Key terms and main organisations

Air-to-surface missile (ASM) is a missile designed to be launched frommilitary aircraft at targets on land or sea.

Anti-ballistic missile (ABM) is a surface-to-air missile designed to counterballistic missiles.

Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) are space weapons designed to incapacitateor destroy satellites for strategic military purposes.

Celestial object is a naturally occurring physical body, association, or structurethat exists in the observable universe. In astronomy, the terms "object" and"body" are often used interchangeably.

The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) wasset up by the General Assembly in 1959 to govern the exploration and use of space for the benefit of the whole humanity: for peace, security and development. TheCommittee was tasked with reviewing international cooperation in peaceful usesof outer space, studying space-related activities that could be undertaken by theUnited Nations, encouraging space research programmes, and studying legalproblems arising from the exploration of outer space.

Missile is a self-propelled precision-guided munition system, as opposed to anunguided self-propelled munition, referred to as a rocket. Missiles come in typesadapted for different purposes: surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missiles(ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, anti-tank, etc.), surface-to-air missiles (and antiballistic),air-to-air missiles, and anti-satellite weapons.

Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including Earth.

Satellite is an artificial object which has been intentionally placed into orbit.

Surface-to-surface missile (SSM) is a missile designed to be launched fromthe ground or the sea and strike targets on land or at sea.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) works topromote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space,and in the field of utilization of space science and technology for sustainable economicand social development.

Weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is a nuclear, radiological, chemical,biological or other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a largenumber of humans or cause great damage to human-made structures (e.g.,buildings), natural structures (e.g., mountains), or the biosphere.