Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chavan has urged the space-faring nations to promote an ethical, legal framework for the use of space and to prevent it from becoming “a future war zone.”

Mr. Chavan, who inaugurated the 58th International Astronautical Congress here on Monday, reminded the 2,000 delegates — including chiefs of several national space agencies — about the dangers of extending the conflicts on earth into outer space and “turning space into a battlefield of future. Our common resolve is essential to prevent such an eventuality.”

He recalled the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s message to the second U.N. Conference on Peaceful Use of Outer Space, urging scientists and leaders “to see the world in its wholeness, as indeed it is viewed from space, and through their collective wisdom, take practical steps to ensure that our differences are not extended into space.”

He said a robust system for the protection of space assets, whether used for military, commercial or societal applications needed to be addressed urgently through appropriate legal, technical and cooperative mechanism. There was also an urgent need to design regulations to minimise the menace of growing debris in outer space.

Stating that there was a wide asymmetry in policy and regulatory environment as applicable to commercial space activities in technology flow, market access and regulations, he said “these need a careful review. Also objectives relating to dual use technology needs for capacity-building and issues of access to space resources, require harmonisation.”

Mr. Chavan said the Indian Space Programme has planned about 60 missions over the next five years for achieving several new objectives in different fields, including navigation and space transportation.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said there was a need to focus on the plight of the ordinary man, poverty, lack of housing, water scarcity, and non-availability of food. ISRO Chairman G.Madhavan Nair said the organisation was entering the next phase of space vision with components of advanced technologies for low-cost access to space planetary exploration and manned mission initiatives in the next few decades.

International Astronautical Federation president James V.Zimmerman said space activities had become truly global in character.

International Academy of Astronauts’ president Edward C. Stone and International Institute of Space Law (IISL) president Nandasiri Jasentuliyana spoke.

B. N. Suresh, chairman, local organising committee, said there were gaps in knowledge in understanding the phenomenon of global change and space scientists should focus on this.

He said there was renewed interest in robotics and human exploration of space.