Earth’s orbits are becoming increasingly congested and with many, many more launches and deployments in the offing, space situational awareness (SSA) is more important today than it’s ever been. Awareness of our increasingly busy orbits has given rise to fresh dialogue around the importance of SSA and the need to improve information available to satellite operators so that operational satellites can avoid potential collisions and perform avoidance manoeuvres safely. We’re acutely aware that if this information isn’t available to operators, the implications could be catastrophic.
Whilst it’s true that the volume of available data has grown dramatically in recent years, access to more information does not automatically solve the problem. We also need to understand how accurate the information is, and determine how it should be prioritised, presented and pulled together. It is also vital that data from operators and from SSA platforms is readily shared, and this is not always happening. Only then will we have access to the bigger picture, which will in turn prevent collisions and maintain space sustainability.
More data does not automatically produce better outcomes
The increased activity seen in space in recent years has led both to the development of new public SSA platforms such as TraCSS, and significant growth in the number of commercial SSA services. With the SSA market continuing to expand, new sensor networks are coming online, new datasets are becoming available, and operators have access to more sources of information than ever before. However, inaccuratedata, duplicate observations, or information that cannot easily be integrated may simply increase the burden on operators.
Much of the challenge comes because of the lack of standardisation around how data is used and presented. With each platform using different methodologies, one platform may not identify a conjunction that another does. Additionally, if an operator is subscribed to multiple systems, they could be receiving duplicate or potentially conflicting warnings about the same event. This is increasing complexity and ambiguity at a time when clarity is critically important.
The focus therefore needs to shift towards identifying the information that genuinely improves SSA, then bringing information together from multiple sources, and presenting it in a way that supports rapid, informed decision making.
Turning data into actionable information
With so many datasets now available, we need to determine what should be retained, what can safely be discarded, and how the remaining information can be fused to enable comprehensive, timely, and accurate collision avoidance services for all satellite operators.
Different SSA providers inevitably use different data sources and processing techniques, so operators need confidence in the information they receive. Metadata, such as the age of the data, covariance information and the origin of the information can help operators understand how much confidence they should place in a particular assessment. Historical accuracy, consistency and the identification of outliers all contribute to building confidence in the information being used.
Rather than relying on individual organisations to assess their own data quality, there is growing recognition that independent evaluation and common quality indicators will help operators make better informed decisions. This will require developing common ways to describe data quality, accuracy, timeliness and reliability.
Transparency and communication are fundamental
Whilst data processing techniques are central to solving the challenges surrounding SSA, greater transparency and information sharing is equally important.
Owner operators have a responsibility to contribute to the wider picture by sharing accurate and up to date operational information. Providing ephemerides on a regular basis, ideally incorporating planned manoeuvres and covariance, gives other operators and SSA services a much clearer understanding of where spacecraft are expected to be in the future. Even in cases where a manoeuvre may not be planned or a spacecraft may not be manoeuvrable, it’s still important that owner operators engage with SSA systems to provide ephemerides and ensure that underlying attributes recorded about the spacecraft are accurate.
Communication is just as important as technical data. Every operator should ensure that basic contact information is readily available so that communication can happen quickly if a close approach occurs. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs has recently established the Satellite Operators Contact Hub (SOCH) which provides a practical way for operators to register their contact details, making it easier to reach one another when rapid coordination is required. Widespread participation in SOCH will improve communication across the sector and help ensure that potential conjunctions can be addressed without unnecessary delay.
As satellite numbers continue to rise, the industry's ability to share information effectively will become every bit as important as its ability to collect it. Better data alone does not guarantee safer operations. Progress depends on building trusted ways to combine information from different sources, agreeing how that information should be assessed, and ensuring operators are willing to contribute their own data for the benefit of the wider community. That shared commitment to transparency will ultimately ensure safe operations and the long-term sustainability of space.
Be part of the solution
The Space Data Association Ltd. (SDA) is an international non-profit organisation and, since 2009 has united space stakeholders with a shared mission: to enhance spaceflight safety through effective Space Traffic Coordination (STC). The association is also a forum for satellite operators to advance best operational practices.
If you’re interested in finding out more about SDA and considering becoming a member, take a moment to look through this information sheet and take an important step towards helping ensure safety of flight and space sustainability.