Establishing space traffic management standards, guidelines and best practices

Abstract

U.S. Space Policy Directive - 3 (SPD-3), “National Space Traffic Management Policy,” identifies the need for more than 40 different space traffic management (STM)-related standards, guidelines, and best practices to be developed to address a wide range of STM issues. In this paper, we describe why standards, guidelines, and best practices are important, assess the completeness of those called out in SPD-3, identify gaps, and discuss how the United States and other stakeholders might prioritize their development. Finally, we identify existing standards development organizations and call for increased investment, faster work, and new mechanisms to facilitate the formation and proliferation of necessary STM standards, guidelines, and best practices.