The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to global space situational awareness during the 64th Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Legal Subcommittee (COPUOS LSC) in Vienna, Austria. U.S. Representative Gabriel Swiney addressed the session under Agenda Item 11, focusing on the legal aspects of space traffic management.
Swiney highlighted the increasing number of objects in space and emphasized the necessity for reliable space situational awareness information and services. "This is necessary to enable the continued growth of a vibrant commercial space industry and ensure ongoing access to the many practical benefits provided by space systems," he stated. He further stressed international coordination and implementation of existing guidelines on space debris mitigation as critical measures.
The U.S. Department of Defense currently shares space situational awareness (SSA) information globally, but this responsibility is set to transition to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The new Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) will leverage data from various sources, including operators, governments, commercial entities, academic institutions, and international organizations. TraCSS aims to support global spacecraft operators with accurate information and is expected to begin operations later this year.
As other nations develop their own SSA capabilities, Swiney noted that maintaining an open system for global coordination is essential to avoid conflicting information about potential conjunction events. "This type of close coordination among independent national and regional SSA systems will be necessary," he explained.
Swiney also mentioned ongoing efforts by the United States to engage with international partners bilaterally and multilaterally through forums like UNCOPUOS. He expressed hope that UNCOPUOS and its subcommittees would soon facilitate discussions on cooperation between different SSA systems worldwide.
The full vision for global SSA coordination developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce is accessible online at https://www.space.commerce.gov/global-ssa-coordination-vision/.
"Thank you, Chair," concluded Swiney at the end of his address.