Space Generation Advisory Council
Encyclopedia
The Space Generation Advisory Council in support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications is a non-governmental organization
which "aims to bring the views of students and young space
professionals to the United Nations
, Space Agencies and other organisations".
SGAC's primary work has been in advancing space policy
making, representing the world's youth on space policy to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
and other international organisations. The SGAC continues to present youth input to the UN through its Observer Status with the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
. SGAC has also been represented at the Space Policy Summit - a meeting of government
representatives and heads of space agencies to discuss the future exploration of space
. In addition SGAC has contributed to the Europe
an Green Paper on Space Policy.
The SGAC was founded in 1999 at a youth forum of the UNISPACE III Conference in Vienna
, Austria
. Over 160 young people from 60 countries
attended the forum, which ran parallel to the UNISPACE III proceedings.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
which "aims to bring the views of students and young space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
professionals to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Space Agencies and other organisations".
SGAC's primary work has been in advancing space policy
Space law
Space law is an area of the law that encompasses national and international law governing activities in outer space. International lawyers have been unable to agree on a uniform definition of the term "outer space," although most lawyers agree that outer space generally begins at the lowest...
making, representing the world's youth on space policy to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs is an organization of the General Assembly charged with implementing the Assembly's outer space-related policies. It is located in the United Nations Office in Vienna. The Office implements the Program on Space Applications and maintains the...
and other international organisations. The SGAC continues to present youth input to the UN through its Observer Status with the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was established in 1958 as an ad hoc committee...
. SGAC has also been represented at the Space Policy Summit - a meeting of government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
representatives and heads of space agencies to discuss the future exploration of space
Space exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
. In addition SGAC has contributed to the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Green Paper on Space Policy.
The SGAC was founded in 1999 at a youth forum of the UNISPACE III Conference in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Over 160 young people from 60 countries
Country
A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
attended the forum, which ran parallel to the UNISPACE III proceedings.
Projects
The organisation hosts several projects for youths:- Yearly Space Generation Congress, this year in Cape TownCape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
(South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
), September 2011 - SGAC-EIC Space Entrepreneurship Paper Competition
- Space Safety and Sustainability
- Space Technologies for Disaster Management
- NEO: Near Earth Object
- YGNSS - Youth for Global Navigation Satellite Systems
- The Barcelona Zero-G Aerobatics Challenge for the Space Generation