A List of Satellites Not Registered with the U.N.
by Jonathan McDowell
Adherence to the 1976 Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space by Jonathan McDowell Somerville, MA., 1994 Dec 23 Second edition: Revised 1995 Sep 24 Third edition: Revised 1997 Apr 21 Unregistered Satellites Table 1: Registered and Unregistered Satellites Table 2: Unregistered Earth Satellites and Space Probes 1962- 1996 Mar (a) Argentina (b) Australia © Brazil (d) Canada (e) China, People's Republic () Czech Republic (f) European Space Agency (g) France (h) Germany, Federal Republic (i) Indonesia (j) Israel (k) Italy (l) Japan (n) Luxembourg () Malaysia (o) Mexico (p) Netherlands (q) Pakistan ® Portugal (s) Saudi Arabia (u) Thailand (v) Turkey (w) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Russian Federation (x) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (y) United States of America ----------------- Unregistered Satellites In 1962, UN Resolution 1721B (XVI) required member States of the UN to register objects launched into space. This was a move to reduce tensions and alleviate the fear that the US or the USSR would place weapons in orbit. The resolution was complemented in 1976 when the UN drew up the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space. Registration documents submitted to the United Nations under the provisions of UN Resolution 1721B (XVI) and article IV of the 1976 Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space are published as two series of United Nations documents (UNO 1962, UNO 1977), which are not widely available and in which the information is scattered and hard to find. I have recently (McDowell 1994, 1995, 1997) compiled an edited version of the information in the Registration documents which corrects the above mentioned errors and arranges the information in a systematic way. Since 1962, most space payloads have been duly registered with the UN. (The USSR retrospectively registered its pre-1962 payloads, while the US did not.) However, a number have not been registered, in violation of Resolution 1721B. Here (Table 1) I summarize the situation for launches for the period from the beginning of 1980 to 1996 using the data from my edited version of the Registry, which covers documents published up to mid 1997 (ST/SG/SER.E/317 and A/AC.105/INF.399). Things are confusing for payloads launched by one state on behalf of another; the United States occasionally registers payloads which it launched but which belong to another country, but this is not done in any systematic way. In these cases I have considered the payload to be a United States payload unless it was subsequently re-registered by another state. 10 of the French payloads belonged to ESRO, and 3 to EUTELSAT. Three of the UK non-registered payloads are those of INMARSAT, an international organization with headquarters in the UK. Until 1981 the USA registered all INTELSAT payloads, since INTELSAT has its headquarters in the USA. Since 1981, it has omitted all these payloads. It can be seen that almost 10 percent of US payloads since 1980 are unregistered. China also has a bad record, since it only began registering launches a few years ago. Japan used to have a very good score but it recently missed a few launches. Since the first edition, Canada has registered its outstanding satellites and France has registered some of its missing launches. Note added in third edition: Spain and Korea registered their outstanding satellites in 1996. In Table 2 I list all the satellites launched since 1962 which have not been registered with the UN, together with the name of the UN member state which should have registered them. In most cases the failure to register was due to adminstrative oversight, and it is to be hoped that the states in question will retrospectively register the satellites in Table 2. ----------------------------------------- Table 1: Registered and unregistered satellite launches. Launching State Number of payloads 1980-1996 Mar 31 1957-1979 1957-96 Mar 31 registered not registered registered not reg. total ------------------------------------------------------ Soviet Union 1317 0 1415 18 2750 United States of America 410 45 934 33 1424 Russian Federation 241 7 0 0 248 Japan 44 7 18 0 69 France 18 3 20 6 47 The People's Republic of China 4 22 0 8 34 United Kingdom 14 6 6 1 27 European Space Agency 21 2 1 0 24 India 19 0 2 0 21 Federal Republic of Germany 7 7 3 1 18 Canada 9 0 3 0 12 Italy 2 3 4 0 9 Australia 4 2 1 0 7 Brazil 1 5 0 0 6 Indonesia 0 5 0 0 5 Luxembourg 0 5 0 0 5 Sweden 4 0 0 0 4 The United Mexican States 2 2 0 0 4 Spain 3 0 1 0 4 Korea 4 0 0 0 4 Czechoslovakia 2 0 1 0 3 Saudi Arabia 0 3 0 0 3 Israel 2 1 0 0 3 Thailand 0 2 0 0 2 The Netherlands 0 0 0 1 1 Argentina 0 1 0 0 1 Portugal 0 1 0 0 1 Pakistan 0 1 0 0 1 Turkey 0 1 0 0 1 Ukraine 1 0 0 0 1 Czech Republic 0 1 0 0 1 Malaysia 0 1 0 0 1 --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Table 2: Unregistered Earth Satellites and Space Probes 1962-1993 (a) Argentina ----------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Argentina 1990-05G LUSAT 1990 Jan 22 (b) Australia ------------------------------------------------------ Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Australia 1992-90A Optus B2 1992 Dec 21 [Note added 1995 Jan 27: this satellite was destroyed on launch, but some debris reached orbit, including the US-built Star 63F perigee kick motor. Possibly this object should have been registered by the US.] Australia 1994-55A Optus B3 1994 Aug 27 © Brazil -------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Brazil 1985-15B Brasilsat S1 1985 Feb 8 Brazil 1986-26B Brasilsat S2 1986 Mar 28 Brazil 1990-05E DOVE 1990 Jan 22 Brazil 1994-49A Brasilsat B1 1994 Aug 10 Brazil 1995-16A Brasilsat B2 1995 Mar 28 (d) Canada --------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation (e) China, People's Republic ---------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation PRC 1970-34A Dong Fang Hong 1970 Apr 24 PRC 1971-18A Shi Jian 1971 Mar 3 PRC 1975-70A JSSW 1975 Jul 26 PRC 1975-111A FSW 1975 Nov 26 PRC 1975-119A JSSW 1975 Dec 16 PRC 1976-87A JSSW 1976 Aug 30 PRC 1976-117A FSW 1976 Dec 7 PRC 1978-11A FSW 1978 Jan 26 PRC 1981-93A Shi Jian 2 1981 Sep 19 PRC 1981-93B Shi Jian 2A 1981 Sep 19 PRC 1981-93C Shi Jian 2B 1981 Sep 19 PRC 1982-90A FSW 1982 Sep 9 PRC 1983-86A FSW 1983 Aug 19 PRC 1984-08A Shiyan Wexing 1984 Jan 29 PRC 1984-35A STTW 1984 Apr 8 PRC 1984-98A FSW 1984 Sep 12 PRC 1985-96A FSW 1985 Oct 21 PRC 1986-10A STTW 1986 Feb 1 PRC 1986-76A FSW 1986 Oct 6 PRC 1987-67A FSW 1987 Aug 5 PRC 1987-75A FSW 1987 Sep 9 PRC 1988-14A Zhongxing 1 1988 Mar 9 PRC 1988-67A FSW 1988 Aug 5 PRC 1988-80A Feng Yun 1 1988 Sep 7 PRC 1988-111A Zhongxing 2 1988 Dec 22 PRC 1990-81A Feng Yun 1 1990 Sep 3 PRC 1990-81B Atmosphere 1 1990 Sep 3 PRC 1990-81C Atmosphere 2 1990 Sep 3 PRC 1990-89A FSW 1990 Oct 5 PRC 1993-63A Jian Bing 1993 Oct 8 PRC 1994-10A Shi Jian 4 1994 Feb 8 PRC 1994-37A FSW 1994 Jul 3 PRC 1994-80A DFH-3 1994 Nov 29 (f) Czech Republic Czech 1995-39E Magion 4 1995 Aug 3 (f) European Space Agency -------------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation ESA 1987-78B Eutelsat I F4 1987 Sep 16 ESA 1993-73B Meteosat 6 1993 Nov 20 (g) France --------------------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation France 1970-17B MIKA 1970 Mar 10 France 1970-109A Peole 1970 Dec 12 France 1971-30A Tournesol 1971 Apr 15 France 1972-25B SRET 1 1972 Apr 4 France 1977-49A Signe 3 1977 Jun 17 France (ESA) 1977-102B ISEE 2 1977 Oct 22 France 1995-33A Helios 1 1995 Jul 7 France 1995-33B Cerise 1995 Jul 7 France 1995-67A Telecom 2C 1995 Dec 6 (h) Germany, Federal Republic of --------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Germany 1970-17A WIKA 1970 Mar 10 Germany 1988-51B Amsat-Oscar-13 1988 Jun 15 Germany 1990-49A ROSAT 1990 Jun 1 Germany 1991-50D TUBSAT 1991 Jul 17 Germany 1993-58C Orfeus-SPAS 1993 Sep 12 Germany 1994-03C TUBSAT B 1994 Jan 25 Germany 1994-06H Bremsat 1994 Feb 3 Germany 1994-73B Crista-SPAS 1994 Nov 3 (i) Indonesia ----------------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Indonesia 1983-59C Palapa B1 1983 Jun 18 Indonesia 1984-11D Palapa B2 1984 Feb 3 Indonesia 1987-29A Palapa B2P 1987 Mar 20 Indonesia 1992-27A Palapa B4 1992 May 14 Indonesia 1996-06A Palapa C1 1996 Feb 1 (j) Israel ----------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Israel 1990-27A Offeq-2 1990 Apr 3 (k) Italy -------------------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Italy 1988-26A San Marco 5 1988 Mar 25 Italy 1992-70B Lageos 2 1992 Oct 22 Italy 1993-61F Itamsat 1993 Sep 26 (l) Japan ---------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Japan 1980-15A Tansei-4 1980 Feb 17 Japan 1980-18A Ayame-2 1980 Feb 22 Japan 1989-41A Superbird 1 1989 Jun 6 Japan 1990-07C Hagoromo 1990 Jun 24 Japan 1991-60A Yuri 3B 1991 Aug 25 Japan 1991-62A Yohkoh 1991 Aug 30 Japan - EXPRESS 1995 Jan 15 Note: EXPRESS was not given an international designation, but made several orbits of the Earth before landing in Ghana. (n) Luxembourg -------------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Luxembourg 1988-109B Astra 1A 1988 Dec 11 Luxembourg 1991-15A Astra 1B 1991 Mar 2 Luxembourg 1993-31A Astra 1C 1993 May 12 Luxembourg 1994-70A Astra 1D 1994 Nov 1 Luxembourg 1995-55A Astra 1E 1995 Oct 19 (n) Malaysia ------------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Malaysia 1996-02B Measat 1 1996 Jan 12 (o) Mexico ----------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Mexico 1993-73A Solidaridad 1 1993 Nov 20 Mexico 1994-65A Solidaridad 2 1994 Oct 8 (p) Netherlands ----------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Netherlands 1974-70A ANS 1974 Aug 30 (q) Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Pakistan 1990-59A BADR-A 1990 Jul 16 ® Portugal ---------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Portugal 1993-61D POSAT 1993 Sep 26 (s) Saudi Arabia --------------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Saudi Arabia 1985-15A Arabsat F1 1985 Feb 8 Saudi Arabia 1985-48C Arabsat F2 1985 Jun 18 (u) Thailand ----------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Thailand 1993-78B Thaicom 1 1993 Dec 18 Thailand 1994-65B Thaicom 2 1994 Oct 8 (v) Turkey ------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation Turkey 1994-49B Turksat 1B 1994 Aug 10 (w) Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Russian Federation ---------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation USSR 1962 Alpha Tau Venera 2MV-1 No. 2 1962 Sep 1 USSR 1962 Alpha Phi Venera 2MV-2 No. 1 1962 Sep 12 USSR 1962 Beta Iota Mars 2MV-4 No. 1 1962 Oct 24 USSR 1962 Beta Xi Mars 2MV-3 No. 1 1962 Nov 4 USSR 1963-01B Luna E-6 No. 1 1963 Jan 4 USSR 1966-88A - 1966 Sep 17 USSR 1966-101A - 1966 Nov 2 USSR 439? 1970-53A Cosmos-353 1970 Jul 9 USSR 440? 1970-56A Cosmos-354 1970 Jul 29 USSR 441? 1970-57A Intercosmos-3 1970 Aug 7 USSR 442? 1970-58A Cosmos-355 1970 Aug 7 USSR 443? 1970-59A Cosmos-356 1970 Aug 10 USSR 444? 1970-60A Venera-7 1970 Aug 17 USSR 445? 1970-63A Cosmos-357 1970 Aug 19 USSR 446? 1970-64A Cosmos-358 1970 Aug 20 USSR 447? 1970-65A Cosmos-359 1970 Aug 22 USSR 448? 1970-68A Cosmos-360 1970 Aug 29 USSR 449? 1970-71A Cosmos-361 1970 Sep 8 USSR (1985-53) (Zenit debris) 1985 Jun 21 RF 2961? 1995-47A Soyuz TM-22 1995 Sep 3 RF 2962? 1995-50A Resurs F 1995 Sep 26 RF 2963? 1995-51A Cosmos-2320 1995 Sep 29 RF 2964? 1995-52A Cosmos-2321 1995 Oct 6 RF 2965? 1995-53A Progress M-29 1995 Oct 8 RF 2966? 1995-54A Luch-1 1995 Oct 11 RF 2967? 1995-58A Cosmos-2322 1995 Oct 31 [Note: It is most probable that the USSR launches in Jul-Sep 1970 were in fact registered with the UN, but that a clerical error by the UN resulted in the registration document not being published. The next USSR submission had sequential registration numbers which began with 450; the previous one had registration numbers ending with 438. The same story applies to the 1995 launches. The 1985-53 launch consisted of rocket debris only, no payload reached orbit. In contrast, the 1962 to 1966 unregistered launches were deliberately not announced by the USSR.] (x) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland -------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation UK 1974-02A Skynet 2B 1974 Jan 19 UK 1990-93A Inmarsat II F1 1990 Oct 30 UK 1991-18A Inmarsat II F2 1991 Mar 9 UK 1991-84B Inmarsat II F3 1991 Dec 16 UK 1992-21B Inmarsat II F4 1992 Apr 15 UK 1994-34B STRV 1A 1994 Jun 17 UK 1994-34C STRV 1B 1994 Jun 17 (y) United States of America ------------------------------------------- Launching International Name Launch Date State Designation US 1978-106A NATO 3C 1978 Nov 19 US 1981-119A Intelsat 5 F3 1981 Dec 15 US 1982-97A Intelsat 5 F5 1982 Sep 28 US 1983-105A Intelsat 5 F7 1983 Oct 19 US 1984-23A Intelsat 5 F8 1984 Mar 5 US 1984-115A NATO 3D 1984 Nov 14 US 1985-25A Intelsat 5A F10 1985 Mar 22 US 1985-55A Intelsat 5A F11 1985 Jun 30 US 1985-63B PDP 1985 Jul 29 US 1985-87A Intelsat 5A F12 1985 Sep 28 US 1988-40A Intelsat 5A F13 1988 May 18 US 1988-52A Nova 2 1988 Jun 16 US 1989-06A Intelsat 5A F15 1989 Jan 27 US 1989-72A USA 45 1989 Sep 6 US 1989-87A Intelsat 6 F2 1989 Oct 27 US 1990-02A STS 32R 1990 Jan 9 US 1990-21A Intelsat 6 F3 1990 Mar 14 US 1990-31A USA 56 1990 Apr 11 US 1990-31B USA 57 1990 Apr 11 US 1990-31C USA 58 1990 Apr 11 US 1990-50E USA 62 1990 Jun 8 US 1990-56A Intelsat 6 F4 1990 Jun 23 US 1991-40A STS 40 1991 Jun 5 US 1991-55A Intelsat 6 F5 1991 Aug 14 US 1991-75A Intelsat 6 F1 1991 Oct 29 US 1991-76D USA 76 1991 Nov 8 US 1991-76E USA 77 1991 Nov 8 US 1991-80A STS 44 1991 Nov 25 US 1992-26A STS 49 1992 May 7 US 1993-17B SEDS 1 1993 Mar 30 US 1993-58B ACTS 1993 Sep 12 US 1993-66A Intelsat 701 1993 Oct 22 US 1994-34A Intelsat 702 1994 Jun 17 US 1994-40A PAS 2 1994 Jul 8 US 1994-64A Intelsat 703 1994 Oct 6 US 1994-73A STS 66 1994 Nov 3 US 1995-01A Intelsat 704 1995 Jan 10 US 1995-04H ODERACS 2F 1995 Feb 3 US 1995-13A Intelsat 705 1995 Mar 22 US 1995-23A Intelsat 706 1995 May 17 US 1995-57A UHF F6 1995 Oct 22 US 1995-69A Galaxy 3R 1995 Dec 15 US 1995-72B Skipper 1995 Dec 28 US 1995-73A Echostar 1 1995 Dec 28 US 1996-15A Intelsat 707 1996 Mar 14 [Note: Prior to 1981 all Intelsat launches were registered by the US. Since then no state has registered Intelsat launches. Of the 32 unregistered US satellites, 15 are Intelsat satellites, 4 are Space Shuttle missions, 3 are civilian satellites, 3 are unclassified military satellites, and 7 are classified military satellites.]