1989 achievements in space noted by UN committee.

• Position: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

Among them were:

The launching in May by the United States of the Magellan spacecraft headed for Venus, and in October, the Galileo spacecraft travelling to jupiter.

The completion in August 1989 of the 12-year journey of the United States Voyager 2 spacecraft, circumnavigating Neptune and completing reconnaissance of the four largest planets of the solar system-jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

* A 22-week mission-involving the first American experiment aboard the Soviet orbital station MIR, conducted by two Soviet cosmonauts-was concluded safely on 19 February 1990.

* The successful docking in December 1989 of a new Kvant 2 module with the Soviet space complex MIR, significantly increasing its research capabilities.

* A series of successful launchings in 1989 by the European Space Agency's (ESA) Ariane programme.

In reviewing national space prospects, Mr. Carver noted a number of other new or continuing efforts by the two main space Powers-the United States and the Soviet Union.

For example, in 1989, the United States had launched expendable launch vehicles, some placing satellites into orbit for other countries. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) also launched the scientific satellite Cosmic Background Explorer to investigate remnant radiation from the early stages of the universe.

The USSR launched some unmanned spacecraft for communications, meteorology and remote sensing, including a satellite to operate as part of the COSPAS/ SARSAT search and rescue satellite system. To date, that system had been credited with saving more than 1,350 lives throughout the world.

The USSR also placed the "Granat" orbital observatory-its first dedicated X-ray and gammaray satellite, also an international laboratory-into a high ellipical orbit for artificial earth satellites. It carried scientific instruments from the USSR, France, Denmark and Bulgaria.

Also in 1989, 11,120 kilos of payload were launched into orbit; and more than 5,000 experiments were carried out. In 1990, apparatus were tested to enable cosmonauts to walk in space.

The USSR in 1989 also launched a bio-satellite, engaged in biological projects involving two monkeys, including a study on how the body adapts to weightlessness.

Also, the United States and the USSR reached agreement on efforts to initiate co-operative medical and life-sciences research on both the space shuttle and the MIR space station. Other strides

Other countries also reported strides in space...