---
title: "Top 5 Sources for Space Sustainability Information – A Quick Overview"
id: 18784
type: "post"
slug: "do-you-wonder-exactly-what-is-in-orbit-heres-how-you-can-find-out"
author: "NSE"
published: "2023-07-09T14:03:12+00:00"
modified: "2023-07-09T15:30:01+00:00"
canonical: "https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2023/07/09/do-you-wonder-exactly-what-is-in-orbit-heres-how-you-can-find-out/"
markdown_url: "https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2023/07/09/do-you-wonder-exactly-what-is-in-orbit-heres-how-you-can-find-out.md"
description: "The top sources for US space sustainability policy, regulation and information on what is in orbit."
language: "en-US"
category:
  - "Space Economy"
post_tag:
  - "NASA"
  - "Orbital Debris"
  - "Policy"
  - "Research"
  - "Space Force"
  - "Spacecraft"
---

# Top 5 Sources for Space Sustainability Information – A Quick Overview

The top sources for US space sustainability policy, US regulation, and current information on what is in orbit are:

- White House
- FCC
- [NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
- Space Force
- [ESA](https://www.esa.int/)

## White House

The White House sets national policy.

![](https://i0.wp.com/newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/img_8936.jpg?resize=696%2C901&ssl=1)

[National Orbital Debris Implementation Plan 2022](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/national-orbital-debris-implementation-plan-2022.pdf)

## FCC

The FCC is responsible for [orbital debris](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2023/07/04/some-very-interesting-statistics-on-orbital-objects-and-debris/) mitigation and regulation according to policy and legislation.

![](https://i0.wp.com/newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/img_9092.jpg?resize=696%2C901&ssl=1)

[Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age 2020](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2020-13185.pdf)

## **NASA**

The [NASA Orbital Debris Program Office](https://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/) publishes a quarterly newsletter “[Orbital Debris Quarterly News](https://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/quarterly-news/)” (ODQN). The ODQN covers the latest events in orbital debris research, and provides orbital debris news and statistics.

![](https://i0.wp.com/newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/img_8874-2.jpg?resize=696%2C901&ssl=1)

[Orbital Debris Quarterly News June 2022](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/orbital-debris-quarterly-news-june-2022.pdf)

## Space Force

Space Force operates the US Space Surveillance Network which tracks orbital objects including [space debris](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2023/07/04/some-very-interesting-statistics-on-orbital-objects-and-debris/). They make this information available through a [public website](https://www.space-track.org/auth/login).

![](https://i0.wp.com/newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/img_9097.jpg?resize=696%2C852&ssl=1)

[Space-Track.com](https://www.space-track.org/)

## ESA

The [ESA](https://www.esa.int/)’s Space Debris Office coordinates [ESA](https://www.esa.int/)’s research activities in all major debris disciplines. They maintain a database of space objects. The database is called DISCOS (Database and Information System Characterising Objects in Space) and provides data for launch information, object registration details, launch vehicle descriptions, spacecraft information (e.g. size, mass, shape, mission objectives, owner), as well as orbital data histories for all trackable, unclassified objects which sum up to more than 40000 objects.

![](https://i0.wp.com/newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/img_9095.jpg?resize=696%2C857&ssl=1)

[DISCOSweb](https://account.sdo.esoc.esa.int/)

The Space Debris Office also produces an annual ESA Space Environment Report.

![](https://i0.wp.com/newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/img_8925.jpg?resize=696%2C984&ssl=1)

[ESA Space Environment Report 2022](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/esa-space-environment-report-2022.pdf)

## Additional information for the curious