TraCSS Phase 1.0 to Provide Space Debris Safety Alerts
TraCSS Phase 1.0 to Provide Space Debris Safety Alerts
Commerce Department’s New Traffic Coordination System for Space Launches Initial Capabilities
NOAA, a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced that the initial phase of its Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) has begun delivering spaceflight safety services to a beta group of satellite operators. As of Monday, satellite operators are receiving basic space situational awareness (SSA) data and space traffic coordination (STC) services from the Commerce Department.
“TraCSS represents a modern approach to spaceflight safety, integrating the latest technologies and providing on-ramps for continuous improvements that will scale into the future.”
Richard Dalbello, OSC
TraCSS is a modern, cloud-based IT system that provides warning notifications for satellites potentially in danger of collision. With increasing numbers of satellites and orbital debris, space traffic information and safety notifications are essential for global spaceflight safety and the long-term sustainability of the space environment.
Nine satellite operators – NOAA, Maxar, Telesat, Intelsat, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Planet Labs, Eutelsat OneWeb, Iridium, and the Aerospace Corporation – now receive validated safety notifications from TraCSS in the form of conjunction data messages (CDMs, alerts describing potential collisions). TraCSS will add satellite operators and provide more data and services as the program progresses.
The announcement marks a milestone in DOC’s work to implement the U.S. Space Priorities Framework and Space Policy Directive-3, which directed DOC to take this mission over from the Department of Defense.
“The Office of Space Commerce leads our Department’s efforts to advance U.S. leadership in the global commercial space industry, and TraCSS is a testament to U.S. leadership in safe and sustainable space commerce,” said U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves. “The Department of Commerce is building this system in close cooperation with industry partners to harness and promote commercial innovation in space. Together, we are helping to ensure the safe and sustainable growth of the space economy.”
“As space has become more congested, NOAA has risen to the challenge to prevent catastrophic collisions in space by developing TraCSS,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D.
“TraCSS represents a modern approach to spaceflight safety, integrating the latest technologies and providing on-ramps for continuous improvements that will scale into the future,” said Richard Dalbello, director of NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce. “I’m thankful for our team and partners for doing the hard work to launch the first phase on schedule.”
“The Department of Defense (DoD) is working side-by-side with the Department of Commerce (DoC) to ensure the seamless transfer of responsibility for civil and commercial Space Situational Awareness services and information,” said Performing the Duties of Associate Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, Mr. John Hill. “As the DoC assumes this important mission, it will continue to have access to data collected through DoD’s worldwide space surveillance network. DoD will also continue to provide SSA services to civil and commercial users during the transition process until DoC is able to assume full responsibility for the mission. Transitioning the spaceflight safety SSA responsibilities to DoC, a civil agency, will improve support to these users and allow DoD to focus its resources on core defense missions.”