The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is developing a Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) through its Office of Space Commerce (OSC). TraCSS is designed to provide basic space situational awareness (SSA) data and services to civil and private space operators. The system aims to support spaceflight safety, space sustainability, and international coordination.
Phased Development Approach
TraCSS will be implemented using a phased “crawl, walk, run” development approach. As the system progresses through each phase, more commercial data and commercial SSA services will be integrated as core capabilities. This gradual transition, coordinated across the U.S. Government, is intended to ensure that there is no disruption in basic SSA safety services.
Three Distinct Components
The TraCSS system will feature three distinct components:
- TraCSS-OASIS: This component serves as the data repository for the system.
- TraCSS-SKYLINE: This component provides SSA application services.
- TraCSS-HORIZON: This component includes a modeling, simulation, and research environment, as well as a development and test environment.
Industry Engagement and Listening Sessions
NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce has been actively engaging with industry stakeholders to gather feedback and input on the development of TraCSS. The office has held several listening sessions to discuss various aspects of the system, including:
- Proposed user agreement and data sharing policy
- Space data standards and formats, specifically conjunction data messages
- Operational transition of certain space situational awareness and space traffic coordination responsibilities from the Department of Defense to the Department of Commerce
These listening sessions provide an opportunity for stakeholders to offer their perspectives and contribute to the development process of TraCSS.
Progress and Milestones
The TraCSS program has made significant progress over the past year. In March 2024, NOAA announced the selection of Parsons Corporation as the system integrator for TraCSS, with a contract valued at $15.5 million. The Office of Space Commerce also published a call for demonstrations of the TraCSS presentation layer, seeking to observe existing commercial capabilities that align with the requirements for displaying and accessing SSA data and services within the system.
In January 2024, NOAA and SpaceX entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to collaborate on research and development activities related to automated collision avoidance and satellite conjunction assessment screenings. This partnership demonstrates the commitment to leveraging industry expertise in the development of TraCSS.
The Office of Space Commerce has also initiated a commercial pathfinder project to support TraCSS. As part of this project, the office placed orders with three U.S. commercial space companies for SSA data and services. These pathfinder projects will inform the development of the operational TraCSS system.
Independent Review and Oversight
To ensure the success and effectiveness of the TraCSS program, NOAA has established an Independent Review Board (IRB). In January 2024, the Office of Space Commerce convened the IRB to brief them on the TraCSS program and receive advice and feedback from the members. This independent oversight helps to maintain the integrity and quality of the system’s development.
Summary
The development of the Traffic Coordination System for Space represents a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and sustainability of space operations. By providing basic space situational awareness data and services to civil and private space operators, TraCSS will support spaceflight safety, space sustainability, and international coordination. Through its phased development approach, industry engagement, and independent oversight, NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce is working diligently to create a robust and effective system that meets the needs of the space community.
