Daniel Oltrogge, Analytical Graphics, Inc.
Keywords: Space Safety Coalition, commercial best practices, long-term sustainability, LTS
Abstract:
This paper describes the role of commercial space operators and industry stakeholders within the global space governance continuum. The Space Safety Coalition (SSC), which was formed exactly one year ago during AMOS 2019, is a relevant example of how the commercial space industry can make important contributions to the Long-Term Sustainability (LTS) of space activities. The Space Safety Coalition is not a legal entity, but rather an initiative undertaken by like-minded space industry entities to promote safe and efficient flight safety through technical means. Initially motivated by concerns of unpreparedness for a proliferation of large constellations, the Space Safety Coalition came together to promote the sustainability of space operations through a robust set of industry best practices. This has since evolved into a set of living best practices spanning all phases of spaceflight, such as mission design, launch, checkout, space operations, and disposal. These best practices are applicable to all orbit regimes, spacecraft form factors, life cycle phases and mission types.
The 21 Long-Term Sustainability guidelines adopted by UN COPUOS in June of 2019 are an important step forward, but even more international cooperation will be necessary to improve space sustainability. As the UN General Assembly noted, UN COPUOS encourages States and international intergovernmental organizations to voluntarily take measures to ensure that the guidelines are implemented to the greatest extent feasible and practicable.
The best practices document contains two parts: (1) endorsement of existing international treaties, guidelines and standards produced by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), the UN, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO); and (2) forty-two additional, more stringent best practices to allow safety-conscious operators and stakeholders to be even more responsible in their space activities. These 42 aspirational best practices contained in the SSCs Best Practices document are also relevant to and well aligned with the LTS guidelines. The SSC initiative provides an effective, grassroots, working-level implementation of a majority of the LTS guidelines in an aspirational construct. This implementation includes guidelines for the sharing of space data, active collision avoidance, using responsible launch service providers, minimizing casualty risk, supporting space debris and mitigation research, registration of space objects, international cooperation and capacity building and awareness.
These best practices support and are also well-aligned with the mandates of U.S. Space Policy Directive-3 (SPD-3), by augmenting the new U.S. Orbital Debris Mitigation Support Plan (ODMSP, published in 2019) with other standards and best practices to ensure the safe operation of U.S. space activities as required by SPD-3.
At its inception, the Space Safety Coalition comprised 18 space organizations. Since that time, participation has more than doubled. Today, 44 space operators and relevant, global industry stakeholders have endorsed this industry-led view of the current set of policies and best practices for space operation sustainability. Current signatories represent a global, broad and diverse set of organizations from across the global space enterprise, including foundations, industry associations, analytical service providers, legal firms, space insurers, on-orbit servicing, active debris removal companies, Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Traffic Management (STM) service providers, launch providers, manufacturers and spacecraft operators. The Space Safety Coalition welcomes the participation of space entities who have a direct and material interest in space safety and sustainability. Join us in building and promoting a future of sustainable space activity.
Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2020
Track: SSA/SDA