Space traffic coordination is an operational loop, not a single alert or a central authority ordering satellites to move. Operators provide orbit predictions and maneuver plans; screening services identify predicted close approaches; analysts assess risk; and the spacecraft’s owner or operator decides whether to maneuver. Updated trajectory data then goes back into screening. A close-approach alert calls for assessment—it does not, by itself, mean a collision is likely or that a maneuver is necessary.
What is conjunction assessment?
Conjunction assessment is the process of comparing predicted trajectories to find times when two space objects may pass near one another, then evaluating the event’s risk. A screening result identifies an event for follow-up. It is not a collision prediction or a maneuver command.
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Distance matters, but it is not enough on its own. Analysts also need to consider uncertainty in the predicted positions, the quality and age of the tracking data, the time remaining until closest approach, and probability-based risk measures. New observations or updated orbit information can change an event estimate. NASA’s Conjunction Assessment and Risk Analysis (CARA) process uses automated event processing and trend analysis, with analyst review of events considered high risk. NASA’s public material does not set one maneuver threshold that applies to every spacecraft.
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How does space traffic coordination work?
The practical workflow connects mission operations with tracking and screening. Inputs and responsibilities depend on the mission and the services it uses.
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1. Set up the orbit and operating interface
Before launch, a mission can consider conjunction-assessment trade-offs while selecting its orbit and establish how orbital data and operational updates will be shared. NASA describes pre-launch support and, for missions it serves, an operations implementation agreement. Those arrangements are mission-specific; NASA’s processes should not be assumed to be a requirement for every satellite operator.
2. Provide predicted trajectories and planned maneuvers
Screening is only as useful as its inputs. NASA CARA receives mission ephemerides—the predicted positions and velocities of a spacecraft over time—and covariance information describing uncertainty in those predictions. It also takes planned maneuvers within the prediction span into account. NASA’s process compares an operator-provided trajectory that incorporates planned maneuvers with a trajectory derived from non-cooperative tracking data.
Operators therefore need to keep orbit information accurate and timely and communicate intended maneuvers through their agreed interface. If a planned maneuver is missing or stale in the screening inputs, the predicted path may not reflect the operation the mission actually expects to perform.
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3. Screen trajectories for close approaches
NASA describes the 18th Space Defense Squadron (18th SDS) as screening protected-asset trajectories against its high-accuracy catalog to identify predicted close approaches. Screening cadence depends on the service and the spacecraft category: NASA’s CARA overview describes general on-orbit screening three times daily, while CARA’s detailed service description specifies three screenings per day for low Earth orbit (LEO) spacecraft and two per day for other spacecraft. These are descriptions of NASA processes, not a universal schedule or guarantee for all operators and services.
4. Assess risk using the event data
A close-approach screening result is an input to risk analysis. The team considers the predicted miss distance alongside uncertainty, risk measures, data quality, and time to closest approach. Because estimates can change as new tracking or operator data arrives, an event needs to be interpreted in context rather than treated as a fixed forecast.
5. Coordinate and decide on mitigation
NASA CARA supports mission teams with mitigation planning. The spacecraft’s owner or operator makes operational decisions for its vehicle and carries out any maneuver, taking mission constraints into account. Coordination is important because another operator may also be considering action. Operators should share maneuver intent through the relevant service and agreed process; one operator does not command another operator’s satellite.
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6. Update the orbit and screen again
After a maneuver is planned or executed, the operator updates trajectory information as required by the mission’s interface. The resulting orbit is assessed for new close approaches. That closes one iteration of the loop, not the coordination process: later predictions and tracking updates can identify further events.
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Several organizations may contribute data, screening, or analysis, but these are distinct functions. In the U.S. context described by the agencies below, the satellite operator retains the operational decision and responsibility for its spacecraft.
| Participant | Role described in the sources |
|---|---|
| 18th Space Defense Squadron (18th SDS) and the Space Force tracking system | Tracking and catalog functions, with conjunction-screening support for protected assets. |
| NASA CARA | For the NASA missions it serves, receives mission data, assesses conjunction events, communicates trends and risk analysis, and supports mitigation planning. |
| NOAA Office of Space Commerce (OSC) and TraCSS | TraCSS is NOAA OSC’s civil system intended to provide basic space situational awareness (SSA) data and services to civil and private operators. |
| Commercial providers | May offer supplemental tracking, SSA, or conjunction-assessment services. Whether a service fits a mission depends on its data, scope, and operating terms. |
| Mission owner or operator | Provides mission information, evaluates operational constraints, decides whether to maneuver, and carries out its spacecraft’s operations. |
NASA states that spacecraft outside its Human Spaceflight enterprise are required under NPR 8079.1 to use CARA. That is a NASA-specific requirement for applicable spacecraft, not a general rule for every satellite operator.
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What happens when my satellite has a close approach?
First, treat the alert as a prompt to assess the event, not as a decision to maneuver. Confirm that the trajectory data and planned maneuvers used in the assessment match the mission’s current plans. Then review the predicted miss distance, uncertainty and risk information, data quality, and time to closest approach with the team or service responsible for assessment. If mitigation is being considered, coordinate maneuver intent through the applicable service and the mission’s agreed process, then update trajectory data and continue screening.
The exact response depends on the mission’s procedures, the assessment information available, and operational constraints. The cited NASA material describes risk analysis and mission support but does not establish a single decision threshold for all spacecraft.
What information do I need to provide?
Requirements depend on the service and mission agreement. NASA CARA’s described inputs show the kinds of information that can materially affect screening and risk assessment:
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- Ephemeris: predicted spacecraft trajectory over the relevant time span.
- Covariance or other uncertainty information: information needed to interpret how uncertain the predicted position is.
- Planned maneuvers: intended trajectory changes that fall within the prediction span, shared through the agreed channel.
Operators should confirm the required format, timing, update process, and contact path with the service they use. A data handoff that is technically complete but late, outdated, or inconsistent with current maneuver plans can undermine the usefulness of the assessment.
How should operators evaluate screening and SSA services?
Commercial services can supplement public or mission-specific workflows, but the existence of a service does not establish its accuracy, regulatory approval, or suitability for a particular mission. NASA cautions that commercial catalogs may differ from the government catalog in both accuracy and the objects included. Operators should understand what data underlies each result and evaluate the service against their operational needs.
When comparing services, ask about these dimensions rather than assuming they are equivalent:
- Object coverage and provenance: which objects are included, and where tracking data comes from.
- Accuracy and uncertainty: how orbit accuracy is characterized and how covariance or other uncertainty information is handled.
- Observation and update cadence: how often relevant objects are observed and data or screening results are refreshed.
- Mission inputs: whether the service accepts operator ephemerides and planned maneuver information.
- Alert scope and latency: what events are screened and how quickly an event is reported.
- Risk analysis and support: what analysis methods and analyst support are available beyond initial screening.
- Coordination interfaces: how maneuver intent and updated trajectory information are shared.
- Access and terms: eligibility, security requirements, geographic scope, and service conditions.
These are evaluation questions, not claims that every provider offers each capability. Suitability depends on the mission and the service relationship.
What is TraCSS, and what is its current status?
The Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) is NOAA OSC’s civil coordination system, intended to provide basic SSA data and services to civil and private space operators in support of spaceflight safety. NOAA reported that operator registrations began in early 2026. In an August 2026 program update, NOAA reported 82 pilot user organizations, together representing more than 11,370 satellites, and 10 national government accounts. Those figures describe the program at that date; they are not a guarantee of permanent availability, coverage, or service terms.
Which official operator references are useful?
- NASA CARA overview and FAQ: NASA’s current overview links operator resources, including conjunction-assessment guidance and FAQs. The linked Spaceflight Safety Handbook for Satellite Operators is Version 1.5, dated August 2020; it describes 18th Space Control Squadron processes.
- NASA’s Spacecraft Conjunction Assessment and Collision Avoidance Best Practices Handbook: NASA announced the handbook on December 15, 2020. The CARA resource page includes handbook and FAQ materials, including an appendix update dated August 2026.
- NASA NPR 8079.1, Chapter 1: establishes the CARA requirement for applicable NASA spacecraft; it should not be read as a universal requirement for all operators.
Operational procedures and service arrangements can change. Operators should consult the current official materials and the specific interface or agreement that applies to their mission.
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