1、THE TIME FOR INTERNATIONAL SPACE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IS NOW C O R P O R AT I O NRESEARCH BRIEFAs of December 2022,space traffic included approximately 6,900 active satellites more than 36,500 pieces of trackable debris that are 10 cm or larger approximately one million objects that range in size from

2、 1 cm to 10 cm.THE NEED TO MANAGE SPACE TRAFFIC IS BECOMING MORE URGENTSince approximately 2000,the boom in space accessibility and interest has fueled tremendous growth in the volume and variety of satellites orbiting Earth,as well as the data and services those satellites provide.Governments and c

3、ompanies rely on space for critical services and benefits,including defense and national security activities related to positioning,navigation,and timing;satellite communications;internet service;television and cable broadcasting;international financial transactions;remote Earth sensing;weather moni

4、toring and prediction;and scientific exploration and experimentation.Unfortunately,the growing number of objects in orbit has significantly increased the potential for overcrowding,debris creation,and,ultimately,collisions as the most-useful orbital altitudes steadily approach their carrying capacit

5、ies.Space operators must maneuver their satellites to avoid potential collisions,which imposes additional fuel costs and shortens the life span of the satellites.These shortened life spans not only increase costs but also result in added debris if the defunct satellites cannot be disposed of sustain

6、ably.Moreover,studies estimate that tens of thousands of additional satellites will likely be launched into low earth orbit by 2030,which would further increase the risk of collisions and threaten the sustainable use of Earths orbits.The New Space Era has brought significant advancements in security