This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (July 2022) |
| Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space | |
|---|---|
| π Image ratified
signed, but not yet ratified | |
| Signed | 12 November 1974 |
| Location | New York City, New York, United States |
| Effective | 15 September 1976 |
| Condition | 5 ratifications |
| Signatories | 25 |
| Parties | 78 |
| Depositary | Secretary-General of the United Nations |
| Languages | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish |
The Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (commonly known as the Registration Convention or Registration Agreement) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1974[1][2] and went into force in 1976. As of January 2026, it has been ratified by 78 states.[3]
The convention requires states to furnish 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.[4][5]
The Registration Convention and four other space law treaties, including the Outer Space Treaty, the Rescue Agreement, the Liability Convention, and the Moon Agreement are administered by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.[6]
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.[7]
Current status
[edit]The register is kept by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and includes[8]
- 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
[edit]There are currently 72 states parties to the convention.[3]
| State party | Signed | Deposited | Entered into force |
|---|---|---|---|
| π Image Algeria |
β | 9 March 2007 | 9 March 2007 |
| π Image Antigua and Barbuda |
β | 13 December 1988 | 13 December 1988 |
| π Image Argentina |
26 March 1975 | 5 May 1993 | 5 May 1993 |
| π Image Armenia |
β | 19 January 2018 | 19 January 2018 |
| π Image Australia |
β | 11 March 1986 | 11 March 1986 |
| π Image Austria |
14 October 1975 | 6 March 1980 | 6 March 1980 |
| π Image Bahrain |
β | 6 July 2021 | 6 July 2021 |
| π Image Belarus[A] |
30 June 1975 | 26 January 1978 | 26 January 1978 |
| π Image Belgium |
30 June 1975 | 24 February 1977 | 24 February 1977 |
| π Image Brazil |
β | 17 March 2006 | 17 March 2006 |
| π Image Bulgaria |
4 February 1976 | 11 May 1976 | 15 September 1976 |
| π Image Canada |
14 February 1975 | 4 August 1976 | 15 September 1976 |
| π Image Chile |
β | 17 September 1981 | 17 September 1981 |
| π Image China[B] |
β | 17 September 1981 | 17 September 1981 |
| π Image Colombia |
β | 10 January 2014 | 10 January 2014 |
| π Image Costa Rica |
β | 14 October 2010 | 14 October 2010 |
| π Image Cuba |
β | 10 April 1978 | 10 April 1978 |
| π Image Cyprus[C] |
β | 6 July 1978 | 6 July 1978 |
| π Image Czech Republic[D] |
β | 22 February 1993 | 22 February 1993 |
| π Image Denmark |
12 December 1975 | 1 April 1977 | 1 April 1977 |
| π Image Djibouti |
β | 14 July 2022 | 14 July 2022 |
| π Image Finland |
β | 15 January 2018 | 15 January 2018 |
| π Image France |
14 January 1975 | 17 December 1975 | 15 September 1976 |
| π Image Germany[E] |
2 March 1976 | 16 October 1979 | 16 October 1979 |
| π Image Greece |
β | 27 May 2003 | 27 May 2003 |
| π Image Hungary |
13 October 1975 | 26 October 1977 | 26 October 1977 |
| π Image India |
β | 18 January 1982 | 18 January 1982 |
| π Image Indonesia |
β | 16 July 1997 | 16 July 1997 |
| π Image Italy |
β | 8 December 2005 | 8 December 2005 |
| π Image Japan |
β | 20 June 1983 | 20 June 1983 |
| π Image Kazakhstan |
β | 11 January 2001 | 11 January 2001 |
| π Image Korea, North |
β | 10 March 2009 | 10 March 2009 |
| π Image Korea, South |
β | 14 October 1981 | 14 October 1981 |
| π Image Kuwait |
β | 28 April 2014 | 28 April 2014 |
| π Image Lebanon |
β | 28 April 2004 | 28 April 2004 |
| π Image Libya |
β | 8 January 2010 | 8 January 2010 |
| π Image Liechtenstein |
β | 26 February 1999 | 26 February 1999 |
| π Image Lithuania |
β | 8 March 2013 | 8 March 2013 |
| π Image Luxembourg |
β | 27 January 2021 | 27 January 2021 |
| π Image Malaysia |
β | 26 September 2025 | 26 September 2025 |
| π Image Mexico |
19 December 1975 | 1 March 1977 | 1 March 1977 |
| π Image Mongolia |
30 October 1975 | 10 April 1985 | 10 April 1985 |
| π Image Montenegro[F] |
β | 23 October 2006 | 23 October 2006 |
| π Image Morocco |
β | 19 September 2012 | 19 September 2012 |
| π Image Netherlands |
β | 26 January 1981 | 26 January 1981 |
| π Image New Zealand[G] |
β | 23 January 2018 | 23 January 2018 |
| π Image Nicaragua |
13 May 1975 | 11 July 2017 | 11 July 2017 |
| π Image Niger |
5 August 1976 | 22 December 1976 | 22 December 1976 |
| π Image Nigeria |
β | 6 July 2009 | 6 July 2009 |
| π Image Norway |
β | 28 June 1995 | 28 June 1995 |
| π Image Oman |
β | 10 February 2022 | 10 February 2022 |
| π Image Pakistan |
1 December 1975 | 27 February 1986 | 27 February 1986 |
| π Image Paraguay |
β | 19 January 2023 | 19 January 2023 |
| π Image Peru |
β | 21 March 1979 | 21 March 1979 |
| π Image Poland |
4 December 1975 | 22 November 1978 | 22 November 1978 |
| π Image Portugal |
β | 2 November 2018 | 2 November 2018 |
| π Image Qatar |
β | 14 March 2012 | 14 March 2012 |
| π Image Romania |
β | 9 February 2023 | 9 February 2023 |
| π Image Russia[H] |
17 June 1975 | 13 January 1978 | 13 January 1978 |
| π Image Saudi Arabia |
β | 18 July 2012 | 18 July 2012 |
| π Image Serbia[F][I] |
β | 12 March 2001 | 12 March 2001 |
| π Image Seychelles |
β | 28 December 1977 | 28 December 1977 |
| π Image Slovakia[D] |
β | 28 May 1993 | 28 May 1993 |
| π Image Slovenia |
β | 20 February 2019 | 20 February 2019 |
| π Image South Africa |
β | 27 January 2012 | 27 January 2012 |
| π Image Spain |
β | 20 December 1978 | 20 December 1978 |
| π Image Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
β | 27 April 1999 | 27 April 1999 |
| π Image Sweden |
9 June 1976 | 9 June 1976 | 15 September 1976 |
| π Image Switzerland |
14 April 1975 | 15 February 1978 | 15 February 1978 |
| π Image Turkey[C] |
β | 21 June 2006 | 21 June 2006 |
| π Image Ukraine[J] |
11 July 1975 | 14 September 1977 | 14 September 1977 |
| π Image United Arab Emirates |
β | 7 November 2000 | 7 November 2000 |
| π Image United Kingdom[B][K] |
6 May 1975 | 30 March 1978 | 30 March 1978 |
| π Image United States |
24 January 1975 | 15 September 1976 | 15 September 1976 |
| π Image Uruguay |
β | 18 August 1977 | 18 August 1977 |
| π Image Venezuela |
β | 3 November 2016 | 3 November 2016 |
Signatories that are not parties
[edit]There are three states which have signed, but not ratified, the convention.[3]
| State | Signed |
|---|---|
| π Image Burundi |
13 November 1975 |
| π Image Iran |
27 May 1975 |
| π Image Singapore |
31 August 1976 |
Organizations accepting the rights and obligations
[edit]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.[3]
| Organization | Notified |
|---|---|
| European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites | 10 July 1997 |
| European Space Agency | 2 January 1979 |
| European Telecommunications Satellite Organization | 10 June 2014 |
| Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications | 10 July 2018 |
Proposals
[edit]A General Assembly resolution from December 2007 that was accepted by consensus recommended that the data should be extended to include:[9]
- 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
[edit]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.[10] As of 2021, there are nearly 12,000 objects registered in the UNOOSA Online Index of Objects Launched into Outer Space.[11]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Belarus signed and ratified the Convention as the π Image
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. - ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b π Image
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. - ^ π Image
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. - ^ a b π Image
Yugoslavia acceded to the Convention on 24 February 1978, which was also the date it entered into force for Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia has since dissolved. - ^ The Convention is not in force for Tokelau.
- ^ Russia is the successor state to the π Image
Soviet Union - ^ Serbia is the successor state to π Image
Serbia and Montenegro. - ^ Ukraine signed and ratified the Convention as the π Image
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. - ^ On 30 March 1978, the United Kingdom declared that the Convention applied to all its territories, including Antigua and Barbuda, Brunei, Dominica, Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Solomon Islands, which, except for Anguilla, have all since become sovereign states.
References
[edit]- ^ United Nations General Assembly Session 29 Resolution 3235. Convention on Registration of Objects Launched Into Outer Space A/RES/3235(XXIX) 12 November 1974. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
- ^ "Resolution 3235 (XXIX) - Convention on Registration of Objects Launched Into Outer Space". UNOOSA. 12 November 1974. Archived from the original on 28 March 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Convention on registration of objects launched into outer space". United Nations Treaty Collection. 2022-02-11. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- ^ United Nations General Assembly Session 16 Resolution 1721. International co-operation in the peaceful uses of outer space A/RES/1721(XVI) 20 December 1962. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
- ^ "1721 (XVI) - International Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space". 20 December 1962. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008.
- ^ "Space Law Treaties and Principles". www.unoosa.org. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
- ^ Status of International Agreements relating to activities in outer space as at 1 January 2012
- ^ "Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space". UNOOSA. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^ United Nations General Assembly Session 62 Resolution 101. A/RES/62/101 page 3. 17 December 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
- ^ McKie, Robin (24 February 2008). "Warning of catastrophe from mass of 'space junk' - 'Failure to act would be folly,' says report to UN". London: The Observer. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "Search OSOidx". www.unoosa.org. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
External links
[edit]- 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
Categories:
- Space treaties
- Treaties concluded in 1974
- Treaties entered into force in 1976
- Treaties adopted by United Nations General Assembly resolutions
- United Nations treaties
- Treaties of Algeria
- Treaties of Argentina
- Treaties of Antigua and Barbuda
- Treaties of Armenia
- Treaties of Australia
- Treaties of Austria
- Treaties of Bahrain
- Treaties of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
- Treaties of Belgium
- Treaties of the military dictatorship in Brazil
- Treaties of the People's Republic of Bulgaria
- Treaties of Canada
- Treaties of Chile
- Treaties of the People's Republic of China
- Treaties of Colombia
- Treaties of Costa Rica
- Treaties of Cuba
- Treaties of Cyprus
- Treaties of the Czech Republic
- Treaties of Czechoslovakia
- Treaties of North Korea
- Treaties of Denmark
- Treaties of Finland
- Treaties of France
- Treaties of West Germany
- Treaties of East Germany
- Treaties of Greece
- Treaties of the Hungarian People's Republic
- Treaties of India
- Treaties of Indonesia
- Treaties of Italy
- Treaties of Japan
- Treaties of Kazakhstan
- Treaties of Kuwait
- Treaties of Lebanon
- Treaties of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
- Treaties of Liechtenstein
- Treaties of Lithuania
- Treaties of Luxembourg
- Treaties of Mexico
- Treaties of the Mongolian People's Republic
- Treaties of Montenegro
- Treaties of Morocco
- Treaties of the Netherlands
- Treaties of New Zealand
- Treaties of Niger
- Treaties of Nigeria
- Treaties of Norway
- Treaties of Oman
- Treaties of Pakistan
- Treaties of Peru
- Treaties of the Philippines
- Treaties of the Polish People's Republic
- Treaties of Portugal
- Treaties of Qatar
- Treaties of South Korea
- Treaties of the Soviet Union
- Treaties of Saudi Arabia
- Treaties of Serbia and Montenegro
- Treaties of Seychelles
- Treaties of Slovakia
- Treaties of Slovenia
- Treaties of South Africa
- Treaties of Spain
- Treaties of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Treaties of Sweden
- Treaties of Switzerland
- Treaties of Turkey
- Treaties of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
- Treaties of the United Arab Emirates
- Treaties of the United Kingdom
- Treaties of the United States
- Treaties of Uruguay
- Treaties of Venezuela
- Treaties of Yugoslavia
- 1974 in New York City
- Treaties extended to the Netherlands Antilles
- Treaties extended to Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
- Treaties extended to the Faroe Islands
- Treaties extended to Greenland
- Treaties extended to British Antigua and Barbuda
- Treaties extended to Brunei (protectorate)
- Treaties extended to British Dominica
- Treaties extended to the British Solomon Islands
- Treaties extended to British Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Treaties extended to Aruba
- Treaties extended to Bermuda
- Treaties extended to the British Virgin Islands
- Treaties extended to British Hong Kong
- Treaties extended to the Cayman Islands
- Treaties extended to the Falkland Islands
- Treaties extended to Gibraltar
- Treaties extended to Montserrat
- Treaties extended to the Pitcairn Islands
- Treaties extended to Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- Treaties extended to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Treaties extended to the Turks and Caicos Islands
- Treaties extended to West Berlin