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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