The Office of Space Commerce is set to launch its initial civil space traffic coordination system, TraCSS, at the end of the month, marking a transition from the Defense Department that will continue through next year.  Richard DalBello, the director of the Office of Space Commerce, announced that user testing for this “minimum viable product” will begin soon, allowing a select group of beta testers to evaluate its functionality.  TraCSS will initially provide conjunction data messages (CDMs) to satellite operators, similar to what they currently receive from the Defense Department’s Space-Track system.  DalBello noted that the data should not yet be relied upon for safety services as it is still in the testing phase. Future enhancements to TraCSS will include the creation of a public website, tracss.gov, to disseminate data, with the full transition from Space-Track expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Cybersecurity Implications:

The launch of TraCSS raises important cybersecurity considerations, especially as the system will manage sensitive data related to satellite operations and potential collisions in space. The transition from a military-managed system to a civilian one necessitates robust security protocols to protect against unauthorized access and data breaches.  As the Office of Space Commerce takes over the traffic coordination role, it will be crucial to implement strong cybersecurity measures to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the data shared with satellite operators.  Moreover, as reliance on this data increases, any vulnerabilities could lead to severe operational disruptions or safety risks in space.  Ensuring that the system is resilient to cyber threats will be paramount for maintaining trust among operators and for the effective management of space traffic.

Foust, J. (2024, September 23). Office of Space Commerce ready to turn on initial version of space traffic coordination system. SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/office-of-space-commerce-ready-to-turn-on-initial-version-of-space-traffic-coordination-system/