The 2024 Space Safety Compendium highlights the critical need for a unified and collaborative approach to maintaining and enhancing safety in the rapidly evolving space sector. It recognizes the exponential growth in satellite deployments, commercial space operations, and the democratization of space access, which together have introduced both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges. These dynamics demand an adaptable, inclusive strategy to ensure sustainable operations across diverse missions and actors.
The document emphasizes the necessity of integrating technical, policy, and organizational efforts to address safety challenges in key focus areas: space situational awareness, operational assurance, launch and reentry, cybersecurity and spectrum, human spaceflight, and cislunar operations. It advocates for enhanced space situational awareness (SSA) through better data sharing, advanced tracking technologies, and international cooperation to manage the growing congestion in orbital space. SSA is vital not only for monitoring space traffic but also for identifying potential collision risks and informing risk mitigation strategies.
In space operations assurance, the compendium underlines the importance of creating norms and best practices to guide behaviors in space traffic management (STM). It encourages the development of active debris removal (ADR) capabilities to address the growing challenge of space debris. ADR is seen as a necessary step to curb debris accumulation, with legal and policy frameworks proposed to enable safe and effective implementation. The integration of on-orbit servicing capabilities, such as satellite life extension and refueling, is also recommended as a proactive measure for sustainable space operations.
Cybersecurity and spectrum management are critical concerns as space systems increasingly rely on interconnected networks and technologies. The compendium stresses the need for robust cybersecurity protocols, supply chain risk management, and proactive measures to address spectrum interference. This focus ensures that space systems remain resilient against both cyber threats and operational disruptions.
Human spaceflight safety is addressed through recommendations to develop advanced safety frameworks, address rescue capabilities, and ensure interoperable docking systems. These measures are particularly relevant as commercial human spaceflight becomes more prevalent and diverse.
The emerging domain of cislunar operations is given special attention, with the compendium proposing strategies to extend SSA capabilities to the Moon’s vicinity and to address risks associated with increased lunar activity. Policies are suggested to manage the disposal of objects in cislunar space, reflecting the need for foresight as lunar exploration and utilization expand.
The compendium concludes by calling for the establishment of a dedicated space safety consortium to coordinate efforts, share best practices, and foster collaboration across the global space community. By embracing a holistic and inclusive approach, the space sector can balance innovation with safety, ensuring that the benefits of space activities are accessible to all while preserving the long-term usability of the space environment.
