Registration Convention

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The Convention on Registration of Launched Objects into Outer Space was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1974^[1]^[2] and went into force in 1976.

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.^[3]^[4]

The Registration Convention and four other space law treaties are administered by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

1 Current status
2 Future proposals
3 Background
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Current status

The register 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.[1]

Registrations appear in the form of official letters to the United Nations.[2]

[edit] Future proposals

A General Assembly resolution from December 2007 that was accepted by consensus recommended that the data should be extended to include:^[5]

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 (eg, 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

[edit] Background

More than 200 dead satellites now litter this vital part of space. 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.^[6]