United Nations Security Council Debate:
United States
Position on Security Council: Permanent Member – can veto any resolution that it disagrees with
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $17 418 billion USD[1]
Space program and industry: Very strong
Political assessment: Strongly for an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Doesn’t want countries (especially Russia or China) to have weapons in space that they control on their own
- Doesn’t want to pay for the entire asteroid defence system on its own
- Doesn’t trust Russia because of its aggression in Ukraine and eastern Europe
- Doesn’t want China to be seen as too powerful
United Nations Security Council Debate:
United Kingdom
Position on Security Council: Permanent Member – can veto any resolution that it disagrees with
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $2 945 billion USD[2]
Space program and industry: Medium (European Space Agency member)
Political assessment: Strongly for an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Doesn’t want countries (especially Russia) to have weapons in space that only they control
- Doesn’t want to pay for too much of the asteroid defence system
- Doesn’t trust Russia because of its aggression in Ukraine and eastern Europe
United Nations Security Council Debate:
Russia
Position on Security Council: Permanent Member – can veto any resolution that it disagrees with
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $1 857 billion USD[3]
Space program and industry: Very strong
Political assessment: Undecided about an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Doesn’t trust other countries (especially Western countries like the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, who have disagreements with Russia over the war in the Ukraine, human rights and other issues) to have control over an asteroid defence system
- Wants Russian aerospace industry to play a big part in developing and making an asteroid defence system
- Worried about the threat of asteroids to Earth
United Nations Security Council Debate:
France
Position on Security Council: Permanent Member – can veto any resolution that it disagrees with
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $2 846 billion USD[4]
Space program and industry: Strong (European Space Agency member)
Political assessment: Somewhat in favour of an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Wants European aerospace industry (especially French) to play a big part in developing and making an asteroid defence system
- Wants international control (with a strong French voice) over any potential use of the asteroid defence system
- Doesn’t trust Russia because of its aggression in Ukraine and eastern Europe
United Nations Security Council Debate:
China
Position on Security Council: Permanent Member – can veto any resolution that it disagrees with
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $10 380 billion USD[5]
Space program and industry: Strong
Political assessment: Undecided about an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Doesn’t trust Western countries because of a lack of space cooperation in past
- Wants to be a partner in international space activities
- Worried about letting other countries get access to China’s space program and technologies
- Worried about having weapons in space that are not under Chinese control
United Nations Security Council Debate:
Sweden
Position on Security Council: Member (representing Western Europe), President (sets the agenda for the Security Council and presides over meetings)
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $570 billion USD[6]
Space program and industry: Medium (European Space Agency member)
Political assessment: Undecided about an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
____________
Other important issues for this country:
- Doesn’t want countries building their own asteroid defence systems without international control
- Worried about introducing weapons into space
- Doesn’t trust Russia because of its aggression in Ukraine, eastern Europe and the Baltic
United Nations Security Council Debate:
Spain
Position on Security Council: Member (representing Western Europe)
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $1 406 billion USD[7]
Space program and industry: Medium (European Space
Agency member)
Political assessment: Somewhat against an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Very worried about the cost of developing and deploying an asteroid defence system
- Doesn’t trust Russia because of its aggression in Ukraine and eastern Europe
United Nations Security Council Debate:
Sudan
Position on Security Council: Member (representing Africa)
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $73 billion USD[8]
Space program and industry: None
Political assessment: Strongly against an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Very worried about global famine, poverty, water supply, and disease in developing countries
United Nations Security Council Debate:
Czech Republic
Position on Security Council: Member (representing Eastern Europe)
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $205 billion USD[9]
Space program and industry: Small (European Space
Agency member)
Political assessment: Undecided about an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Worried about the cost of developing and deploying an asteroid defence system
- Doesn’t trust Russia because of its aggression in Ukraine and eastern Europe
United Nations Security Council Debate:
Tunisia
Position on Security Council: Member (representing Africa, an “Arab country”)
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $48 billion USD[10]
Space program and industry: Very small
Political assessment: Undecided about an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Very worried about terrorism
- Very worried about political instability in the Middle East
- Worried about refugees and migration across the Mediterranean Sea
United Nations Security Council Debate:
Tanzania
Position on Security Council: Member (representing Africa)
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $47 billion USD[11]
Space program and industry: None
Political assessment: Strongly against an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Concerned about issues of global poverty, famine, water supply, and disease in developing countries
United Nations Security Council Debate:
Uruguay
Position on Security Council: Member (representing Latin America and the Caribbean)
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $55 billion USD[12]
Space program and industry: Very small
Political assessment: Undecided about an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Worried about international trade and the global economy
United Nations Security Council Debate:
Bahamas
Position on Security Council: Member (representing Latin America and the Caribbean)
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $8 billion USD[13]
Space program and industry: None
Political assessment: Somewhat against an international program to
develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of,
and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Climate change
United Nations Security Council Debate:
Nepal
Position on Security Council: Member (representing Asia)
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $19 billion USD[14]
Space program and industry: None
Political assessment: Strongly against an international
program to develop and deploy an international asteroid
defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of,
and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other Issues of Concern:
- Hunger and poverty
- Disaster reconstruction
- Climate change
United Nations Security Council Debate:
Singapore
Position on Security Council: Member (representing Asia)
Financial resources: 2014 GDP of $308 billion USD[15]
Space program and industry: Small
Political assessment: Somewhat in favour of an international program to develop and deploy an international asteroid defence system
Scientific assessment (based on student research into likelihood of, and dangers from, an asteroid impact on Earth):
Student #1:
______
Student #2:
______
Other important issues for this country:
- Worried about international trade and the global economy
- Doesn’t want China to be seen as too powerful
[1] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[2] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[3] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[4] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[5] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[6] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[7] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[8] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[9] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[10] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[11] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[12] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[13] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[14] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).
[15] GDP = Gross Domestic Product (how much money is spent in the country’s economy). Source: International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Database ( (retrieved August 5, 2015).