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The United Nations Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space

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Title: The United Nations Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space


1
The United Nations Register of Objects Launched
into Outer Space
2
Historical Overview General Assembly resolution
1721 B (XVI)
  • In fact there are two separate, yet complementary
    registers on objects launched into outer space.
  • First register established in 1961 in accordance
    with GA resolution 1721 B (XVI) of 20 December
    1961.
  • Still used to disseminate information received
    from Member States who are not party to the
    Registration Convention.
  • The most recent submission was from Nigeria in
    2004. (A/AC.105/INF.411)
  • As of 1 January 2005, OOSA has issued 411
    documents under GA resolution 1721 B (XVI)
    containing registration data on nearly 6,000
    space objects.
  • Voluntary registration information has been
    provided by Algeria, Brazil, Israel, Italy,
    Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nigeria, Turkey, and the
    Philippines.
  • This presentation will focus on the Register
    established under the Registration Convention.

3
Registration Convention
  • Adopted by the UN General Assembly 12 November
    1974 (resolution 3235 (XXIX)),
  • Opened for signature on 14 January 1975, entered
    into force on 15 September 1976,
  • Supersedes General Assembly resolution 1721 (XVI)
    B of 20 December 1961.
  • As of 1 January 2005, there were 45 ratifications
    and 4 signatures
  • Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,
    Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burundi
    (Signature only), Canada, Chile, China, Cuba,
    Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany,
    Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (S),
    Japan, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Mexico,
    Mongolia, Netherlands, Nicaragua (S), Niger,
    Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Republic of
    Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the
    Grenadines, Seychelles, Singapore (S), Slovakia,
    Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab
    Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of
    America, Uruguay, Yugoslavia.
  • Most recent ratification by Greece in May 2003.
  • Two international organizations have declared
    their acceptance of rights and obligations
  • European Space Agency (ESA) and
  • European Organization for the Exploitation of
    Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)
  • As of 1 January 2005, OOSA has issued 462
    documents containing registration data on over
    7,000 space objects.
  • The most recent registration document published
    was from Germany in December 2004
    (ST/SG/SER.E/462).

4
Function of the United Nations Register on
Objects Launched into Outer Space
  • The main function of the Register is to
  • make provision for the national registration by
    launching States of objects launched into outer
    space
  • serve as a central register of objects launched
    into outer space
  • provide for State parties additional means and
    procedures to assist in the identification of
    space objects

5
Few facts about the UN Register
  • Article III of the Registration Convention
    requires
  • The Secretary General shall maintain a Register
    in which information furnished in accordance with
    article IV shall be recorded"
  • There should be full and open access to the
    information in this Register".
  • The Register established at the Office for Outer
    Space Affairs (OOSA) on behalf of the Secretary
    General.
  • first document ST/SG/SER.E/1 issued on 14 April
    1977.
  • contains information on space objects launched by
    the United States of America as of 31 December
    1976.
  • As of 1 January 2005, OOSA has issued 462
    documents containing registration data on over
    7,050 space objects under the Registration
    Convention.
  • In addition, the Office continues to maintain,
    and transmit to COPUOS, registration information
    furnished by member States on a voluntary basis
    in accordance with GA resolution 1721 (XVI) B of
    20 December 1961.
  • Such information appears in document series
    A/AC.105/INF.1-411. Most recent notification by
    Nigeria (A/AC.105/INF.411) in August 2004.
  • All registration information is maintained by the
    Office in printed and electronic form and is
    updated on a regular basis.
  • Total number of space objects in the electronic
    Registers at 1 January 2005 is 12,100.
    Figure includes duplicate registrations and
    functional and non-functional objects.
  • About 6,000 are still orbiting around the Earth.

6
Box-score of objects registered in accordance
with the Registration Convention and GA
resolution 1721B (as of 1 January 2005)
7
Complementary Nature of the two UN Registers
  • After the entry into force of the Registration
    Convention, States began providing information on
    space objects from that period
  • However, in some cases States can provide
    additional information (ie. decay date) of a
    space object registered under GA resolution 1721
    B (XVI)
  • Some States have re-registered all their space
    objects under the Registration Convention. Most
    recent example France (ST/SG/SER.E/445)
  • In such cases, the space objects are removed from
    the resolution-established Register and placed in
    the Convention Register. A notation that the
    object was formerly registered in the Resolution
    Register is made.
  • Information provided by Member States under GA
    resolution 1721 B (XVI) since 1976 are similar to
    that provided by States in accordance with the
    Registration Convention

Non-functional objects 56
Functional objects 44
8
Application of Article I of the Registration
Convention
  • Definition of space object
  • "The term "space object" includes component parts
    of a space object as well as its launch vehicle
    and parts thereof
  • Practice
  • Practices of parties providing information can be
    broken down into three classes
  • The first class is where parties provide
    information on all space objects, including
    non-functional objects and objects that are
    generated during and after launch. This includes
    objects generated through impacts, explosions,
    etc.
  • The second class provide information on
    functional objects and non-functional objects
    (such as third-stages) that are produced during
    or just after launch. They do not include
    information on objects created after the launch
    phase.
  • The third class provide information on functional
    objects only. This practice is observed by most
    other parties to the Convention.

Present situation of objects registered, 56 are
non-functional (rocket stages, shrouds, etc.)
Non-functional objects 56
Functional objects 44
9
Application of Article II of the Registration
Convention
  • State of Registry
  • "State of registry" means a launching State on
    whose registry a space object is carried.
    (Article I, (c))
  • Where there are two or more launching States in
    respect of any such space object, they shall
    jointly determine which one of them shall
    register the object (Article II. para. 2)
  • Practice
  • Some space objects are registered by more than
    one State
  • Argentina USA SAC-B (1996-061A), SAC-C
    (2000-075B)
  • India USA Insat 1A and its launcher (1982-031A
    and B, 1983-089C), Insat 1D (1990-051A)
  • ESA EUMETSAT MSG-1 (2002-040B) Russian
    Federation USA Reflektor (2001-056E)
  • Some space objects are registered by one State in
    accordance with the Convention, and another
    States under GA resolution 1721B (XVI)
  • Registration of space objects is sometimes
    overlooked where more than one State is involved
  • ISS module Zarya has not been registered
  • Approximately 7 of functional objects have not
    been registered under Registration Convention or
    GA res. 1721B.

10
Application of Article II of the Registration
Convention (continued)
  • Change of Ownership
  • Increasingly common, especially for GSO
    satellites.
  • Usually not reported to the United Nations
  • Registration Convention has no specific
    provision for this.
  • Some States do not consider themselves State of
    registry for space objects acquired in orbit by
    commercial entities incorporated within their
    territory
  • Examples UK and Inmarsat satellites
    (ST/SG/SER.E/417/Rev.1) and, The Netherlands and
    New Skies Satellites space objects (A/AC.105/806
    824)

11
Application of Article IV of the Registration
Convention
  • Information should be "furnished as soon as
    practicable".
  • Therefore, there is no time limit for submission
  • Registration can take between weeks to years.
  • Average time two to three months
  • Practice
  • Some parties (especially those who operate launch
    vehicles for their own use or for customers)
    provide information on a bi-monthly or quarterly
    basis.
  • Other parties provide information on a less
    frequent basis. This practice can range from
    immediately after the launch to information on
    all objects launched during the previous year.
  • The United Nations has also received information
    on space objects prior to their launch. In these
    cases, the Office keeps the information on file
    and after launch confirms the information before
    issue as a registration document.

12
Application of Article IV of the Registration
Convention (continued)
  • Information provided Basic overview
  • Information to be furnished to the United Nations
    by parties to the Registration Convention
    (Article IV para.2)
  • (a) name of launching State or States
  • (b) an appropriate designator of the space
    object or its registration number
  • (c) date and territory or location of launch
  • (d) basic orbital parameters, including
  • (i) nodal period
  • (ii) inclination
  • (iii) apogee
  • (iv) perigee
  • (e) general function of the space object.
  • Article IV, para.3 requires each State of
    registry shall notify the Secretary-General of
    the United Nations, to the greatest extent
    feasible and as soon as practicable, of space
    objects concerning which it has previously
    transmitted information, and which have been but
    no longer are in earth orbit

13
Application of Article IV of the Registration
Convention (continued)
  • 1. Appropriate designator of the space object or
    its registration number
  • Practice
  • All parties provide common names for their space
    objects (recent development in States
    registration practices)
  • Some parties use the COSPAR international
    designator nominally assigned by the World Wide
    Agency on Satellite Information on behalf of
    COSPAR.
  • Some parties provide designators based on entries
    in their national registry. In these cases, the
    common name is also provided.
  • Some parties also use a designator assigned in a
    catalogue maintained by the United States of
    Americas Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), a
    catalogue based on observational/radar data
    formerly maintained by USSPACECOM and made
    available through the NASA Orbital Information
    Group.
  • Issues
  • In some cases, the description of requested
    information is too vague, resulting in different
    interpretations.
  • Different way of spelling can create problems in
    identifying objects.
  • Use of generic names also create problems
    identifying a particular object.

14
Application of Article IV of the Registration
Convention (continued)
  • 2. Date of the launch
  • Practice
  • Some parties use Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) also
    called Universal Time, Coordinated (UTC).
  • Some parties use local time at the place of
    launch.
  • Issues
  • Some difficulty in identifying space objects
    based on local time of launch.
  • Identifying a space object when the time
    registered may be /- 1 day out.
  • 3. Territory or location of launch
  • Practice
  • Some parties provide location and territory of
    launch, especially if the object is launched from
    the territory of another State.
  • Other parties do not provide information on the
    location and territory of launch when a space
    object is launched from another State.

15
Application of Article IV of the Registration
Convention (continued)
  • 4. Basic orbital parameters
  • Information required (Article IV, para.2)
  • Nodal period the time to complete one orbit
  • Inclination the angle made by the objects orbit
    relative to the Earths equator
  • Apogee the greatest distance of the space
    objects orbit from the Earths surface
  • Perigee the closest distance of the space
    objects orbit to the Earths surface
  • General observations
  • There are no standardised units (ie, km, minutes,
    degrees) for reporting the orbital parameters.
  • The parameters technically refer to objects
    orbiting the Earth, apogee/perigee refer to the
    Earth.
  • The orbital parameters do not convey information
    for objects in geostationary Earth orbit. Space
    objects in this orbit, by definition, have very
    similar orbital parameters.
  • The unique basic parameter for an object in GSO
    would be its location relative to the Equator,
    normally stated as longitude degrees East or
    West.
  • In the majority of cases, GSO positions are
    registered with the ITU and are in the public
    domain.
  • Of the 23 Parties that register space objects in
    GSO, 8 do not provide GSO locations

16
Application of Article IV of the Registration
Convention (continued)
  • 4. Basic orbital parameters (continued)
  • Practice
  • Some States provide initial orbit, others
    intermediate (parking) orbit and still others the
    final operational orbit.
  • Units used for orbital parameters (km, minutes,
    degrees) can vary
  • Data on apogee, perigee - usually provided are
    heights above the Earth surface, but sometimes
    distance from the centre of the Earth (difference
    of 6,378 km!). Orbital data is sometimes also
    provided on objects beyond Earths orbit, such as
    interplanetary probes
  • Some parties provide the location in GSO.
  • Issues
  • Orbital data may not always reflect a space
    objects operational orbit (ie., objects that are
    in GSO may be registered with a transfer orbit)
  • Different units (ie. km/miles/AU, minutes/days)
    are used for reporting the orbital parameters.

17
Application of Article IV of the Registration
Convention (continued)
  • 5. General function
  • Practice
  • Some States provide generic functions with
    minimal information content
  • Other parties provided detailed information
    including frequency plans, etc.

18
Application of Article IV of the Registration
Convention (continued)
  • 6. Provision of additional information
  • Article IV, para.2 states that each State of
    registry may, from time to time, provide the
    Secretary-General of the United Nations with
    additional information concerning a space object
    carried on its registry
  • Practice
  • Used to provide additional information on space
    objects in orbit
  • Used to provide information when a satellite
    ceases function. Used also to report the
    impending reentry of space objects
  • Used in conjunction with NPS principles to
    provide emergency information concerning the
    possible decay of satellites
  • Issues
  • Not always used by Parties. Could be used for
    space objects moved to graveyard orbits, etc.

19
Application of Article IV of the Registration
Convention (continued)
  • 7. Reentry of space objects
  • Article IV, para.3 requires parties to notify the
    Secretary-General of the United Nations, to the
    greatest extent feasible and as soon as
    practicable, of space objects concerning which it
    has previously transmitted information, and which
    have been but no longer are in Earth orbit.
  • Practice
  • Some States provide actual date of reentry on a
    specific basis
  • Other parties provide information on a monthly
    basis (ie, an object ceased to exist by the end
    of the month).
  • Issue
  • Non-specific dates of decay can hamper the
    ability to identify a space object that has
    returned to Earth.

20
Application of Article VII of the Registration
Convention
  • Applicability to international organisations
  • Article VII, "Reference to States shall be deemed
    to apply to any international intergovernmental
    organization which conducts space activities if
    the organization declares its acceptance of the
    rights and obligations ... and if a majority of
    the States members of the organization are States
    parties to this Convention and to the Outer
    Space Treaty
  • Practice
  • Two intergovernmental organisations have declared
    acceptance to the Registration Convention
  • European Space Agency (ESA) and
  • European Organization for the Exploitation of
    Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)
  • Satellites operated by EUTELSAT are registered by
    France.
  • Issues
  • Some space objects presently being operated by
    intergovernmental organizations are still
    unregistered.

21
Non-registration of space objects
  • Of the approx 5,730 functional space objects
    launched, 390 have not been registered.
  • 82 of these objects were launched after 1976.
  • Of the 39 Member States that have
    launched/operated space objects, 7 do not provide
    information to the UN
  • Issues
  • Presence of multiple parties may result in
    non-registration
  • Some space objects operated by present and former
    intergovernmental organizations have not been
    registered
  • Intelsat satellites
  • Inmarsat satellites (UK does not consider itself
    State of registry)
  • Some space objects that comprise low-Earth orbit
    communications constellations have not been
    registered
  • Globalstar approx. 50 not registered
  • Iridium approx. 20 not registered
  • Interpretation that Registration Convention
    applies only to objects launched after becoming
    Party
  • Space station modules

22
Conclusions
  • The United Nations Register of Objects Launched
    into Outer Space is the sole source of
    information provided by governments and
    international organisation on all types of space
    objects.
  • All States involved in the launching or operation
    of space objects should be party to the
    Registration Convention
  • Where a space objects launch and operation
    involves several States, parties should remember
    to determine who is the State of Registry
  • Disparity exists in the format and content of
    information provided between parties registering
    space objects. This can cause difficulties in
    positively identifying a space object based on
    information provided.
  • Harmonisation of information provided would
    assist the function of the Register
  • Use COSPAR International Designator
  • Use GMT/UTC
  • Use kilometers, minutes and degrees as standard
    units
  • Final operational orbit of a space object
  • Additional information that would be useful to
    facilitate the maintenance of the Register
  • GSO location
  • Date of decay/re-entry based on GMT/UTC
  • Web-link to official information on space object
  • Notification when a space object is no longer
    functional/moved to graveyard orbit
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