Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS)

NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC) is developing the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) to provide basic space situational awareness (SSA) data and services to civil and private space operators and to support spaceflight safety, space sustainability, and international coordination.

TraCSS will feature 3 distinct components:

  • TraCSS-OASIS: Data repository.
  • TraCSS-SKYLINE: SSA application services.
  • TraCSS-HORIZON: modeling, simulation, & research environment and development & test environment.

TracSS is being implemented in a phased “crawl, walk, run” development approach. With each phase, more commercial data and commercial SSA services will be integrated as core capabilities over time. This phased transition, coordinated across the U.S. Government, will help ensure there is no disruption in basic SSA safety services.

TraCSS phases:

  • Phase 1.0, on track for an October 2024 release, will focus on distributing TraCSS-produced conjunction data messages (CDMs) to a beta set of users, via the Space-Track.org interface, to avoid disruption to current spaceflight operations. Across Phase 1, as the TraCSS user interface, or “presentation layer,” matures, OSC will slowly transition the beta users from space-track.org to the TraCSS interface and ramp up migration of the rest of the space operator user base to TraCSS.
  • Phase 2, slated to initiate at the beginning of FY 2026, is focused on launch activities.
  • Phase 3 will focus on re-entry assessment and management, and other priority activities.

TraCSS Architecture:

SPOTLIGHT

Joint Paper Compares SSA Services Provided by TraCSS, EU SST

At the 2024 Advanced Maui Optical Surveillance (AMOS) Conference, the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) and the European Union (EU) released a joint paper comparing the services provided by OSC’s Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) and the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) capability.

View paper (PDF)

Both TraCSS and EU SST, in partnership with the commercial SSA industry, will offer free space situational awareness (SSA) services to spacecraft operators worldwide to prevent in-orbit collisions. The new study, conducted by personnel from both programs, highlights similarities and differences between the two systems.

A detailed breakdown reveals significant alignment between TraCSS and EU SST, particularly in collision avoidance services. Some differences remain in the availability of maneuver screenings and anomaly reporting. The study also identifies potential future developments, such as launch collision avoidance and improved operator ephemeris, aimed at addressing the evolving needs of the space industry.

For more information, visit: https://www.space.commerce.gov/joint-paper-compares-ssa-services-provided-by-tracss-eu-sst/

TraCSS RESOURCES

To provide the public, space situational awareness community, and satellite owners/operators better access to resources and materials related to the Traffic Coordination System for Space, the Office of Space Commerce has published a new “TraCSS Videos, Listening Sessions, & Documents” page on our website.

This page hosts TraCSS materials, including OSC’s stakeholder update videos, public listening sessions, RFI responses, and public briefings/presentations. It will be regularly updated as new documents become available.

The page may be accessed here.

TraCSS NEWS & UPDATES

The latest news and updates on the Traffic Coordination System for Space may be found here.

VISION FOR GLOBAL SSA COORDINATION

In April 2024, the Office of Space Commerce released its “Global Space Situational Awareness Coordination” document, outlining a vision for a future of globally coordinated SSA services. The Office of Space Commerce envisions that in the future there will be a global, coordinated system of space situational awareness (SSA) providers, with a series of national or regional hubs providing SSA information and services to spacecraft operators. These centers will be supported by networks of international partnerships, and their services will be augmented by a robust global commercial SSA sector.

With its Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), the Office of Space Commerce is committed to maintaining an open and transparent system that enables global coordination with other SSA providers and ensures reliable and efficient services to global spacecraft operators.

Download and read the “Global Space Situational Awareness Coordination” here.

CONTACT TraCSS

Questions or comments about TraCSS can be shared at: tracss.commerce@noaa.gov

Subscribe to the Office of Space Commerce’s newsletter and TraCSS stakeholder outreach lists! Visit the “stakeholder engagement opt-in” form on OSC’s “Contact Us” webpage.