Appeal for satellite traffic rules

WASHINGTON: Companies around the globe are launching an increasing number of satellites, crowding Earth’s orbit in an effort to satisfy the ravenous on-demand desire for more broadband, satellite television and communications.

In the past five years, the number of operational satellites has jumped 40 percent, and nearly 1 400 orbit Earth.

Industry officials say that number could more than double in five years as a revolution in technology has made satellites smaller and more affordable. Entrepreneurs eye the ethereal real estate a couple of hundred kilometres up as a lucrative new market.

Companies such as OneWeb, Boeing and SpaceX plan to put up constellations of small satellites that could number in the thousands, and beam the internet to the billions of people not yet connected.

Last month, Boeing filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission that would allow it to send up nearly 3 000 satellites for broadband services. But US officials are concerned about the traffic in space and the lack of oversight. Although the Pentagon tracks objects orbiting the globe and warns of close approaches, it does not have the power to order an operator to move a satellite to avoid a collision.

Some members of Congress think a civilian agency, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), should be made responsible for managing satellite traffic.

Representative Jim Bridenstine from Oklahoma has led that effort, saying the Pentagon should focus instead “on how do we fight and win wars in space”.

He has introduced legislation to give the FAA authority to monitor objects in space and play the role of traffic cop, warning operators when satellites are dangerously close to one another. There is no guarantee the bill will pass any time soon. And if it does, giving the FAA jurisdiction in space would require additional resources at a time of tight budgets.

Creating rules of the road in space would also be a complicated regulatory challenge.

Some fear a new set of rules would impose a costly burden on US satellite operators and put them at a disadvantage with competitors in other countries that would not have to abide by them.

Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association, said regulation should be drafted so that it “doesn’t drive business away”.

The rules have to provide “an international solution” palatable to foreign governments and businesses.

Defence officials say such an approach would help them focus on the possibility of hostilities in space.

“It’s clear we’re going to need a way to regulate that traffic just as we have a way to regulate air traffic,” said Douglas Loverro, deputy assistant secretary of defence for space policy. – Washington Post

Earth orbit getting crowded, and crashes must be prevented