AIAA, Iridium, OneWeb, SpaceX Release “Satellite Orbital Safety Best Practices” Reference Guide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Authors will discuss at ASCENDx Webinar, 15 September

UPDATED September 9, 2022 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), along with Iridium Communications, Inc., OneWeb, and SpaceX, today announced the immediate release of a best practices reference guide, “Satellite Orbital Safety Best Practices,” to provide a foundation for discussions leading to a global consensus of behaviors for satellite operators. The guide is designed to help improve cooperative operations in space to ensure that future generations maximize the benefits of space on Earth.

AIAA is providing access to download the reference guide today, in advance of a timely webinar to address the urgency of space traffic management and coordination. Industry professionals can join the authors of the document, low Earth orbit industry experts from major satellite constellation operators, to discuss its implementation:

ASCENDxSpace Traffic Management: Industry Advancing Orbital Safety
Thursday, 15 September, 1200 hrs ET USA
Complimentary registration

This webinar will include remarks from Richard DalBello, Director, Office of Space Commerce, Department of Commerce, and Sandra Magnus, Principal, AstroPlanetview, LLC. The panel includes:

• Matt Hejduk, Senior Project Leader, The Aerospace Corporation (Moderator)
• John Guiney, Vice President, Fleet Operations Management, OneWeb
• Dave Goldstein, Principal Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer, SpaceX
• Ryan Shepperd, Mission Planning and Orbital Analyst, Space Situational Awareness Lead, Iridium

The authors will also host a session during 2022 ASCEND, Las Vegas, 24–26 October. The panel discussion, META-07, Satellite Orbital Safety Best Practices, is the continuation of the work the group started during 2021 ASCEND to address the issue of space traffic management and coordination with meaningful actions. Registration for 2022 ASCEND is open with early bird rates effective through 9 September.

“We must face the urgent problem that tens of thousands of objects traveling at roughly 17,500 mph in low Earth orbit threaten launch vehicles, space assets, and human lives,” stated Dan Dumbacher, AIAA Executive Director. “We are pleased to facilitate these industry leaders in moving their conversation forward to publishing their ideas today, as a direct outcome of 2021 ASCEND. AIAA is committed to seeing improved space traffic management and coordination to help avoid a catastrophe in space.”

The “Satellite Orbital Safety Best Practices” reference guide outlines four points in time when operators should focus their safety planning efforts: Design Time, Pre-Launch and Early Orbit, On Orbit, and Satellite Disposal. The guidance is designed to be applicable to any satellite operator in the world, regardless of how they receive conjunction warnings.

Media contact: Rebecca B. Gray, RebeccaG@aiaa.org, 804-397-5270

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, andInstagram.