The rapid increase in the number of objects in space has created a pressing need for reliable space situational awareness (SSA) information and services to support global spaceflight safety and sustainability. In response to this growing need, the United States Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commerce is developing the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS).
TraCSS aims to provide SSA information and services to civil and private spacecraft operators worldwide, supporting spaceflight safety and sustainability. The system will be developed in close coordination with other nations to minimize the potential for spacecraft operators to receive conflicting information about potential conjunction events. This coordination also lays the foundation for future Space Traffic Coordination efforts, which require that spacecraft operators have consistent information on the likelihood and nature of potential conjunctions, allowing for safe and efficient resolution.
The Office of Space Commerce envisions a future with a global, coordinated system of SSA providers, consisting of a series of national or regional hubs providing SSA information and services to spacecraft operators. These centers will be supported by networks of international partnerships, and their services will be augmented by a robust global commercial SSA sector.
To achieve this vision, much work remains to be done. The United States will continue to engage with close international partners to enable cooperation between national and regional SSA systems in operation or development around the world. Recognizing the need for truly global cooperation, the U.S. will also seek to open lines of communication with nations operating SSA systems that have not traditionally coordinated their efforts with the United States.
These efforts will align with existing international initiatives on space sustainability, such as the UN Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities Guidelines. Throughout this process, the United States will actively engage with global satellite owner/operators and commercial SSA providers.
An early focus for international cooperation in this area should be alignment on standards and best practices for SSA data and information sharing. Adopting standards and best practices for data and information sharing is crucial for facilitating international coordination and ensuring clear and efficient services for spacecraft operators. The United States is currently exploring existing options for standards and best practices most relevant to the TraCSS system, such as the Consultative Committee on Space Data Systems (CCSDS) standards and derived and complementary standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The international space community has already produced several best practices documents through coordination among spacecraft operators and industry experts. The United States will build on these existing efforts to adopt policies and best practices for the TraCSS system, encouraging transparency and openness in data sharing among spacecraft operators and SSA providers while respecting the need to limit access to sensitive or proprietary information.
As activity in space continues to rise, global coordination has become increasingly important. This vision for global space situational awareness coordination represents a critical first step toward a safer and more sustainable future in space.
