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 Information on registered objects is available at the 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 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.

Proposals

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

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.