Fifty astronauts and cosmonauts from 12 countries convened the Thirteenth Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) from September 12-19, 1997 in San José, Costa Rica. The theme of the congress was “Space Technology for Sustainable Development”, reflecting ASE's concern that while modern technology can improve the quality of life on Earth it must also provide mechanisms to mitigate its impact on the Earth's eco-systems.

Our home planet, this fragile spacecraft we call Earth, has undergone substantial changes over the course of the last century. The impact of human development on the Earth's environment is increasingly evident as we approach the beginning of the new millennium. The demands of modern civilization are resulting in an increase in the pace of deforestation, littoral erosion and atmospheric and oceanic pollution.

Space technology has come of age for the benefit of humankind. Today, more and more humans of different nations partake in this pioneering activity. The ASE embodies a growing representation of this diverse human family in space. The organization is aware of its unique role as a vehicle to foster world collaboration and assist in the transfer of this knowledge to the peoples of the world. The delegates to the Thirteenth Planetary Congress in Costa Rica addressed a pressing issue that affects the people of the developing world: the concept of “sustainable development”. Never before has the gift of space technology been so relevant to the people of Latin America. Its great promise lies in the direct transfer of technical information which is key to the achievement of sustainable development. At the same time, the wealth of biodiversity existing in Costa Rica and other areas of Latin America may hold important answers to questions regarding our own survival. Such wealth must be thoroughly catalogued, understood and protected for all humans.

Costa Rica, as a participant in the United Nations' Earth Summit convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 is at the forefront in institutionalizing the conservation of the Earth's environment. We astronauts and cosmonauts of the Association of Space Explorers have gathered here in Costa Rica to call attention to the many environmental challenges we face and to discuss ways in which space technology can contribute to the solution of these problems. Space-based Earth observation and remote-sensing technologies can facilitate sustainable development by providing accurate crop, soil and pollution analysis and monitoring as well as timely natural disaster and weather forecasting.

Each of us has observed from Earth orbit the results and effects of these many environmental changes. Space explorers from 27 nations, being aware and concerned about the future development and protection of our home planet, support the concept of sustainable development and indeed consider this the only type of development we can afford to pursue. We astronauts and cosmonauts of the world call on all peoples and governments to consider these issues and regard them with all due consideration and to implement the resolutions of the earth Summit in Rio so that future generations may prosper and participate as guardians and beneficiaries of the Earth's environment.

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