Operations & Safety

Space operations have accelerated to unprecedented levels as commercial service providers ramp up their business plans. Ensuring space operations safety is paramount for the long-term viability and sustainability of space activities. Space situational awareness plays a critical role in maintaining physical safety by tracking and avoiding potential collisions between spacecraft, orbital debris, and other objects in Earth's orbit. Effective space traffic management systems are essential for collision avoidance during launch and on-orbit operations. Space weather monitoring is another crucial aspect of space safety, as solar flares and geomagnetic storms can disrupt communications and pose risks to both spacecraft and astronauts. Implementing robust space debris mitigation strategies, such as deorbiting defunct satellites and rocket bodies, helps preserve the space environment for future generations. Ultimately, adhering to space safety standards and space sustainability practices is vital for ensuring the responsible and long-term utilization of the space domain.

News & Analysis

Jun 19, 2026
Veteran astronaut Bob Hines' selection as the crew backup could be an indication of just how committed the agency is to acknowledging and addressing Artemis III's challenges.
Jun 19, 2026
Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket carrying a spacecraft intended to boost NASA’s ailing Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher orbit reached Mojave, California, on June 18, as it heads to the Pacific for launch that's targeted for later this month.
Jun 18, 2026
The European Space Agency is looking to assert its relevance in lunar exploration, with an eye on pulling forward some its planned Argonaut lander missions.
Jun 18, 2026
ESA is assessing the feasibility of hiking the launch cadence for the Ariane 6 rocket to as many as 20 flights per year to address an anticipated shortage of European launch capacity in a few years.
Jun 18, 2026
Colonizing Mars hinges on an untested assumption that humans can reproduce and thrive on another planet—raising biological and ethical risks.
Jun 17, 2026
The U.S. Space Force began the overhaul of one of its most storied launchpads with a sizable bang on June 16.
Jun 17, 2026
Startup Katalyst prepares June 27 to demonstrate satellite reboost services on NASA's Swift telescope using its LINK spacecraft.
Jun 16, 2026
Hensoldt says it is offering a mobile jammer for satellite-based navigation signals with an eye on critical infrastructure protection.