# Registration Convention

The Convention on Registration of Objects Launched 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 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 treaties are administered by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
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.

## 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 72 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 |
| Armenia | — | 19 January 2018 | 19 January 2018 |
| Australia | — | 11 March 1986 | 11 March 1986 |
| Austria | 14 October 1975 | 6 March 1980 | 6 March 1980 |
| Bahrain | — | 6 July 2021 | 6 July 2021 |
| 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 |
| Djibouti | — | 14 July 2022 | 14 July 2022 |
| Finland | — | 15 January 2018 | 15 January 2018 |
| 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 |
| Luxembourg | — | 27 January 2021 | 27 January 2021 |
| 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 |
| New Zealand | — | 23 January 2018 | 23 January 2018 |
| Nicaragua | 13 May 1975 | 11 July 2017 | 11 July 2017 |
| Niger | 5 August 1976 | 22 December 1976 | 22 December 1976 |
| Nigeria | — | 6 July 2009 | 6 July 2009 |
| Norway | — | 28 June 1995 | 28 June 1995 |
| Oman | — | 10 February 2022 | 10 February 2022 |
| Pakistan | 1 December 1975 | 27 February 1986 | 27 February 1986 |
| Paraguay | — | 19 January 2023 | 19 January 2023 |
| Peru | — | 21 March 1979 | 21 March 1979 |
| Poland | 4 December 1975 | 22 November 1978 | 22 November 1978 |
| Portugal | — | 2 November 2018 | 2 November 2018 |
| Qatar | — | 14 March 2012 | 14 March 2012 |
| Romania | — | 9 February 2023 | 9 February 2023 |
| 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 |
| Slovenia | — | 20 February 2019 | 20 February 2019 |
| 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 |
| Venezuela | — | 3 November 2016 | 3 November 2016 |

### Signatories that are not parties

There are three states which have signed, but not ratified, the Convention.
| State | Signed |
| Burundi | 13 November 1975 |
| Iran | 27 May 1975 |
| Singapore | 31 August 1976 |

### Organizations accepting the rights and obligations

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.
| 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

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

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.