Space traffic management

Abstract

This chapter gives an overview of the evolution of the near-Earth space environment since the beginning of the space age, discusses the current situation, and projects how future developments such as the growing space debris population and active debris removal will affect that environment. Just as the growth in air travel led to air traffic management, assuring that future space systems will have minimal interference to their operations requires a system to warn operators of potential collisions and other hazards. The chapter discusses components of a space traffic management system and the corresponding legal and policy framework.