The Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (commonly known as the Registration Convention) was adopted by the
United Nations General Assembly
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; french: link=no, Assemblée générale, AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN. Cur ...
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 space law
Space law is the body of law governing space-related activities, encompassing both international and domestic agreements, rules, and principles. Parameters of space law include space exploration, liability for damage, weapons use, rescue effort ...
treaties are administered by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) is a United Nations committee whose main task is to review and foster international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, as well as to consider legal issues ar ...
.
The European Space Agency
, owners =
, headquarters = Paris, Île-de-France, France
, coordinates =
, spaceport = Guiana Space Centre
, seal = File:ESA emblem seal.png
, seal_size = 130px
, image = Views in the Main Control Room (120 ...
, , the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization
The European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (EUTELSAT IGO) is an Intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental organisation consisting of 49 member states. It is headquartered in Paris, France. The mission of EUTELSAT IGO is to ma ...
, and the 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 Plane of reference, reference plane and the orbital plane or Axis of rotation, axis of direction of the orbiting object ...
, 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 intergovernmental organization
Globalization is social change associated with increased connectivity among societies and their elements and the explosive evolution of transportation and telecommunication technologies to facilitate international cultural and economic exchan ...
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:
* Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time or UTC is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is within about one second of mean solar time (such as UT1) at 0° longitude (at the IERS Reference Meridian as the currently ...
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
A graveyard orbit, also called a junk orbit or disposal orbit, is an orbit that lies away from common operational orbits. One significant graveyard orbit is a supersynchronous orbit well beyond geosynchronous orbit. Some satellites are moved into ...
* 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
UNOOSA webpage for the Convention
Chapter XXIV OUTER SPACE 1. Convention on registration of objects launched into outer space
at the Depositary of the United Nations Treaty Collection
{{Politics of outer space
Space treaties
Treaties concluded in 1974
Treaties entered into force in 1976
Treaties adopted by United Nations General Assembly resolutions
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1974 in New York City
Treaties extended to the Netherlands Antilles
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