From 1979 to 2013 she served as the legal adviser of  the German Delegation to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) on behalf of the German Office for Foreign Affairs. Thereby, she was closely involved in the preparation and negotiation of all legal instruments adopted by the Committee during her tenure, especially during the challenging years overshadowed by the final decade of the Cold War.

As an independent consultant and peer reviewer in the field of air and space law she is promoting research and academic cooperation between scholars and scientists worldwide, including through her work on behalf of the German Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. 

Dr. Benkö is the editor of the book series “Essential Air- and Space Law” and co-editor of the multivolume reference work “Böckstiegel/Benkö, Space Law Basic Legal Documents”. (In preparation to be continued with Martin Reynders). 

She is a life member of the International Academy of Astronautics and a member of the International Institute of Space Law.

In 1996 Dr. Benkö was awarded  the Federal Cross of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz am Bande des Verdienstordens) by the German President of State Dr. Roman Herzog for her professional achievements in the United Nations and for her participation in the elaboration and adoption of legal principles relating to the use of nuclear power sources in outer space. She was also honoured for teaching space law & policy at FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences (Faculty of Aerospace Engineering) as well as for her work as an author and editor of numerous publications in her field. 

In 2013 she received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Institute of Space Law. 

(Last Entry: September 2026)