Registration Convention

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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 November 2016, it has been ratified by 63 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 are administered by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.Template:Inconsistent

The European Space Agency and European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites 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 63 states parties to the Convention.

State party	Signed	Deposited	Entered into force
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Signatories that are not parties

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

State	Signed
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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

Template:Asof, more than 200 dead satellites littered the part of space near geostationary orbit. Within 10 years, that number could increase fivefold, warns a report by the UN. The resulting chaos could lead to serious damage or loss of a spacecraft.

External links

• UNOOSA webpage for the Convention
• Signatures and ratifications at depositary