It's time to address the elephant in the room: the cost of ensuring space safety. With the rapid growth of satellite activity, it's no longer feasible for the U.S. government to bear the sole responsibility and financial burden of providing free space safety services.
President Trump's Executive Order, "Ensuring American Space Superiority," marks a pivotal moment. While it may seem like a small change, removing the requirement for free space situational awareness data and services is a bold step towards a more sustainable and secure future for space operations.
The Cost of Safety: A Growing Concern
Since the Iridium-Cosmos collision in 2009, the Department of Defense has been providing spaceflight safety services to satellite operators worldwide, free of charge. This policy, driven by the belief that U.S. interests were served by widespread adoption of U.S. data and services, is now being challenged.
Other countries recognize the strategic value of having their own space traffic coordination systems. They understand that space situational awareness is not just about safety; it's about maintaining control and autonomy over their satellite operations and national interests. This shift means the U.S. government is no longer the sole provider of space safety services, and the infrastructure required to support this domain is evolving rapidly.
A Growing Industry, A Growing Challenge
The U.S. space industry's success has led to a bustling and dynamic space domain. However, this growth has been partially enabled by the government's free safety services. As the number of satellites and operators skyrockets, the complexity of identifying and preventing potential collisions has increased exponentially. With over 14,000 active satellites and almost 200 commercial operators, the need for a robust and funded space traffic management system is more critical than ever.
A New Approach: Funding Space Safety
The Trump Administration's proposal to eliminate the government's space traffic coordination role and defund TraCSS, the space equivalent of air traffic control, is a controversial move. While completely dismantling the system may not be wise, asking satellite operators to contribute to funding space safety services is a sensible and responsible policy direction.
Retaining a government role in space traffic coordination is essential. TraCSS, as the national system, provides an operational backbone for coordinating spaceflight safety actions and negotiating international standards. Abandoning it without a credible alternative would be detrimental to the U.S.'s space leadership and the safety of satellite operations.
A Public-Private Partnership for Space Safety
While the long-term goal may be to privatize the space traffic coordination system, space safety information will always be a public good. The government must retain a regulatory or standard-setting role. The Federal Communications Commission's proposed rule on "Space Modernization" is a step in the right direction, but it still implies the need for a centralized body to manage and distribute safety information.
A public-private partnership could be the answer, but establishing such an organization takes time. In the interim, the U.S. must have an operational system like TraCSS to protect its satellite investments.
Financing the Future of Space Traffic Management
Congress has already taken a step towards cost-sharing with the space industry by granting the FAA the authority to charge commercial space companies per pound of payload mass. This move addresses congestion in the airspace but not on orbit. The next logical step is to create a "space traffic" financing authority, allowing the executive branch to collect taxes or fees from satellite operators.
For example, requiring operators to pay a modest annual fee per satellite could generate significant funding for space safety services, scaling with the growing satellite population. This fee structure could be a reasonable starting point for cost-sharing, ensuring the U.S. government's investment in space safety is supported by those who benefit from it.
Addressing Concerns and Moving Forward
Skeptics may argue that additional requirements, especially financial ones, will burden U.S. industry. However, this risk can be mitigated by maintaining some government funding to keep fees manageable, especially during the transition period.
Another concern is the potential for U.S. space companies to relocate overseas to avoid paying for these services. The U.S. government should aim to make its space traffic coordination system the best in the world, leveraging the expertise and solutions already available from U.S. space situational awareness companies.
This model of cost-sharing is not unprecedented. The U.S. air traffic control system is primarily funded through taxes and fees paid by travelers and airlines. It's time for the space industry to contribute to the safety of their assets in orbit.
A Call for Action
Stable, long-term funding is crucial to integrate disparate space situational awareness capabilities into a world-class space traffic coordination system. This partnership between the government and industry is essential for the safe and responsible growth of space operations and U.S. leadership in space.
Audrey M. Schaffer, Senior Vice President of Global Policy and Government Strategy at Slingshot Aerospace, emphasizes the need for a sensible approach to funding and operating a world-class U.S. space traffic coordination system. With her extensive experience in U.S. government space policy, she advocates for a sustainable and secure future in space.
