View source for Registration Convention

{{Infobox treaty
| name                = Registration Convention
| long_name           = Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space
| image               =
| caption             =
| type                =
| date_drafted        =
| date_signed         = 12 November 1974 
| location_signed     =[[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States]]
| date_sealed         =
| date_effective      = 15 September 1976
| condition_effective = 5 ratifications
| signatories         = 25
| parties             = 63
| ratifiers           = 
| depositor           = Secretary-General of the United Nations
| language            = 
| languages           = Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish
| wikisource          =
| image_width         =
| date_expiration     =
}}
[[Image:Outer Space Registration Convention.png|thumb|right|350px|{{legend|#22b14c|ratified}}
{{legend|#b5e61d|signed, but not yet ratified}}]]

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<ref name="UN_ARES3235XXIX">{{UN document |docid=A-RES-3235(XXIX) |type=Resolution |body=General Assembly |session=29 |resolution_number=3235 |accessdate=2008-03-13|title=Convention on Registration of Objects Launched Into Outer Space|date=12 November 1974}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/SpaceLaw/gares/html/gares_29_3235.html|title=Resolution 3235 (XXIX) - Convention on Registration of Objects Launched Into Outer Space|publisher=UNOOSA|date=12 November 1974}}</ref> and went into force in 1976. As of November 2016, it has been ratified by 63 states.<ref>http://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CN/2013/CN.181.2013-Eng.pdf</ref>

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.<ref name="UN_ARES1721XVI">{{UN document |docid=A-RES-1721(XVI) |type=Resolution |body=General Assembly |session=16 |resolution_number=1721 |accessdate=2008-03-13|title=International co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space|date=20 December 1962}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/gares/html/gares_16_1721.html|title=1721 (XVI) - International Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space|date=20 December 1962}}</ref>

The Registration Convention and four other [[space law]] treaties are administered by the [[United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space]].{{inconsistent}}<!-- this is contrary to what is said in the very next section of the article.  Is UNOOSA current and this other committee perhaps the name in the 1960/70s? -->

The [[European Space Agency]] and [[EUMETSAT|European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites]] have submitted declarations of acceptance of rights and obligations according to the convention.<ref>[http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/pdf/limited/c2/AC105_C2_2012_CRP03E.pdf Status of International Agreements relating to activities in outer space as at 1 January 2012]</ref>

==Current status==
The register is kept by the [[United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs]] (UNOOSA) and includes<ref name="unoosa-data">{{cite web|url=http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SORegister/regist.html|title=Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space|publisher=[[UNOOSA]]|accessdate=2009-04-06}}</ref>
* Name of launching State
* An appropriate designator of the space object or its registration number
* Date and territory or location of launch
* Basic [[orbital elements|orbital parameters]] ([[Nodal period]], [[Inclination]], [[Apsis|Apogee and Perigee]])
* General function of the space object

Information on registered objects is available at the [http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/SORegister/index.html UNOOSA site]

== List of states parties ==
There are currently 63 states parties to the Convention.<ref name=untc>{{Cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetailsIII.aspx?&src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXIV~1&chapter=24&Temp=mtdsg3&lang=en#3 |title=Convention on registration of objects launched into outer space |publisher=[[United Nations Treaty Series|United Nations Treaty Collection]] |date=2014-08-14 |accessdate=2014-08-14}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! State party
! Signed
! Deposited
! Entered into force
|-
| {{Flag|Algeria}}
| —
| {{Dts|2007|March|9|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2007|March|9|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}
| —
| {{Dts|1988|December|13|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1988|December|13|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Argentina}}
| {{Dts|1975|March|26|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1993|May|5|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1993|May|5|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Australia}}
| —
| {{Dts|1986|March|11|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1986|March|11|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Austria}}
| {{Dts|1975|October|14|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1980|March|6|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1980|March|6|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Belarus}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|Belarus signed and ratified the Convention as the {{Flag|Byelorussian SSR}}, which was a republic within the Soviet Union. The current Belarusian state did not begin to exist until after the dissolution of the Soviet Union on 26 December 1991.}}
| {{Dts|1975|June|30|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|January|26|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|January|26|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Belgium}}
| {{Dts|1975|June|30|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|February|24|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|February|24||format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Brazil}}
| —
| {{Dts|2006|March|17|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2006|March|17|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Bulgaria}}
| {{Dts|1976|February|4|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|May|11|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|September|15|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Canada}}
| {{Dts|1975|February|14|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|August|4|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|September|15|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Chile}}
| —
| {{Dts|1981|September|17|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1981|September|17|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|China}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|name=Hong Kong|On 30 March 1978, the United Kingdom declared that the Convention applied to all its territories, including [[Hong Kong]], whose sovereignty was transferred to China on 1 July 1997. China filed a declaration that upon the transfer, the Convention would continue to apply to Hong Kong.}}
| —
| {{Dts|1981|September|17|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1981|September|17|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Colombia}}
| —
| {{Dts|2014|January|10|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2014|January|10|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Costa Rica}}
| —
| {{Dts|2010|October|14|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2010|October|14|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Cuba}}
| —
| {{Dts|1978|April|10|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|April|10|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Cyprus}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|name=Cyprus and Turkey|Turkey filed a statement when it acceded to the Convention which implicitly stated that it did not intend for the Convention to be in force with Cyprus. Cyprus objected to the declaration on 21 June 2007 and stated that it would recognize the Convention as being in force with Turkey.}}
| —
| {{Dts|1978|July|6|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|July|6|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Czech Republic}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|name=Czechoslovakia|{{Flag|Czechoslovakia}} signed the Convention on 5 April 1976 and ratified it on 26 July 1977, which was also the date it entered into force for Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia dissolved into the Czech Republic and Slovakia on 31 December 1992.}}
| —
| {{Dts|1993|February|22|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1993|February|22|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Denmark}}
| {{Dts|1975|December|12|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|April|1|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|April|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|France}}
| {{Dts|1975|January|14|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1975|December|17|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|September|15|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Germany}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|{{Flag|East Germany}} signed the Convention on 27 August 1975 and ratified it on 12 May 1977, which was also the date it entered into force for East Germany. East Germany was absorbed by West Germany (the current German state) on 3 October 1990.}}
| {{Dts|1976|March|2|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1979|October|16|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1979|October|16|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Greece}}
| —
| {{Dts|2003|May|27|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2003|May|27|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Hungary}}
| {{Dts|1975|October|13|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|October|26|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|October|26|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|India}}
| —
| {{Dts|1982|January|18|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1982|January|18|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Indonesia}}
| —
| {{Dts|1997|July|16|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1997|July|16|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Italy}}
| —
| {{Dts|2005|December|8|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2005|December|8|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Japan}}
| —
| {{Dts|1983|June|20|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1983|June|20|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Kazakhstan}}
| —
| {{Dts|2001|January|11|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2001|January|11|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Korea, North}}
| —
| {{Dts|2009|March|10|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2009|March|10|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Korea, South}}
| —
| {{Dts|1981|October|14|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1981|October|14|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Kuwait}}
| —
| {{Dts|2014|April|28|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2014|April|28|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Lebanon}}
| —
| {{Dts|2004|April|28|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2004|April|28|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Libya}}
| —
| {{Dts|2010|January|8|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2010|January|8|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Liechtenstein}}
| —
| {{Dts|1999|February|26|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1999|February|26|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Lithuania}}
| —
| {{Dts|2013|March|8|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2013|March|8|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Mexico}}
| {{Dts|1975|December|19|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|March|1|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|March|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Mongolia}}
| {{Dts|1975|October|30|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1985|April|10|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1985|April|10|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Montenegro}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|name=Yugoslavia|{{Flag|Yugoslavia}} acceded to the Convention on 24 February 1978, which was also the date it entered into force for Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia has since dissolved. Serbia is the successor state to {{Flag|Serbia and Montenegro}}.}}
| —
| {{Dts|2006|October|23|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2006|October|23|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Morocco}}
| —
| {{Dts|2012|September|19|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2012|September|19|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Netherlands}}
| —
| {{Dts|1981|January|26|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1981|January|26|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Niger}}
| {{Dts|1976|August|5|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|December|22|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|December|22|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Nigeria}}
| —
| {{Dts|2009|July|6|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2009|July|6|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Norway}}
| —
| {{Dts|1995|June|28|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1995|June|28|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Pakistan}}
| {{Dts|1975|December|1|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1986|February|27|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1986|February|27|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Peru}}
| —
| {{Dts|1979|March|21|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1979|March|21|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Poland}}
| {{Dts|1975|December|4|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|November|22|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|November|22|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Qatar}}
| —
| {{Dts|2012|March|14|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2012|March|14|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Russia}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|Russia is the successor state to the {{Flag|Soviet Union}}}}
| {{Dts|1975|June|17|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|January|13|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|January|13|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Saudi Arabia}}
| —
| {{Dts|2012|July|18|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2012|July|18|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Serbia}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|name=Yugoslavia}}
| —
| {{Dts|2001|March|12|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2001|March|12|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Seychelles}}
| —
| {{Dts|1977|December|28|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|December|28|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Slovakia}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|name=Czechoslovakia}}
| —
| {{Dts|1993|May|28|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1993|May|28|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|South Africa}}
| —
| {{Dts|2012|January|27|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2012|January|27|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Spain}}
| —
| {{Dts|1978|December|20|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|December|20|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
| —
| {{Dts|1999|April|27|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1999|April|27|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Sweden}}
| {{Dts|1976|June|9|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|June|9|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|September|15|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Switzerland}}
| {{Dts|1975|April|14|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|February|15|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|February|15|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Turkey}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|name=Cyprus and Turkey}}
| —
| {{Dts|2006|June|21|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2006|June|21|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Ukraine}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|Ukraine signed and ratified the Convention as the {{Flag|Ukrainian SSR}}, which was a republic within the Soviet Union. The current Ukrainian state did not begin to exist until after the dissolution of the Soviet Union on 26 December 1991.}}
| {{Dts|1975|July|11|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|September|14|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|September|14|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| —
| {{Dts|2000|November|7|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2000|November|7|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|United Kingdom}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|name=Hong Kong}}
| {{Dts|1975|May|6|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|March|30|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1978|March|30|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|United States}}
| {{Dts|1975|January|24|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|September|15|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|September|15|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Uruguay}}
| —
| {{Dts|1977|August|18|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1977|August|18|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Venezuela}}
| —
| {{Dts|2016|November|3|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2016|November|3|format=dmy}}
|}

=== Signatories that are not parties ===
There are four states which have signed, but not ratified, the Convention.<ref name=untc/>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! State
! Signed
|-
| {{Flag|Burundi}}
| {{Dts|1975|November|13|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Iran}}
| {{Dts|1975|May|27|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Nicaragua}}
| {{Dts|1975|May|13|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Singapore}}
| {{Dts|1976|August|31|format=dmy}}
|}

==Proposals==
A General Assembly resolution from December 2007 that was accepted by consensus recommended that the data should be extended to include:<ref name="UN_ARES62101_page3">{{UN document |docid=A-RES-62-101 |type=Resolution |body=General Assembly |session=62 |resolution_number=101 |date =17 December 2007 |highlight=rect_183,148_840,655 |page=3 |accessdate=2008-03-13}}</ref>

* [[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 [[graveyard orbit|disposal orbit]]
* Web links to official information on space objects

==Background==
{{asof|2008}}, 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2008/feb/24/spaceexplorationspacejunk|title=Warning of catastrophe from mass of 'space junk' - 'Failure to act would be folly,' says report to UN|publisher=The Observer|date=24 February 2008 | location=London | first=Robin | last=McKie | accessdate=22 May 2010}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist|group=upper-alpha|close}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SORegister/regist.html UNOOSA webpage for the Convention]
*[http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetailsIII.aspx?&src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXIV~1&chapter=24&Temp=mtdsg3&lang=en Signatures and ratifications] at depositary

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