Space Traffic Operations & Debris
Subhead
The increase of orbital debris and spectrum competition are just a couple of the ways that space is growing more crowded. To address the growing risks to operating in space safely and to our ability to sustain current and future space activities, CSPS research raises awareness of these issues and explores solutions for safe and sustainable space operations.

Featured Papers
No Haven for Misbehavin': A Framework for Verifying Space Norms

Can an international space situational awareness (SSA) data sharing framework for assessing countries’ norms of behavior compliance build enough support—from enough countries—to influence bad actors’ behavior in space?
https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/no-haven-misbehavin-framework-verifying-space-norms
Active Debris Removal: Policy and Legal Feasibility

The last few decades have seen a growth in both the complexity of space operations and the number of commercial entrants into the space economy. The resulting increase in space debris engenders a need for viable active debris removal (ADR) strategies in spite of seemingly insurmountable legal challenges. Can the legal questions associated with ADR be resolved with a bottom-up approach involving pathfinder missions based on permission and consent?
https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/active-debris-removal-policy-and-legal-feasibility
Issue Brief: A Short Guide for Understanding and Assessing U.S. Space Sustainability Initiatives

Key lines of effort, extrapolated from SPD-3 and reinforced in the 2020 NSP, guide understanding and assessment of recent efforts, and provides insights into where new and continuing efforts should be focused.
https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/issue-brief-short-guide-understanding-and-assessing-us-space-sustainability-initiatives
Latest Papers, Events & News
Space Rescue

https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode068-space-rescue
Will China Stop Recklessly Disposing of Space Debris?

https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-07-29-will-china-stop-recklessly-disposing-space-debris
Debris from a giant Chinese rocket booster is set to plummet uncontrollably to Earth and rain parts across unknown locations this weekend

https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-07-28-debris-giant-chinese-rocket-booster-set-plummet-uncontrollably-earth-and-rain-parts
Massive 20-ton Chinese rocket to crash into Earth this weekend

https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-07-28-massive-20-ton-chinese-rocket-crash-earth-weekend
Industry looks to decentralized approaches to space sustainability

https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-05-25-industry-looks-decentralized-approaches-space-sustainability
Space: Safe, Secure and Sustainable

https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode092-space-safe-secure-and-sustainable
To cheaply go: How falling launch costs fueled a thriving economy in orbit

https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-04-08-cheaply-go-how-falling-launch-costs-fueled-thriving-economy-orbit
How to Deal With Rocket Boosters and Other Giant Space Garbage

https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-01-31-how-deal-rocket-boosters-and-other-giant-space-garbage
Do space tourists really understand the risk they're taking?

https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2021-08-05-do-space-tourists-really-understand-risk-theyre-taking
Building Normentum- Norms of Behavior in Space

https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode067-building-normentum-norms-behavior-space
Space Traffic Operations & Debris Podcasts
Featured Experts
Josef Koller

Role
Systems Director, Center for Space Policy and Strategy
https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/josef-koller
Rebecca Reesman

Role
Senior Project Engineer, Space Enterprise
https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/rebecca-reesman
Lina Cashin

Role
Senior Project Engineer, National Security Space Programs Policy & Oversight
https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/lina-cashin
William Ailor

Role
Aerospace Fellow
https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/william-ailor
Marlon Sorge

Role
Technical Fellow, Space Innovation Directorate
https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/marlon-sorge
Barbara Manganis Braun

Role
Systems Director, Agile Space Acquisition and Implementation
https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/barbara-manganis-braun