Several platforms exist in the US to monitor the space environment

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Space Commerce (OSC) is developing the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) to provide essential space situational awareness (SSA) data and services, supporting spaceflight safety for civil and commercial space operators.

https://space.commerce.gov/traffic-coordination-system-for-space-tracss/

• NOAA also provides a dashboards on several topic including aurora, aviation, electric power etc. with various type of information such as forecasts, reports, models, alerts and access to data.

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/dashboards

https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/cloud-access/space-weather-portal

• Space-Track.org, operated by the US Space Force, serves as a central platform for distributing essential SSA data to authorized users worldwide. Through this system, satellite operators, researchers, and international partners can access orbital data such as Two-Line Element Sets (TLEs), satellite re-entry predictions, and conjunction assessment messages. By promoting transparency and collaboration, Space-Track.org supports global spaceflight safety and the sustainable use of the space environment.

https://www.space-track.org/auth/login

• In April 2023, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that the Department of Defence (DOD), specifically the U.S. Space Force, establish a formal process to regularly identify and evaluate commercial space situational awareness (SSA) data to determine whether it meets the DOD’s operational needs. This recommendation was part of a broader GAO report highlighting the growing importance of commercial SSA providers in addressing gaps in global sensor coverage and enhancing the availability of unclassified, shareable data. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105565

Prerequisites:

• Institutional & political interest and support for utilising SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, technologies, and applications

• Partnerships with established SSA, STM, and Space Weather data providers

• Access and technical expertise in universities and research centres to SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, data processing and analysis 

• Identification of common needs with partners, identification of capabilities of different partners

• Procurement pathway

• Partner support as needed

• Data policy

• Cybersecurity, data protection, and continuity planning

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 10k–100k/yr

• Includes: stakeholder consultations and legal review, negotiation and signing of MoUs or agreements, secure access to international SSA data feeds (e.g., conjunction warnings, orbital catalogues), IT setup for data exchange, staff training for data handling and analysis, participation in international working groups and workshops

Timeframe:

• Overall: 6–18 mo (to establish membership, then ongoing annually)

• Phase: scoping & partner identification (2–4 mo), negotiation & agreement (3–6 mo), IT integration & secure access setup (3–6 mo), operational participation and reporting (ongoing)

Pros:

• Resource Effectiveness - Allows to leverage current resources more effectively, reducing waste and maximizing utility.

• Cost Effectiveness - Improves allocation of financial resources, maximizing impact while minimizing waste.

Considerations:

• Articulation - Aligning multiple stakeholders with diverse interests can be complex and time-consuming, potentially slowing down progress.