The Space Safety Coalition (SSC) announced today a doubling of the number of space companies who have endorsed SSC’s set of best practices since its inception in 2019, increasing to more than 50 global participants.
The SSC is the first-of-its-kind global ad hoc coalition dedicated to developing and maintaining a set of aspirational space safety best practices that continue to evolve based on the needs, threats, and advancements in space technology. Coalition members include leading space operators, industry associations, and stakeholders from across the globe. Newest endorsees include: Space Micro Inc., Astro Dynamic Ltd.,Slingshot Aerospace, LeoLabs Inc., and ClearSpace.
“In light of the recent Russian ASAT incident, it is even more paramount that – collectively – we increase our attention and global coordination on space safety issues and protecting space as a critical infrastructure,” said Dan Oltrogge, administrator of the SSC.
The SSC actively promotes responsible space safety through the voluntary adoption of relevant international standards, guidelines, and practices, coupled with the development and adoption of aspirational space safety guidelines and industry best practices. More than 50organizations have endorsed the SSC’s Best Practices document.
“SSC endorsees around the globe are committed to promoting and implementing our set of best practices for the long-term sustainability of space operations,” said Oltrogge. “Participants have been actively involved in space sustainability discussions, development of international standards for Orbit Data Messages and Conjunction Data Messages, and working to codify best practices for Large Constellations and for Space Traffic Coordination.”
The SSC’s best practices are applicable to all spacecraft regardless of physical size, orbital regime, and constellation size. These best practices directly incorporate existing guidance and standards published by entities including the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). “By endorsing treaties, guidelines, and standards, spacecraft operators and stakeholders can collectively achieve the long-term sustainability of space operations — frequently improving upon minimum-accepted consensus levels,” said Oltrogge.
The SSC and its members are committed to continuing to publish, coordinate, and periodically update the SSC’s best practices in order to keep them strategically and operationally aligned with responsible space operations and the evolving understanding of the orbital debris environment, to address gaps in space governance, and promote better spacecraft design, operations, and disposal practices associated with long-term space operations sustainability.
Participation in the SSC is open to all space operators — including governmental or intergovernmental entities — space industry associations, and industry stakeholders.
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About the Space Safety Coalition
Formed in 2019, the Space Safety Coalition publishes a set of orbit-regime-agnostic best practices for the long-term sustainability of space operations. These best practices are generally applicable to all spacecraft regardless of physical size, orbital regime or constellation size, and directly address many aspects of the twenty-one consensus Long-Term Sustainability (LTS) guidelines approved by the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) in June 2019. Interested parties can visit the website for additional information about the SSC, its mission, and guidelines.
