Registration Convention

Template:Short description Template:Template other The Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (commonly known as the Registration Convention) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1974 and went into force in 1976. As of February 2022, it has been ratified by 72 states.

The convention requires states to furnish to the United Nations with details about the orbit of each space object. A registry of launchings was already being maintained by the United Nations as a result of a General Assembly Resolution in 1962.

The Registration Convention and four other space law treaties, including The Outer Space Treaty, The Rescue Agreement, The Liability Convention, and The Moon Agreement are administered by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

The European Space Agency, European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization, and the Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications have submitted declarations of acceptance of rights and obligations according to the convention.

Current status

The register is kept by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and includes

• Name of launching State
• An appropriate designator of the space object or its registration number
• Date and territory or location of launch
• Basic orbital parameters (Nodal period, Inclination, Apogee and Perigee)
• General function of the space object

Information on registered objects is available at the UNOOSA site

List of states parties

There are currently 72 states parties to the Convention.

State party	Signed	Deposited	Entered into force
Algeria	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Antigua and Barbuda	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Argentina	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Armenia	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Australia	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Austria	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Bahrain	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
BelarusTemplate:Efn	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Belgium	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Brazil	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Bulgaria	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Canada	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Chile	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
ChinaTemplate:Efn	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Colombia	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Costa Rica	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Cuba	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
CyprusTemplate:Efn	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Czech RepublicTemplate:Efn	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Denmark	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Djibouti	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Finland	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
France	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
GermanyTemplate:Efn	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Greece	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Hungary	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
India	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Indonesia	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Italy	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Japan	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Kazakhstan	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Korea, North	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Korea, South	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Kuwait	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Lebanon	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Libya	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Liechtenstein	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Lithuania	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Luxembourg	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Mexico	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Mongolia	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
MontenegroTemplate:Efn	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Morocco	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Netherlands	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
New ZealandTemplate:Efn	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Nicaragua	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Niger	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Nigeria	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Norway	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Oman	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Pakistan	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Paraguay	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Peru	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Poland	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Portugal	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Qatar	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Romania	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
RussiaTemplate:Efn	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Saudi Arabia	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
SerbiaTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Seychelles	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
SlovakiaTemplate:Efn	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Slovenia	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
South Africa	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Spain	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Sweden	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Switzerland	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
TurkeyTemplate:Efn	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
UkraineTemplate:Efn	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
United Arab Emirates	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
United KingdomTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
United States	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Uruguay	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Venezuela	—	Template:Dts	Template:Dts

Signatories that are not parties

There are three states which have signed, but not ratified, the Convention.

State	Signed
Burundi	Template:Dts
Iran	Template:Dts
Singapore	Template:Dts

Organizations accepting the rights and obligations

Several intergovernmental organizations, which cannot be party to the Convention, have nonetheless notified the Secretary-General of the United Nations that they have accepted the rights and obligations of the Convention.

Organization	Notified
European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites	Template:Dts
European Space Agency	Template:Dts
European Telecommunications Satellite Organization	Template:Dts
Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications	Template:Dts

Proposals

A General Assembly resolution from December 2007 that was accepted by consensus recommended that the data should be extended to include:

• Coordinated Universal Time as the time reference for the date of launch;
• Kilometres, minutes and degrees as the standard units for basic orbital parameters;
• Any useful information relating to the function of the space object in addition to the general function requested by the Registration Convention
• The geostationary orbit location, if appropriate
• Any change of status in operations (e.g., when a space object is no longer functional)
• The approximate date of decay or re-entry
• The date and physical conditions of moving a space object to a disposal orbit
• Web links to official information on space objects

Background

For many years, concern has existed surrounding the growing number of dead or inactive satellites in space. These litter the part of space near geostationary orbit and pose a major threat, as any collision would produce serious damage or loss of satellites. As of 2021, there are nearly 12,000 objects registered in the UNOOSA Online Index of Objects Launched into Outer Space.

External links

• UNOOSA webpage for the Convention
• Chapter XXIV OUTER SPACE 1. Convention on registration of objects launched into outer space at the Depositary of the United Nations Treaty Collection