As a result the European Space Agency (ESA) has taken an important step in creating a Space Situational Awareness system, a move toward global space traffic management. The ministers in charge of space activities in ESA’s 18 member states and Canada agreed on November 26 in The Hague to undertake new initiatives in a host of space fields, endorsing next phases of a set of ongoing programs that include: start a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) program, one that provides information to help protect European space systems against space debris and the influence of adverse space weather. Decisions made demonstrate Europe’s resolve to; invest in space as a key sector providing for innovation; economic growth; strategic independence; and in shaping future directions in space.
The Secure World Foundation (SWF) supports an international cooperative program for SSA, said Ray Williamson, SWF’s Executive Director. “This move forward by the European Space Agency will assist in reaching that goal,” he said. While the money allocated is less than what was requested, it is still a positive step towards Europe building a space situational awareness system separate from what the U.S. military manages, observed Brian Weeden, SWF’s technical consultant. “What has been authorized are funds for a study on how to bring together existing SSA assets within Europe to form the basis of a network,” Weeden said. “Future funds and efforts would then possibly add new sensors to an SSA network.”
The Secure World Foundation is actively encouraging the establishment of an international civil Satellite Situational Awareness system. SWF is a private operating foundation dedicated to the secure and sustainable use of space for the benefit of Earth and all its peoples.