On 12 November 1974 the United Nations General Assembly adopted, by resolution 3235 (XXIX), the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space. It was opened for signature on 14 January 1975 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Six equally authentic texts: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. It is not the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, not the Liability Convention of 1972 and not resolution 1721 (XVI) of 1961, which instituted a voluntary registry.

The preamble recalls international responsibility under the Treaty of 27 January 1967, identifying data under the Rescue Agreement of 22 April 1968, and the Liability Convention of 29 March 1972. It seeks a national registry with the launching State and a mandatory central register maintained by the Secretary-General, as a means of identification. Article I: a “launching State” is a State which launches or procures the launching of a space object, or from whose territory or facility a space object is launched; “space object” includes component parts, the launch vehicle and parts thereof; “State of registry” is a launching State on whose registry a space object is carried.

Article II: when a space object is launched into earth orbit or beyond, the launching State shall register it in an appropriate registry which it shall maintain and shall inform the Secretary-General of the establishment of that registry. Where there are two or more launching States they shall jointly determine which one registers, bearing in mind article VIII of the Outer Space Treaty, without prejudice to agreements on jurisdiction and control. The contents of each national registry are determined by the State of registry. Article III: the Secretary-General shall maintain a Register of the information furnished under article IV; there shall be full and open access to it.

Article IV, as soon as practicable: name of launching State or States; an appropriate designator or registration number; date and territory or location of launch; basic orbital parameters (nodal period, inclination, apogee, perigee); general function. Additional information may be provided from time to time. Notification, to the greatest extent feasible, of objects which have been but no longer are in earth orbit. Article V: if the object is marked with the designator or registration number, the State of registry shall notify that fact. Article VI: assistance in identification, under equitable and reasonable conditions, where an object has caused damage or may be of a hazardous or deleterious nature.

Article VII: international intergovernmental organizations which conduct space activities, if they declare acceptance and if a majority of their member States are Parties to this Convention and to the Outer Space Treaty. Article VIII: entry into force on deposit of the fifth instrument of ratification. The United Nations Treaty Series records 15 September 1976, No. 15020, volume 1023, p. 15 (France, Bulgaria, Sweden, Canada, the United States). Article X: review on the Assembly agenda after ten years; a conference at the request of one third after five years. Article XI: withdrawal taking effect one year later. Current party counts are not given here.

United Nations Headquarters, New York, seen from Roosevelt Island. The place of adoption and of opening for signature, not a confirmed photograph of the vote. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

For context: Registration Convention. The text: UNTS vol. 1023, p. 15, No. 15020.