By Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Damon Feltman | LinkedIn
Conjunction Analysis: In satellite operations, a “conjunction” is when two or more orbiting objects pass each other at a close distance. Conjunctions are usually events of concern, but I’m going to borrow the term to highlight three different major space conferences around the world this week, with each focused on different parts of the ecosystem.
Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference (AMOS) – AMOS is a premier technical conference focused on space domain awareness. As the number of launched to space has increased and 10s of thousands more satellites projected, so has concern about over-crowding the Low-Earth Orbit regime from about 300 – 2,000km altitude. At AMOS, MITRE Corporation announced it is studying the “carrying capacity” of LEO to determine how many objects can safely occupy the regime without significant risk of collisions and debris creation. MITRE will present their results at next month’s International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy. (SOURCE: Breaking Defense)
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Phil Garrant, Commander of Space Systems Command, noted that the Space Force will be increasing the methods by which it conducts space surveillance and builds understanding of activities that are occurring. Among the several means highlighted, two of interest include an increased use of commercial space domain awareness services, and U.S. government payloads hosted on other nations’ spacecraft. (SOURCE: Space News)
World Space Business Week (WSBW) – WSBW examines the business and finance sides of the space industry and has a more international perspective. Impacts to SATCOM markets continue to be a common conversation, as does the market viability for smaller launch. At the same time, WSBW panelists expressed that space market investors are putting more scrutiny on where their dollars go. End-user connectivity markets such as in-flight connectivity has strength, and companies with good plans for achieving revenue, growth, and exit strategies for investors will win backers. (SOURCE: Via Satellite)
Air and Space Force Association, Air, Space, and Cyber Conference – Finally, the Department of the Air Force highlighted the problems that will be caused by another round of Continuing Resolutions when the federal government’s current spending authority expires at the end of this month. Coupled with spending caps enacted in 2023 under the Fiscal Responsibility Act and recent inflation rates, the purchasing power of the Air Force and Space Force have diminished in recent years. Vice Chief of Space Operations, General Michael Guetlein commented that the Space Force has the largest Area of Responsibility and the smallest budget, and is struggling to get the resources it needs. (SOURCE: Air & Space Force Association)
— Feltman is a leading space industry expert. Previously, he was a career-long space operations officer, having commanded space units, led exercises and training at U.S. Space Command, and set budgets and requirements at Headquarters Space Force. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
