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

Feb 18, 2026
A look at the four astronauts NASA is preparing to send around the Moon.
Feb 17, 2026
Spanish startup Sateliot has booked a launch with compatriot PLD Space to deploy its first two high-capacity 5G direct-to-device satellites.
Feb 17, 2026
Countdown clocks for a second wet dress rehearsal for NASA’s Artemis II mission are expected to begin ticking at 6:40 p.m. EST Feb. 17.
Feb 16, 2026
The head of the European Space Agency has framed Europe’s need to pursue lunar missions in unusually security-focused terms for the civilian organization.
Feb 14, 2026
NASA’s Crew-12 mission has docked to the U.S. segment of the ISS, returning the orbital lab’s fulltime population to seven for the first time since Jan. 14.
Feb 13, 2026
A multinational, four-member replacement team lifted off onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Feb. 13 to begin a 34-hr. ride to the International Space Station.
Feb 12, 2026
NASA’s new leader discusses the agency’s path forward. Key priorities include lunar exploration, Mars missions and advancing the orbital economy.
Feb 11, 2026
The China Manned Space Agency said Feb. 11 it successfully conducted a launch-abort test of the Mengzhou crew capsule using the new Long March 10 rocket.