Established in 1958, the UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS (UNOOSA) promotes and facilitates peaceful international cooperation in outer space, working to establish or strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks for space activities and assisting developing countries in using space science and technology for sustainable socio-economic development. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) traces its origins to the era when humanity first ventured beyond Earth's atmosphere. The seminal moment came with the launch of Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, by the Soviet Union in 1957. The ensuing recognition of the need for international collaboration in the exploration and utilization of outer space prompted the establishment of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in 1959.