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, 2025
A SpaceX Starship vehicle being prepared for the company’s upcoming 10th integrated flight test exploded on a test stand around midnight EDT June 19.
Jun 19, 2025
Two Chinese-built satellites may be on the verge of conducting an on-orbit, satellite-to-satellite refueling activity for the first time, U.S. space situational awareness company Slingshot Aerospace recently announced.
Jun 19, 2025
After a rough start, the International Space Station became one of NASA’s most popular programs, drawing support from seven presidential administrations.
Jun 18, 2025
Lockheed Martin's push to quickly develop, field and launch a demonstration satellite on its own dime shows how the industry is meeting a moment.
Jun 17, 2025
Top executives at ArianeGroup, Arianespace, Avio and the European Space Agency (ESA) are now turning their attention to increasing launch cadences.
Jun 17, 2025
The China Manned Space Engineering Office has completed the first zero-altitude escape flight test of its next-generation Mengzhou crewed spacecraft.
Jun 16, 2025
NASA, Axiom Space and SpaceX are looking to no earlier than June 19 for the thrice-delayed launch of Axiom's fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS.
Jun 13, 2025
Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 37 was razed June 12, as the U.S. Space Force considers leasing the site to SpaceX for Starship-Super Heavy operations.