The U.S. Departments of Commerce and Defense are joining forces to keep an eye on the skies and more specifically, the tens of thousands of objects circling the planet overhead, the DOC has announced.
DOC and DOD signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Sept. 9 to formally recognize the agencies' partnership "for basic space situational awareness (SSA), space traffic management (STM), and coordination for civil and commercial entities," the DOC announced at the time.
The MOA describes how the DOC and DOD are to cooperate in implementing the National Space Council’s Space Policy Directive 3 to "advance SSA and STM science and technology; provide federally supported basic SSA data and STM services to the public; and improve SSA data interoperability to enable greater SSA data sharing," the announcement states.
Rick Spinrad, the DOC's Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and MOA signatory for the department, said the DOC is "pleased to partner with the DOD on this important and timely effort" to promote "our vision of a sustainable space environment for all," Spinrad said in the announcement.
“Establishing and maintaining coordinated SSA and STM technology, data, and services for civil and commercial entities," Spinrad said according to the DOC, "is the foundation of the Department of Commerce’s efforts to ensure the continued safe and sustainable growth of the commercial space industry."
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb, who also leads the United States Space Force (USSF) and United States Space Command (USSPACECOM), signed the MOA on behalf of the DOD, according to the announcement. Plumb also expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to work with public and private entities.
“We are pleased to partner with DoC on this effort and look to broaden our relationship with industry, allies, and partners to help achieve the objectives of SPD-3," Plumb said in the statement. "We also take this opportunity to encourage and invite commercial or other partners who can assist in this effort,” said Dr. Plumb.
The DOC reports USSPACECOM is currently tracking and cataloging more than 40,000 objects in space that are 10 centimeters or larger, a number that continually grows as technological advances allow more commercial activity in space. The increase in space traffic increases the necessity of providing transparent data, the exchange of information, and the importance of enabling USSPACECOM to protect national security assets, according to the report.
"Every day, space is becoming increasingly congested, a trend that challenges the safety, security, stability, and sustainability of space," the DOC states.
"Both DoC and DoD recognize the need for new approaches to coordinate and manage space activities," the DOC states, "in an accessible and meaningful way for the private sector will help maintain U.S. economic leadership in space."
