Satellite launches by Russia are typically recorded on the United Nations list but are unregistered at this time.
Photo credit: Maxim Shipenkov/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The United Nations’ comprehensive list of all space objects, established during the Cold War to prevent paranoia and conflict, has been offline for months due to unexplained IT issues.
“This situation is unacceptable,” states Jonathan McDowell from Durham University, UK. “This is particularly concerning given the escalating tensions in space and reciprocal accusations of misconduct among space-faring nations.”
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) manages the UN Commission on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), enabling 104 countries—many with strained relations—to discuss vital technical and safety issues related to space endeavors.
UNOOSA’s responsibility includes maintaining a transparent public record of all satellite launches globally. This concept was first raised at the UN in 1961 and later expanded by the 1974 Treaty on the Registration of Objects Launched into Space to foster openness during the space race, wherein nations created surveillance and military spacecraft. Consequently, countries are mandated to report the name, launch date and location, orbital details, and intended functions of each object.
However, the online registry of launched objects has been inaccessible for several months, citing “mandatory changes to the UNOOSA website’s IT infrastructure.” UNOOSA has not responded to inquiries regarding the specific issues or an estimated resolution timeline.
According to McDowell, the database has been down for at least a few months. The last website update occurred on February 23rd.
“This transparency regime has successfully operated for nearly 50 years, but it loses its significance when the records are inaccessible,” says McDowell. “Currently, we lack knowledge about Russian and US satellites, including their designations. This obscurity poses a serious challenge.”
While previously listed secret military and reconnaissance satellites bore vague descriptions, such as “conducting Department of Defense functions,” their mere listing promoted some degree of transparency.
“Having an official reference is crucial,” he asserts. “It allows for accountability; if America claims Russia did something, at least the information is documented. This system has served us well, and we need to restore it,” McDowell emphasizes.
Ram Jakhu, a researcher at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, notes that this outage poses risks to international peace and security, impeding the effective implementation of the UN Convention on Outer Space—especially in cases of accidents caused by space debris.
This database, though simple, highlights that sharing information publicly can lead to a more predictable and secure international environment, as indicated by Thomas Cheney from Northumbria University, UK.
“The international space laws are quite permissive, allowing for a wide range of activities,” he states. “Transparency is key; nations should willingly disclose their actions. This is fundamentally a symbolic gesture,” Cheney adds.
He further asserts that this issue reflects a broader challenge associated with the UN’s financial crisis, exacerbated by the withdrawal of US funding. This financial strain also impacted UNOOSA, notably leading to the COPUOS conference in Vienna being shortened this year by two days to cut costs, which may jeopardize international relations.
“The Chinese-American dialogues held in Vienna are significant precisely because they occur under the auspices of the UN. If they were more formalized discussions between countries, the complexity and scale would be greatly increased,” he explains.
Topics:
- Satellite/
- Space Exploration
Source: www.newscientist.com
