Slovak National Space Objects Registry

Since 1962, the United Nations has maintained a Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space. The development of international space law, which was originally created as a mechanism to assist the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in its discussions on political, legal and technical issues relating to outer space, has led to the registration of space objects as a means of identifying them. States have international responsibility for space objects.

Space law can be described as the legal framework governing space-related activities. It includes a number of international agreements, treaties, conventions and resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, as well as rules and regulations of international organisations.

The term “space law” is most often associated with the rules, principles and standards of international law set out in the five international treaties and five sets of principles governing outer space that have been developed under the auspices of the United Nations. In addition to these international instruments, many states have national legislation governing space-related activities.

The Slovak Republic is a party to four of the five key United Nations Conventions that form the global legal framework for the conduct of space activities. These are the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, and the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space.

As the Slovak Republic did not have the necessary legislation in the field of regulation of space activities, there was a need to prepare a regulatory framework for this activity, taking into account the growing requirements for the use of and ensuring equal conditions for access to outer space within the Slovak Republic. So far, four space objects have been launched under the flag of the Slovak Republic - skCube, GRBAlpha, Veronika and GRBBeta.

The Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, in cooperation with relevant ministries, organisations and the “Slovak space community”, has prepared the Act on the Regulation of Space Activities, which was approved by the National Council of the Slovak Republic on 28 November 2024 with effect from 1 February 2025.

The Act on the Regulation of Space Activities aims to establish clear rules in accordance with the above-mentioned international conventions in relation to space activities not only for state organisations, but also for interested parties from the industrial sphere, academia, scientific and research organisations, and the private sector. It also takes into account the fact that space is currently being used more and more and needs relevant regulation and equal conditions of access to space for all.

The Act on the Regulation of Space Activities in Slovak and English versions

and application forms to carry out regulated space activities:

Registration of Space Objects

The Act provides for the establishment of a National Registry of Space Objects at the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic on the basis of the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space. It registers all space objects for which the Slovak Republic is to be the launching state. Subsequently, the obligation to register space objects launched by the Slovak Republic in the UN Register throughout the entire period of their operation is regulated. At the same time, the competence/legal framework of the authorities of the Slovak Republic in relation to the stay of a space object in outer space is regulated.

The Act further defines the data required for registration in the National Registry of Space Objects and in the UN Register, including the time limit for registration and the obligations of the operator under the Act throughout the period of performance of the regulated space activity.

Application Form for Space Objects Registration: 

National Space Objects Registry

National Registry of Space Objects launched into space under the flag of the Slovak Republic.

Useful websites:

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs – UNOOSA  https://www.unoosa.org/

International Telecommunication Union - ITU https://www.itu.int/en/Pages/default.aspx

Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services - UREKPS  https://www.teleoff.gov.sk/