Abstract:
This chapter explores the relationship between Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Traffic Management (STM) in the context of increasing congestion in Earth’s orbital environment. It examines how SSA provides the technical foundation for STM by enabling the detection, tracking, and characterization of resident space objects through multi-sensor data fusion, orbit determination, and predictive analytics. The authors review the evolution of SSA from military roots to a growing civil and commercial ecosystem, emphasizing the role of transparency and international collaboration. The chapter also addresses the operational challenges of collision avoidance, catalog maintenance, and debris mitigation, highlighting the importance of timely data sharing and standardized best practices. Finally, it argues that effective STM depends on accurate SSA data, interoperable systems, and globally recognized norms to ensure the long-term sustainability and safety of space operations.
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Oltrogge, D.L. and Cooper, J.A., Space Situational Awareness & Space Traffic Management, Chapter in book entitled, The Space Debris Peril: Pathways to Opportunities, CRC Publishing, 2020, accessible at https://comspoc.com/Resources/Content/Private/C-20220424T151335/Paper/20200420_Oltrogge_Cooper_Color_Draft%20of%20SSA_STM_Book_Chapter.pdf
