Press Briefing: Telemedicine, Near-Earth Objects and Heliophysics

VIENNA, 1 March 2006 - UNIS Vienna organized a press briefing today on "Telemedicine, Near-Earth Objects and Heliophysics: Overview of the 43rd session of the COPUOS Scientific and Technical Subcommittee". The briefing was held on the occasion of 43rd session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), currently taking place in Vienna. The speakers were Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Sergio Camacho; Chief, Space Medicine and Health Care Systems Office, Johnson Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States of America, James M. Duncan, M.D.; Chairman, Committee on Near-Earth Objects, Association of Space Explorers, and Astronaut on Apollo 9 Space Mission, Russell L. Schweickart; and Senior Programme Officer, Space Applications Section, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Hans Haubold. The briefing was opened by Director, UNIS Vienna, Nasra Hassan.

Mr. Camacho introduced some of the topics being discussed by the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee during its current session. A key topic was how to keep down the production of space debris, on which a draft document was being reviewed. The discussion of the use of nuclear power sources in outer space was also making good progress.

Dr. Duncan introduced two successes of space-based medical experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS), which showed promising outcomes for remote areas of the world. One was an ultrasound device that had been adapted for space-flight, which had been successfully tested by a crew that was not medically trained, assisted by remote medical personnel on Earth. The other was a light-weight trauma module that had been applied in the same way. Both these devices were being developed with the goal of providing autonomous devices for space exploration missions, that could be used without a physician on board the craft.

Mr. Schweickart introduced the Committee on Near-Earth Objects that had been established by the Association of Space Explorers in 2005, out of concern over the large number and dimension of natural disasters taking place. The collision of an asteroid or meteorite with the Earth was a potential disaster that could dwarf all known disasters combined. As the frequency of such a type of disaster is very low compared with the human life span, general awareness of the problem was very low. There were three elements required for the protection against such a potential disaster: 1) an early warning system: this was currently being developed in form of the global Spaceguard Survey; 2) capability to deflect: humankind today was just reaching a level of technology, at which it was becoming possible to deflect the path of a Near-Earth Object using space-craft; and 3) an international decision-making process was required, as Near-Earth Objects were a planetary problem. The world was currently not prepared for such a disaster, said Mr. Schweickart. The Association of Space Explorers was planning a series of international workshops, at which experts would come together to discuss this challenge.

Mr. Haubold introduced plans for the International Heliophysical Year (IHY) in 2007, during which scientists all over the world would work together to research the effects that the variability of the Sun can have on the Earth's magnetosphere, environment and climate. 2007 was an important year for the peaceful uses of outer space, marking the 50th session of COPUOS, the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1 and the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Outer Space Treaty. Mr. Haubold emphasized the importance of the media in supporting the wide publication of IHY activities. The United Nations would focus on "putting the 'I' in IHY", ie. trying to involve all Member States in the activities (currently, over 100 were already participating); and in assisting developing countries to benefit from the outcome of IHY research by deploying low-cost ground-based equipment.

A question was raised on the topic of telemedicine, asking whether there was funding available for the use of telemedicine worldwide. Dr. Duncan answered that the United States had for instance provided funds to train physicians in Afghanistan in the use of telemedicine.