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

Sep 23, 2026
Participants in NASA’s transition of activities on the International Space Station to multiple commercial successors before a planned ISS deorbit in 2030 are acknowledging the effort’s uncertainties.
Sep 23, 2026
North Korea on Sept. 20 tested what it described as a new type of hypersonic ballistic missile, as Pyongyang continues to expand its missile capabilities and domestic defense industry.
Sep 22, 2026
Startup Katalyst Space is teaming with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory for a demo to convert and beam power from space to remote locations on Earth.
Sep 21, 2026
Kongsberg could finalize a site selection in Germany before year-end as the Norwegian space and defense company looks to scale up spacecraft manufacturing.
Sep 17, 2026
The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected teams led by Leonardo and Iceye to conduct separate architecture studies for a planned sovereign Earth-observation constellation.
Sep 15, 2026
SpaceX is targeting Sept 22 for launch of its first orbital Starship-Super Heavy flight test, with a targeted mission duration of nearly 10 hr.
Sep 15, 2026
German startup Reflex Aerospace plans to launch an RPO satellite next year to position itself for emerging European requirements for such systems.
Sep 15, 2026
The debris problem is likely to worsen as new reusable launch vehicles from China and the U.S. loft hundreds of thousands of spacecraft into orbit.