Space Traffic Control: Technology Thoughts to Catalyze a Future Architecture

Abstract

Space Situational Awareness, Space Debris, Space Tourism, Commercial ISS Supply, Earth Environmental Monitoring – all are activities that portend the need for space traffic control. This need includes and should address how space traffic is managed, monitored, and controlled. The architectures, protocols, processes, and technologies have yet to be determined. The international and commercial issues will also need attention. While some activity to date has observed or explored the need and direction of a future system, a comprehensive architecture focused on the Earth orbiting objects has not been established. Additional work across the international environment on a space traffic control architecture is warranted. The authors maintain that comprehensive efforts need to occur, and observe that a roadmap cannot achieve near-term success without fully exploring the technology options available to all space systems: commercial , academic, civil, and national security. The paper will postulate the qualitative benefits of an active space traffic control paradigm and illustrate technology contributions to be considered for future architectures. Policy and regulatory provisions are not addressed. Suggested initiatives include S&T investment opportunities for both government and industry as well as conference and workshop ideas.