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Part 2 of this Space Safety and Sustainability report outlines urgent strategies for the United States to enhance space traffic coordination amid rapid satellite growth. It proposes a three-pillar approach: establishing clear domestic policies for data sharing; investing in advanced technologies like AI for space operations; and exporting US standards internationally. The authors emphasize a proactive approach to ensure the long-term safety, security, and sustainability of the orbital commons.

Key Takeaways

  • Urgency for coordinated action: The rapid increase in satellite launches, combined with the current lack of standardized international regulations and data sharing practices, creates significant risks for orbital safety. The US has a unique opportunity to lead in establishing standardized protocols for space traffic coordination to prevent potentially catastrophic collisions and sustain the orbital environment.
  • Three strategic pillars for improvement:
  1. Domestic policy: establishing civil space traffic coordination infrastructure, and modernizing licensing rules to make satellite location data sharing among operators consistent, comprehensive, and actionable.
  2. Domestic technology: leveraging advanced technologies like AI-driven decision making and novel sensing for better surveillance and management of space traffic.
  3. International leadership: exporting US standards and facilitating global cooperation through open, interoperable systems to create a stable and predictable orbital environment.
  • Lifecycle-based space traffic coordination: A lifecycle-based approach to managing satellites means treating operations, from launch to decommissioning, like a traffic system. This includes the proactive management of on-orbit activities and responsible end-of-life disposal strategies to reduce space debris and improve sustainability.
  • Investment in technology: Increased funding for AI, machine learning, data fusion, sensing, and on-orbit servicing technologies is essential for enhancing space situational awareness and enabling autonomous operations. This investment would improve risk assessment, enhance decision making, and automate processes around collision avoidance and debris management.
  • Global standards and collaboration: The US should leverage its position as a leader in space operations to develop and promote global standards for space safety. By taking the first-mover advantage, it can encourage other nations and private entities to adopt compatible systems and practices, fostering a safer and more cooperative international framework for space exploration and commerce.

Space Safety and Sustainability, Part II: Recommendations by Hoover Institution

Cite this report:

Simone D'Amico, Tycho Bogdanowitsch, Walter J. Manuel, Yuji Takubo, and Rebecca Wang, “Space Safety and Sustainability, Part II: Recommendations,” Technology Policy Accelerator, Hoover Institution, June 2026.

 

About the Authors

Simone D’Amico, science fellow at the Hoover Institution, is associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University. He is the founding director of the Stanford Space Rendezvous Laboratory and founding codirector of the Center for Aerospace Autonomy Research (CAESAR). His research focuses on multi-satellite autonomy and controls for formation flying, swarming, proximity operations and constellations.

Tycho Bogdanowitsch is a master’s student in Stanford’s Aeronautics and Astronautics Department, specializing in spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control. He has worked at Space Capital, a venture firm focused on the space economy, and at start-ups including Apex and Vast.

Walter J. Manuel is a PhD candidate in Stanford’s Aeronautics and Astronautics Department and a member of the Stanford Space Rendezvous Lab. His research focuses on enabling autonomous distributed space systems and improving space domain awareness in cislunar environments. 

Yuji Takubo is a PhD candidate in the Space Rendezvous Laboratory at Stanford University. His research focuses on optimization and astrodynamics, particularly with emphasis on distributed space systems. He is a Stanford Emerging Technology Review Student Fellow (2025) and an Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation Fellow (2020–).

Rebecca Wang is a PhD candidate in Stanford’s Aeronautics and Astronautics Department, specializing in integrity for multi-GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and high-precision positioning. She has previously worked at SpaceX, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and space start-ups including Astranis. 

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