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.
![Space Traffic Operations & Debris](/sites/default/files/styles/content_section_small/public/2021-08/AdobeStock_423223403.jpeg?itok=sir34Id7)
Featured Papers
Space Traffic Management Terminology
![Space traffic management (STM) is a topic of much international discussion in the aerospace community.](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2022-10/FY22_11258_CSPS_SpaceTrafficMangeTerm_paper-cover_Thumbnail.jpg?h=b9fd117d&itok=hdXp0Zar)
Space traffic management (STM) is a topic of much international discussion in the aerospace community. But what is STM?
https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/space-traffic-management-terminology
(Space) Ships Passing in the Night: Translating Maritime Rules of the Road for the Space Domain
![Image of two ancient ships floating through a galaxy.](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-12/FY23_12662_CSPS_Sea-to-Space_Cover-Thumbnail.jpg?h=7e507adb&itok=BLDddCAv)
As space gets more crowded, the likelihood of collisions is increasing. Can “rules of the road” established for other domains be adapted for the space domain?
https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/space-ships-passing-night-translating-maritime-rules-road-space-domain
Pack It In, Pack It Out: Updating Policy and Standards for Cislunar Sustainability
![Pack It In, Pack It Out cover image](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-09/FY23_11778_CSPS_Pack-It-In-Pack-It-Out_Thumbnail.jpg?h=49c981ba&itok=WOBn-UMQ)
Without an urgent effort to revise the Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices (ODMSP) and the downstream requirements, does the community run the risk of setting bad precedents with a patchwork of exceptions, waivers, and idiosyncratic interpretations of the rules that will imperil the long-term sustainability of space beyond GEO?
https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/pack-it-pack-it-out-updating-policy-and-standards-cislunar-sustainability
Latest Papers, Events & News
Guiding the Future of Spaceflight Safety
![Thumbnail for Space Policy Show Episdoe 106](/sites/default/files/styles/card_row/public/2022-10/E106%20Thumbnail.jpg?h=c673cd1c&itok=4UNuHa5A)
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode106-guiding-future-spaceflight-safety
Casual Space #177: “Normentum” with space policy and space strategy expert Robin Dickey
![National Policies & International Relations](/sites/default/files/styles/card_row/public/2021-08/AdobeStock_184219434.jpeg?h=113c8736&itok=FI8BZFAR)
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-09-26-casual-space-177-normentum-space-policy-and-space-strategy-expert-robin-dickey
Beyond the Basic: Commercial SSA
![E100 Thumbnail.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/card_row/public/2022-09/E100%20Thumbnail.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=MieoexNA)
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode100-beyond-basic-commercial-ssa
Commercial Normentum: Space Security Challenges, Commercial Actors, and Norms of Behavior
![FY22_11421_CSPS_Commercial-Normentum_Cover_Thumbnail.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/card_row/public/2022-08/FY22_11421_CSPS_Commercial-Normentum_Cover_Thumbnail.jpg?h=0f565c51&itok=Hrz-xQOT)
https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/commercial-normentum-space-security-challenges-commercial-actors-and-norms-behavior
Will China Stop Recklessly Disposing of Space Debris?
![Space Traffic Operations & Debris](/sites/default/files/styles/card_row/public/2021-08/AdobeStock_423223403.jpeg?h=866e4845&itok=opKnrV2U)
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-07-29-will-china-stop-recklessly-disposing-space-debris
Massive 20-ton Chinese rocket to crash into Earth this weekend
![Space Traffic Operations & Debris](/sites/default/files/styles/card_row/public/2021-08/AdobeStock_423223403.jpeg?h=866e4845&itok=opKnrV2U)
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-07-28-massive-20-ton-chinese-rocket-crash-earth-weekend
Debris from a giant Chinese rocket booster is set to plummet uncontrollably to Earth and rain parts across unknown locations this weekend
![Space Traffic Operations & Debris](/sites/default/files/styles/card_row/public/2021-08/AdobeStock_423223403.jpeg?h=866e4845&itok=opKnrV2U)
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-07-28-debris-giant-chinese-rocket-booster-set-plummet-uncontrollably-earth-and-rain-parts
Industry looks to decentralized approaches to space sustainability
![Space Traffic Operations & Debris](/sites/default/files/styles/card_row/public/2021-08/AdobeStock_423223403.jpeg?h=866e4845&itok=opKnrV2U)
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-05-25-industry-looks-decentralized-approaches-space-sustainability
Space: Safe, Secure and Sustainable
![E92 Thumbnail.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/card_row/public/2022-05/E92%20Thumbnail.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=6awBOiBK)
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
![Space Traffic Operations & Debris](/sites/default/files/styles/card_row/public/2021-08/AdobeStock_423223403.jpeg?h=866e4845&itok=opKnrV2U)
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-04-08-cheaply-go-how-falling-launch-costs-fueled-thriving-economy-orbit
Space Traffic Operations & Debris Podcasts
Featured Experts
Lina Cashin
![Lina Cashin Webbio Photo](/sites/default/files/styles/profile_photo/public/2021-07/Cashin-webbio-pic-v2%20%281%29.jpeg?itok=ytInwigW)
Role
Senior Project Engineer, Defense Strategic Space
https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/lina-cashin
Marlon Sorge
![Marlon Sorge Web Bio](/sites/default/files/styles/profile_photo/public/2021-07/Sorge-webbio-pic2.jpeg?itok=n8wUNeSB)
Role
Technical Fellow, Space Innovation Directorate
https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/marlon-sorge
Barbara Manganis Braun
![Braun-webbio-pic.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/profile_photo/public/2023-01/Braun-webbio-pic.jpg?h=5273c5c2&itok=lL4vtHya)
Role
Assistant General Manager, Agile Acquisitions Division
https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/barbara-manganis-braun