Commercial satellite operators, including SpaceX and Amazon, are concerned about the risks posed by potential collisions in low-Earth orbit. Without adequate funding for space traffic coordination, operators may face increased risks, which could jeopardize missions and increase operational costs. The military currently issues collision warnings and tracks over 47,000 objects in orbit. Notable incidents, like the 2009 collision, underline the importance of managing space traffic to prevent debris and ensure operational safety for both commercial and governmental satellite missions.
"Without funding for space traffic coordination, US commercial and government satellite operators would face greater risks-putting critical missions in harm's way, raising the cost of doing business, and potentially driving US industry to relocate overseas."
"The military currently performs the spaceflight safety mission, providing up to a million collision warnings per day to give satellite operators a heads-up that their spacecraft will encounter another object as they speed around the Earth at nearly 5 miles per second."
#space-traffic-coordination #commercial-satellites #collision-risks #satellite-operators #orbital-debris
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