Space Security Index

Registration Convention
The Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space requires states to
maintain national registries of objects launched into space and to provide information about
their launches to the UN. The following information must be made available by launching
states “as soon as practicable” 13 :
• 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, including:
1. Nodal period (the time between two successive northbound crossings of the equator,
usually in minutes);
2. Inclination of the orbit (polar orbit is 90 degrees and equatorial orbit is 0 degrees);
3. Apogee (highest altitude above the Earth’s surface [in km]);
4. Perigee (lowest altitude above the Earth’s surface [in km]);
• General function of the space object.
This data is maintained in a public “Convention Register,” the benefits of which include
effective management of space traffic, enforcement of safety standards, and attribution of
liability for damage. Furthermore, it acts as a space security confidence-building measure
by promoting transparency. As of 2011, 55 states have ratified and four have signed the
Registration Convention. 14 The UN also maintains a separate register with information
provided by states not party to the Convention (the Resolution Register), based on UNGA
Resolution 1721B of 20 December 1961. 15
The lack of timelines for UN registration remains a shortcoming of the Registration
Convention. While information is to be provided “as soon as practicable,” it might not
be provided for weeks or months, if at all. Moreover, the Convention does not require
that a launching state provide appropriate identification markings for its spacecraft and
its component parts. Various proposals have been advanced at the CD to resolve the
shortcomings of the Registration Convention. In 2007, the UNGA adopted a resolution
to improve state practice in registering space objects and adhering to the Registration
Convention that included wider ratification of the Convention by states and international
organizations, efforts to attain uniformity of information submitted to the UN registry,
and efforts to address gaps caused by the ambiguity of the term “launching state” based on
recommendations by the Legal Subcommittee of COPUOS. 16
Moon Agreement
The Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial
Bodies generally echoes the language and spirit of the OST in terms of the prohibitions
on aggressive behavior on and around the Moon, including the installation of weapons and
military bases, as well as other non-peaceful activities. 17 However, it is not widely ratified
due to contentious issues surrounding lunar exploration. 18 States continue to object to its
provisions for an international regime to govern the exploitation of the Moon’s natural
resources and differences exist over the interpretation of the Moon’s natural resources as
the “common heritage of mankind” and the right to inspect all space vehicles, equipment,
facilities, stations, and installations belonging to any other party.
Laws, Policies, and Doctrines
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