United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

General Assembly Resolution 41/66

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

41/66. Question of the review of the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming the importance of international co-operation in the field of the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, and of promoting the law in this field of human endeavour,

Taking note with appreciation of the work accomplished by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in particular that of its Legal Sub-Committee,

Believing that a mandatory system of registering objects launched into outer space, in particular, assists in their identification and contributes to the application and development of international law governing the exploration and use of outer space,

Recalling that the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,¹ of 27 January 1967, affirms that States Parties to that Treaty shall bear international responsibility for their national activities in outer space and refers to the State on whose registry an object launched into outer space is carried,

Recalling further that the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects,² of 29 March 1972, establishes international rules and procedures concerning the liability of launching States for damage caused by their space objects,

Noting that to date thirty-five States have ratified or acceded to, and five more States have signed, the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space,3 which was opened for signature on 14 January 1975 and which entered into force on 15 September 1976.

Having examined the item entitled "Question of the review of the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space", as called for in article X,

1. Recognizes that, in view of the considerable increase of activities in outer space, effective international rules and procedures concerning the registration of objects launched into outer space continue to be of great importance;

2. Reaffirms, in this respect, the importance of the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space4 and the registration pursuant to the Convention, of all objects launched into outer space;

3. Urges all States that have not yet done so, particularly those conducting space activities, to give urgent consideration to ratifying or acceding to the Convention in order to assure its broad application;

4. Urges also international intergovernmental organizations that conduct space activities to declare, if they have not yet done so, their acceptance of the rights and obligations provided for in the Convention, pursuant to article VII;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare, within existing resources, a report on the past application of the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space and to submit it to the Legal Sub-Committee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space at its twenty-sixth session, for the information of the Member States.

95th plenary meeting
3 December 1986

Notes

1. General Assembly resolution 2222 (XXI), annex.

Back

2. General Assembly resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex.

Back

3. General Assembly resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex.

Back

4. Ibid.

Back