The Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (commonly known as the Registration Convention) was adopted by the

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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

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treaties are administered by the

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. The European Space Agency,

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, the

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, 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 The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is an office of the U.N. Secretariat that promotes and facilitates peaceful international cooperation in outer space. It works to establish or strengthen the legal and regulatory framew ...

(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 Orbital elements are the parameters required to uniquely identify a specific orbit. In celestial mechanics these elements are considered in two-body systems using a Kepler orbit. There are many different ways to mathematically describe the same ...

(

Nodal period The nodal period (or draconic period) of a satellite is the time interval between successive passages of the satellite through either of its orbital nodes, typically the ascending node. This type of orbital period applies to artificial satellites, ...

Inclination Orbital inclination measures the tilt of an object's orbit around a celestial body. It is expressed as the angle between a reference plane and the orbital plane or axis of direction of the orbiting object. For a satellite orbiting the Eart ...

, Apogee and Perigee) * General function of the space object Information on registered objects is available at th
UNOOSA site

List of states parties

There are currently 72 states parties to the Convention.

Signatories that are not parties

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

Organizations accepting the rights and obligations

Several

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s, 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.

Proposals

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

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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.

Notes

References

External links