Nathaniel Dailey, The MITRE Corporation; Kevin Toner, The MITRE Corporation; Dennis Murphy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
Keywords: Space Relations, Diplomacy, Global Space Traffic Coordination
Abstract:
Dr. Nathaniel Dailey1,2, Kevin Toner3 Dennis Murphy4
1 The MITRE Corporation, ndailey@mitre.org
2 Corresponding author
3 The MITRE Corporation, ktoner@mitre.org
4 PhD Candidate Georgia Institute of Technology, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
Abstract
In November of 2021, The Peoples Republic of China issued a note verbal1 to the United Nations Secretary General citing Outer Space Treaty obligations to inform the Secretary-General of U.S. company, Starlink activities regarding phenomena which constituted dangers to the life or health of astronauts aboard the China Space Station. In January of 2022 the United States responded with their note verbal2 to the UN Secretary General stating that measures to reduce the risk of collision between United States space objects and the human spaceflight activities of other nations should be conducted directly, to facilitate efficient and timely sharing of information and coordination of potentially urgent responses. A week later, the PRC issued a press statement3 that the Chinese government is open to establishing formal lines of communication with the United States on space safety issues after a pair of alleged close calls of Starlink satellites with Chinas space station. China operated under the premise that the United Nations Outer Space Treaty obligates nations to fulfill the international obligation by informing the U.N. of dangerous approaches to the national space assets that threatened the safety of in-orbit human. The United States believes that detailed consultations on measures to reduce the risk of collision between United States space objects and the human spaceflight activities of other nations should be conducted directly, through bilateral channels, to facilitate efficient and timely sharing of information and coordination of potentially urgent responses.
This paper seeks to compare two perspective interpretations of international obligations stemming from the Outer Space Treaty and timely information sharing mechanisms for coordinative communication that preempt hazards in space operations. Further, this paper will explore the nature of what appears to be an opportunity to establish formal lines of communication for U.S. China space relations that may serve as a model for more constructive engagement that informs the advancement of the state of practice for an international space information sharing ecosystem. A Space Information Sharing Ecosystem is a polycentric design or decentralized approach to share applicable space information in ways that mitigate uncertainty of intent and a spiral of tensions. It also improves the viability of a multinational sustainable space economy enabled by enhanced transparency and confidence building measures among a wide set of stakeholders versus the predominate pattern today of many narrow bi-lateral information sharing systems and agreements. While bilateral agreements are necessary, they are sometimes problematic, especially in situations that benefit from open and transparent data sharing, such as safety. This paper postulates that a safety-focused global space traffic coordination system, informed by a space information sharing ecosystem can constructively contribute to fostering U.S.-China (and others) space relations. A model for doing so relies on decision making by sovereign, commercial, and non-profit actors all of whom rely on transparent space domain awareness information. Example types of information to be examined for sharing in a trusted and symmetric manner include Initial lifecycle events (launch, orbit insertion, maneuvers), present observed orbit (awareness), intention to maneuver, or park in a graveyard orbit (awareness), computed possible conjunctions (collision prediction) ongoing and terminal lifecycle events (collision detection, decommission).
[1] A/AC.105/1262
[2] A/AC.105/1265
[3] https://spacenews.com/china-proposes-formal-lines-of-communication-with-u-s-on-space-safety/
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Approved for public release. Distribution unlimited 21-03234-6.
Date of Conference: September 27-20, 2022
Track: SSA/SDA