A/RES/55/122 launch the first World Space Week and that other events were also held by interested Member States to celebrate World Space Week, and requests the Secretary-General to invite Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations as well as space-related industries to make voluntary contributions to support activities to celebrate World Space Week; 34. Recommends that more attention be paid to all matters relating to the protection and the preservation of the outer space environment, especially those potentially affecting the Earth’s environment; 35. Considers that it is essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects, including those with nuclear power sources, with space debris, and other aspects of space debris, calls for the continuation of national research on this question, for the development of improved technology for the monitoring of space debris and for the compilation and dissemination of data on space debris, also considers that, to the extent possible, information thereon should be provided to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and agrees that international cooperation is needed to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions; 36. Urges all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes; 37. Emphasizes the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to the orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, including mitigation of the consequences of disasters, in particular in the developing countries; 38. Agrees that the benefits of space technology and its applications should be prominently brought to the attention of conferences organized within the United Nations system to address global issues relating to social, economic and cultural development and that the use of space technology should be promoted towards achieving the objectives of those conferences and implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration; 19 39. Takes note of the interest of certain countries, including Saudi Arabia and Slovakia, that submitted requests to become members of the Committee, as well as the requests of those countries that have been sharing seats on a rotating basis, namely, Cuba, Malaysia, Peru and the Republic of Korea, to have that practice terminated and to become full members, and requests the Committee to include in the agenda of its forty-fourth session an item on the enlargement of its membership to consider including as full members those countries requesting membership; 40. Encourages Member States to hold informal consultations on the enlargement of membership of the Committee during the thirty-eighth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and, if necessary, during the fortieth session of the Legal Subcommittee, with a view to reaching a consensus agreement on the matter at the forty-fourth session of the Committee; 19 See resolution 55/2. 7