Session
Session V: Orbital Debris, SSA & STM
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the Department of Commerce’s Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), its planned architecture, and the basic space situational awareness (SSA) and space traffic coordination (STC) services which it will provide.
In 2018, the White House’s Space Policy Directive-3 identified the Department of Commerce (DOC) as the lead agency for civil SSA, directing transfer of that responsibility from the Department of Defense (DoD), which has historically offered that function to all space operators. This will allow the DoD to focus on its critical space domain awareness needs and mission, while DOC can drive spaceflight safety, space sustainability, and international coordination.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC) has been developing TraCSS to be a modern cloud-based IT system providing basic SSA and STC safety services to space operators free of direct user fee. The three main components of TraCSS are: the TraCSS-OASIS data repository; the TraCSS-SKYLINE application layer of SSA and STC services; and TraCSS-HORIZON, consisting of a modeling, simulation & research environment and a development and test environment. OSC is undertaking a phased development approach for TraCSS, coordinated with DoD and NASA, to minimize disruption to spaceflight safety services. TraCSS is being deliberately developed with commercial capabilities in mind; with multiple inputs and on-ramps for commercial data, services, software, and innovation.
Introduction to the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS)
Utah State University, Logan, UT
This paper presents an overview of the Department of Commerce’s Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), its planned architecture, and the basic space situational awareness (SSA) and space traffic coordination (STC) services which it will provide.
In 2018, the White House’s Space Policy Directive-3 identified the Department of Commerce (DOC) as the lead agency for civil SSA, directing transfer of that responsibility from the Department of Defense (DoD), which has historically offered that function to all space operators. This will allow the DoD to focus on its critical space domain awareness needs and mission, while DOC can drive spaceflight safety, space sustainability, and international coordination.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC) has been developing TraCSS to be a modern cloud-based IT system providing basic SSA and STC safety services to space operators free of direct user fee. The three main components of TraCSS are: the TraCSS-OASIS data repository; the TraCSS-SKYLINE application layer of SSA and STC services; and TraCSS-HORIZON, consisting of a modeling, simulation & research environment and a development and test environment. OSC is undertaking a phased development approach for TraCSS, coordinated with DoD and NASA, to minimize disruption to spaceflight safety services. TraCSS is being deliberately developed with commercial capabilities in mind; with multiple inputs and on-ramps for commercial data, services, software, and innovation.
