Registration Convention

  ratified

  signed, but not yet ratified

The Convention on Registration of Launched Objects 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 2014, it has been ratified by 62 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 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 62 states parties to the Convention.

State party	Signed	Deposited	Entered into force
Algeria	—	9 March 2007	9 March 2007
Antigua and Barbuda	—	13 December 1988	13 December 1988
Argentina	26 March 1975	5 May 1993	5 May 1993
Australia	—	11 March 1986	11 March 1986
Austria	14 October 1975	6 March 1980	6 March 1980
Belarus	30 June 1975	26 January 1978	26 January 1978
Belgium	30 June 1975	24 February 1977	24 February 1977
Brazil	—	17 March 2006	17 March 2006
Bulgaria	4 February 1976	11 May 1976	15 September 1976
Canada	14 February 1975	4 August 1976	15 September 1976
Chile	—	17 September 1981	17 September 1981
China	—	17 September 1981	17 September 1981
Colombia	—	10 January 2014	10 January 2014
Costa Rica	—	14 October 2010	14 October 2010
Cuba	—	10 April 1978	10 April 1978
Cyprus	—	6 July 1978	6 July 1978
Czech Republic	—	22 February 1993	22 February 1993
Denmark	12 December 1975	1 April 1977	1 April 1977
France	14 January 1975	17 December 1975	15 September 1976
Germany	2 March 1976	16 October 1979	16 October 1979
Greece	—	27 May 2003	27 May 2003
Hungary	13 October 1975	26 October 1977	26 October 1977
India	—	18 January 1982	18 January 1982
Indonesia	—	16 July 1997	16 July 1997
Italy	—	8 December 2005	8 December 2005
Japan	—	20 June 1983	20 June 1983
Kazakhstan	—	11 January 2001	11 January 2001
Korea, North	—	10 March 2009	10 March 2009
Korea, South	—	14 October 1981	14 October 1981
Kuwait	—	28 April 2014	28 April 2014
Lebanon	—	28 April 2004	28 April 2004
Libya	—	8 January 2010	8 January 2010
Liechtenstein	—	26 February 1999	26 February 1999
Lithuania	—	8 March 2013	8 March 2013
Mexico	19 December 1975	1 March 1977	1 March 1977
Mongolia	30 October 1975	10 April 1985	10 April 1985
Montenegro	—	23 October 2006	23 October 2006
Morocco	—	19 September 2012	19 September 2012
Netherlands	—	26 January 1981	26 January 1981
Niger	5 August 1976	22 December 1976	22 December 1976
Nigeria	—	6 July 2009	6 July 2009
Norway	—	28 June 1995	28 June 1995
Pakistan	1 December 1975	27 February 1986	27 February 1986
Peru	—	21 March 1979	21 March 1979
Poland	4 December 1975	22 November 1978	22 November 1978
Qatar	—	14 March 2012	14 March 2012
Russia	17 June 1975	13 January 1978	13 January 1978
Saudi Arabia	—	18 July 2012	18 July 2012
Serbia	—	12 March 2001	12 March 2001
Seychelles	—	28 December 1977	28 December 1977
Slovakia	—	28 May 1993	28 May 1993
South Africa	—	27 January 2012	27 January 2012
Spain	—	20 December 1978	20 December 1978
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	—	27 April 1999	27 April 1999
Sweden	9 June 1976	9 June 1976	15 September 1976
Switzerland	14 April 1975	15 February 1978	15 February 1978
Turkey	—	21 June 2006	21 June 2006
Ukraine	11 July 1975	14 September 1977	14 September 1977
United Arab Emirates	—	7 November 2000	7 November 2000
United Kingdom	6 May 1975	30 March 1978	30 March 1978
United States	24 January 1975	15 September 1976	15 September 1976
Uruguay	—	18 August 1977	18 August 1977

Signatories that are not parties

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

State	Signed
Burundi	13 November 1975
Iran	27 May 1975
Nicaragua	13 May 1975
Singapore	31 August 1976

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

As of 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.

External links

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