Registration Convention
The Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1974 and went into force in 1976. As of December 2018, it has been ratified by 69 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.
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 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
- General function of the space object
List of states parties
There are currently 69 states parties to the Convention.| State party | Signed | Deposited | Entered into force |
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Signatories that are not parties
There are three states which have signed, but not ratified, the Convention.| State | Signed |
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 | |
| European Space Agency | |
| European Telecommunications Satellite Organization | |
| Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications |
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
- 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