BALLYSEEDE, Ireland — The UN committee crafting a coordinated international framework for space situational awareness and satellite collision avoidance has hit a roadblock: Some nations refuse to allow private sector operator-to-operator communications, insisting that government agencies be the first contact point.
In and of itself, this need not be a showstopper. But government agencies are not typically the fastest-reacting bodies. Nor do they know as much about satellite status as the operators. Collision avoidance requires quick decisions, especially in low Earth orbit, and a first-hand understanding of satellite ephemerides.
To view the entire article, become a subscriber!
