The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) implements decisions of the UN General Assembly and the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). UNOOSA implements the Programme on Space Applications and maintains a Register of objects launched into outer space. The Office also supports developing countries in the use of space technology for economic development.
In December 1994, Kazakhstan was admitted as a member of COPUOS following General Assembly resolution 49/33, which decided to expand the membership of the Committee.
In May 1997, Kazakhstan acceded to the five main international UN space treaties: the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1966), the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1967), the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by a Space Object (1971), the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space, and the Convention on Registration of Persons in Space (1971).
Kazakhstan recognizes the central role of COPUOS in strengthening international and interregional dialogue on the peaceful uses of outer space and considers the Committee as the main forum for stimulating research, exchanging information between States and defining confidence-building measures within the framework of international space law.
The image of Kazakhstan and its cooperation with UNOOSA and COPUOS has been enhanced by the visit of the Chairman of the National Space Agency, pilot- cosmonaut Talgat Musabayev, to Vienna to participate in the 54th session of COPUOS in June 2011. The international forum widely commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first manned space flight and the 50th anniversary of the first COPUOS session. The Kazakh cosmonaut addressed the high-level plenary session, took part in all anniversary events and met with Russian cosmonaut Leonov, Romanian cosmonaut Prunariu, Chinese cosmonaut Liwei, American astronaut Melvin and Japanese astronaut Mukai.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace of the Republic of Kazakhstan and UNOOSA in June 2019 in Vienna, on the margins of the 62nd session of COPUOS. The document envisages cooperation in the use of space-based information for disaster management. In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, it is agreed to strengthen the promotion of innovation in the space sector, improve the skills of scientists, students and other specialists, and facilitate their participation in joint research activities and projects.
In May 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the UN and the National Centre for Space Research and Technology (NCSRT) to open a regional support office of the UN Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) in Almaty.
In 2022, NCSRT won a grant for the project "Development of multi- purpose aerospace monitoring system and services for comprehensive situational awareness of emergencies in trans-border regions of the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation" in the framework of the Programmed Targeted Funding Contest of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022-2024. The programme is scheduled to start in 2023.