Practice of States and IGOs in registering space objects

1. Practice of States and IGOs in registering space objects by Magnus Forberg Andersen and Matthias Jurek Legal Subcommittee 46th Session

2. Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space • Adopted by the UNGA 1974, into force 1976 • January 2006: • 46 states ratified • 4 states have signed • 2 IGOs • European Space Agency (ESA) • European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Legal Subcommittee 46th Session

3. Launching state should furnish to the UN the following information concerning each space object: • 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 • General funtion of the space object Legal Subcommittee 46th Session

4. Different state practices, development of technology • 2003: Initative to put the registration practice on the agenda of the Legal Subcommittee • Working Group • Identify common registration practices • Drafting recommendations to uniform registration • Report to the COPUOS Legal Subcommittee 46th Session

5. Activites of the working group mandate established by legal subcommitte in April 2005 05/06: info about practices by states in registering space objects 06: certain issues agreed • Harmonization of practices (administrative + practical) • Non-registration of space objects • Practice with regard to transfer of ownership of space objects in orbit • Practice with regard to registration/ non-registration of foreign space Legal Subcommittee 46th Session

6. Intersessional consultations held in Berlin in Jan 2007  text of draft resolution was discussed • During meeting in April 2007 further elaboration on elements of the text Legal Subcommittee 46th Session

7. 2. Recommends, with regard to the harmonization of administrative measures, that: • (a) Consideration should be given to achieving uniformity in the type of information to be provided to the United Nations on the registration of space objects; such information could include: • (i) The Committee on Space Research international designator, where appropriate; • (ii) Universal Time Coordinated as the time reference for the date of launch; • (iii) Kilometres, minutes and degrees as the standards units for basic oribtral parameters; Legal Subcommittee 46th Session

8. (b) Additional information that could be considered appropriate might include: (i) the geostationary orbit location, where appropriate; (ii) Web links to official information on space objects; (iii) Any change of status in operations …. • (c ) States and international intergovernmental organizations conducting space activities should designate focal points for their appropriate registries and provide the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat with the contact details of those focal points Legal Subcommittee 46th Session

9. 4. Recommends, with regard to the transfer of ownership or control of a space object…should furnish to the Secretary General additional information,… Legal Subcommittee 46th Session

10. Thank you for your attention!  Legal Subcommittee 46th Session