Enabling a Sustainable Space Environment in the Mega
Constellation Era
ITTA, Inc.1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 1002Washington, DC 20036itta.com
February 27, 2020
Topics of Discussion
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I. Technologies that Enable Mega Constellations
II. Roadblocks to Ensuring Space Sustainability in the
Mega Constellation Era
III. Concluding Thoughts
PART I:Enabling Technologies for Mega Constellations
Enabling Technologies for Mega Constellations
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The Coming Era of LEO Mega Constellations
Mega Constellation FCC-Approved Approved Plus Requested
Starlink (SpaceX) 12,000 42,000
OneWeb 720 1,980
Kuiper (Amazon) 0 3,236
US National Defense Space Architecture (Space Development Agency)
N/A *1,200
TOTAL 13,920 47,696
FCC Approvals (and Pending Approvals) for Selected Mega Satellite Constellations
*This figure reflects the total number of satellites envisioned in Space Development Agency’s notional National Defense Space Architecture.
Current Number of Active LEO Satellites (Approximate): 1,3001
1. Congressional Research Service, “Challenges to the United States in Space,” January 27, 2020.
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1. Small Sat Revolution
Bryce Space and Technology: “Smallsats by the Numbers 2020”
Downward trend
Enabling Technologies for Mega Constellations
Satellite Sizes, NESDIS, https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/satellite-technology-how-big-satellite
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2. New Launch Services
SpaceX Rideshares
Rocket Lab: Lift-off R3D2 mission from LC-1. Image credit: Kieran Fanning and Sam Toms.
Jeff Foust, “Opportunities grow for smallsat rideshare launches,” Space News, February 6, 2020, https://spacenews.com/opportunities-grow-for-smallsat-rideshare-launches/
Enabling Technologies for Mega Constellations
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3. Cloud Computing and Improved Data Processing
Enabling Technologies for Mega Constellations
Aaron Boyd, “NOAA Contracts With 3 Major Cloud Providers,” NextGov, December 20, 2019, https://www.nextgov.com/analytics-data/2019/12/noaa-contracts-3-major-cloud-providers-big-data-project/162062/
Caleb Henry, “Amazon activates ground station business with first two of 12 stations,” Space News, May 23, 2019, https://spacenews.com/amazon-activates-ground-station-business-with-first-two-of-12-stations/
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4. Space Situational Awareness
The Main Control Room at ESA's European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, Germany. Photo: ESA
Enabling Technologies for Mega Constellations
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5. Optical Crosslinks (in development)
Original Published Date: Jan 15, 2020 Original Response Date: Feb 05, 2020
Space Development Agency’s National Defense Space Architecture (Notional), US Department of Defense
Enabling Technologies for Mega Constellations
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6. In-Orbit Servicing (in development)
Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) Program, DARPA, US Department of Defense, https://www.darpa.mil/program/robotic-servicing-of-geosynchronous-satellites
Restore-L, NASA, https://sspd.gsfc.nasa.gov/restore-L.html
Enabling Technologies for Mega Constellations
Restore-L (NASA)
PART II:Roadblocks to LEO Sustainability
Roadblocks to LEO Sustainability
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1. Space Traffic Management
White House TV, “Meeting of the National Space Council,”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqH0xUBHISg
President Trump Signs Space Policy Directive 3 (June 18, 2018)
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1. Space Traffic Management
FY 2020 US Department of Commerce Funding (Enacted)
Roadblocks to LEO Sustainability
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1. Space Traffic Management
$0
$2,000,000
$4,000,000
$6,000,000
$8,000,000
$10,000,000
$12,000,000
$14,000,000
$16,000,000
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 (Request)
Office of Space Commerce Funding, Requested Versus Enacted (FY 2017 - FY 2021)
Enacted Requested
Expectation versus Reality
$7.7M Gap
Roadblocks to LEO Sustainability
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2. Lack of Broad Participation in SSA Sharing Organizations
But Other Major Players Are Missing…
Current Space Data Association
Participants
Space Data Association, Participants, https://www.space-data.org/sda/participants/
Roadblocks to LEO Sustainability
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2. Lack of Broad Participation in SSA Sharing Organizations
Jeff Foust, “ESA spacecraft dodges potential collision with Starlink satellite,” Space News, September 2, 2019, https://spacenews.com/esa-spacecraft-dodges-potential-collision-with-starlink-satellite/
Roadblocks to LEO Sustainability
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3. Satellite Disposal Norms
U.S. Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices, November 2019 Update
Roadblocks to LEO Sustainability
25-Year Post-mission Disposal Timeline
PART III:Concluding Thoughts
Top Priorities for LEO Sustainability in the Mega Constellation Era
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As LEO becomes more congested in the mega constellation era, the internationalspace community cannot wait for the US Government to stand up a fully fundedSpace Traffic Management regime.
The international space community must accelerate efforts to promote:
• Industry-driven and internationally accepted SSA sharing organizations (e.g.,Space Data Association); and
• International consensus on space sustainability norms (e.g., Space SafetyCoalition).
Policies and norms must “catch up” to the technologies!
THANK YOU!
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