navigation instruments. The project aims to prove that it is possible to maintain orbiting satellites
in formation for one year at a height of 600 km. above the ground, which has never before been
attempted. The project will illustrate how to manage a squadron of satellites in space without the use
of fuel, solar panels will be designed as winds for the satellites as an energy storage or propulsion
system. Microsatellites or nanosatellites allow the miniaturization of components without
compromising on the level of performance, being more easily brought back to Earth, avoiding
catastrophic collisions with other space objects as well as being easily dodged by the ISS.
Finally, Israel advocates for an UN-sanctioned policy that supports collaboration among space
agencies from all over the world under sustainable technology research and development
programs. Israel does believe the United Nations should subsidize the cost of research and
development, as the subsidy strengthens finance, serving as a huge motivation for our scientists
and researchers especially in developing countries that are in the space race but lacking in costs
for financing advanced and eco-friendly space technologies. Today, in the Middle East,
developing countries are still facing difficulties in looking for partners in their space projects,
making the space independently for their own safety and contributing to peaceful activities. So,
The UN should allow the relevant member states to freely and internationally collaborate with
each other in the joint programs that research and develop sustainable space technologies as well
as bringing space education for the future generation.

Bibliography:
● Sait Yilmaz - Space and Turkey - scientific Research An academic Publisher - 2016:
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=69467
● Melanie Lidman - One small step for Israel highlights one giant heap of space trash for
mankind - The Times of Israel - 20 March 2019:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/one-small-step-for-israel-highlights-one-giant-heap-of-spa
ce-trash-for-mankind/
● Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Technion - Samson Project - Israel Space Agency - 05
December 2014: https://www.space.gov.il/en/research-and-development/1075
● Alta Company, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. - The MEPS System -
Micro-Satellite Electric Propulsion System - Israel Space Agency - 17 December 2014:
https://www.space.gov.il/en/research-and-development/1077
● Amy Spiro - 8 tiny satellites built by Israeli students launched into space - The Times of
Israel - 13 January 2022:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/8-tiny-satellites-built-by-israeli-students-launched-into-sp
ace/
● Bruce A Huwitz - Israel and the Law of Outer Space - Cambridge University Press - 16
February 2016:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/israel-law-review/article/abs/israel-and-the-law-
of-outer-space/537E47FA77D492D2AADFB3D35EF0F1CF
Country: Israel
Committee: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)
Topic: Promoting Space Technology for Sustainable Socioeconomic Development
The State of Israel believes in the need for promoting space technology aiming to sustainable
socioeconomic development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The United Nations already recognizes the role of Earth observation (EO) and geolocation
[provided, notably, by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in supporting the
achievement of the SDGs. Orbiting in space, EO satellites equipped with specialized sensors
provide data on vast and remote areas of the Earth, improving our knowledge of ecosystems.
Geolocation and in particular, GNSS, is used to incorporate position information to data and
provide location-based services to both humans and machines It is also widely employed in all
modes of transport, fleet management, high-precision and consumer applications, provision of
time information in critical national infrastructures, as well as scientific applications such as
measuring the impact of space weather on the Earth, of earthquakes and climate change on
human communities, among others.
Israel follows the trend towards advancing technologies for sustainable development like major
space contributors such as United States or Europe by investing NIS 600 million for a five-year
strategic plan to boost its space industry. The goals of the program are increasing number of high
school graduates and space researchers working in the field, doubling the number of space
companies, increasing the volume of annual sales for the space sector as well as establishing
international partnerships in space and increase the Israeli presence in major multinational
organizations, starting with the international satellite project, SHALOM - a commercial and
scientific satellite developed by both the Israel Space Agency (ISA) and the Italian Space
Agency. The SHALOM satellite is specialized in environmental monitoring, atmosphere, land
and oceans, and precise agriculture. Expanding the Tevel program internationally is also a way
that Israel chose to broaden space education to our future generations, getting them involved in
the space technologies in general and giving the sense of capability regarding the space industry
in their country. Furthermore, being aware of the need for developing a new system to replace
fuel cost-effectively, the ISA and the Israeli Ministry of Energy funded a space startup’s project
that developed a technology to produce oxygen from lunar soil. This will be launched into two
space missions over the next two year, compromising a permanent life for humans in other
planets, saving costs, time and energy for transporting oxygen into space. Signing the Artemis
Accords in 2022, Israel also expressed its commitment to a common set of principles to guide
cooperation among nations participating in 21st century space exploration as the Artemis
Accords are believed to be an endless opportunity for Israel and the entire world in the fields of
innovation, technology and diplomacy as well as bringing humanity a step further, not only in
space but also on Earth.
However, the State of Israel is absolutely aware of space race within the Middle East which not
only affects the space regional leader of Israel but also threatens the space security in the world
as Iran's space program has been closely linked with the rapid development of its ballistic
missiles, but the country rejected this accusation, claiming that UN Security Council Resolution
2231 does not ban it from launching satellites. UAE focused on the Mars mission, thriving to
make the UAE's space agency the fifth agency to reach Mars though their ultimate 100-year goal
is reportedly to establish a human colony on Mars by 2117. In some cases, the prestige of
technological advancements increase the political and diplomatic status of one country, building
its economic strength and affirming its independence on unrenewable energy sources on the
Earth such as fuel. Nevertheless, it can be used as a distraction from other issues, covering up
dismal human rights records and involvement in regional wars.
Therefore, Israel advocates for an UN-sanctioned policy that proposes detailed terms for
ensuring space security and regulations on the approval of space projects that do not violate any
ethical principles set by the United Nations during the project’s construction as well as clarifying
the purpose of that space project implementation. The UN should open a funding system among
the member states that allow every member states to fund any space projects that involve an
international collaboration between a developed country and a developing country. This enables
global participation in space, improving financial burden of the developing country in delivering
a space project and reducing political distance in international collaboration.

Bibliography:
● Amy Spiro - 8 tiny satellites built by Israeli students launched into space - The Times of
Israel - 13 January 2022:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/8-tiny-satellites-built-by-israeli-students-launched-into-sp
ace/
● Stasa Salacanin - Is there a space race in the Middle East? - The New Arab - 22 March
2021: https://www.newarab.com/analysis/there-space-race-middle-east
● Doug Messier - Plan Proposed to Invest NIS 600 Million to Boost Space Industry in
Israel - Parabolic Arc - 06 June 2022:
https://parabolicarc.com/2022/06/06/plan-proposed-to-invest-nis-600-million-to-boost-sp
ace-industry-in-israel/
● Israeli Startup to Produce Oxygen from Lunar Soil - Israel Space Agency - 20 April
2021: https://www.space.gov.il/en/research-and-development/132560
● Sean Potter - Israel Signs Artemis Accords - NASA - 27 January 2022:
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/israel-signs-artemis-accords
● André Baumgart, Eirini Ioanna Vlachopoulou, Jorge Del Rio Vera & Simonetta Di Pippo
- Space for the Sustainable Development Goals: mapping the contributions of
space-based projects and technologies to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development - Sustainable Earth Reviews - 2021:
https://sustainableearthreviews.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42055-021-00045-6