Guardians of the Galaxy: U.S. Ambitions to Expand Space Awareness Beyond Earth's Orbit

Objective 3: Extend U.S. space situational awareness capabilities into Cislunar space

SSA is essential to safe and successful spacecraft operations in all orbits, including in Cislunar space. SSA data, for example, help satellite operators avoid collisions with other satellites or debris, support rendezvous and proximity operations, and enable the identification of anomalous, irresponsible, or potentially dangerous spacecraft operations and space weather phenomena of significance. Expanded SSA capabilities will also provide benefits to, and benefit from, future missions to detect and warn of incoming potentially hazardous asteroids. The U.S. government will aim to understand the long-term effects of growing human activities on the Cislunar environment, and to preserve a safe and sustainable environment in Cislunar space—such as limiting debris in Lunar orbit. The following sub-objectives will advance this objective:

Evaluate SSA needs, priorities, and existing gaps for extending current SSA capabilities into Cislunar space. Though there are designs for preliminary program architectures, a comprehensive framework for the SSA R&D needs for Cislunar space remains undeveloped. The United States will support R&D to advance technology useful for Cislunar SSA, including improved monitoring methods and better understanding of Cislunar orbit families and spacecraft dynamics. In pursuing this work, the United States will leverage work undertaken across the Federal government, the private sector, and relevant standards developing organizations. The United States should pursue cooperation with all entities operating in Cislunar space to identify and track emerging requirements, and make recommendations for SSA and transparency improvements.

Develop or improve current ground-based sensors, and demonstrate cost-effective space-based and Lunar surface sensors, as needed. The United States should advance Cislunar SSA by initially identifying an architecture that optimizes terrestrial, Lunar-based, and space-based sensors, then leveraging existing ground-based sensors and developing new ground-based sensors as needed. Existing sensors should be investigated to determine if upgrades and/or modification to sensor software and hardware can improve detection of objects in Cislunar space. The U.S. government will support demonstrations of new, cost-effective terrestrial sensing capabilities optimized for Cislunar space, as well as continue developing and testing cost-effective space-based sensors for Cislunar SSA. These in-space tests should leverage orbits available in Cislunar space that can potentially enhance SSA capabilities. U.S. government organizations will leverage partnerships with the private sector to reduce the cost of Cislunar SSA capabilities.

Increase cooperation and data-exchanges with other users of Cislunar space. The scale and geometry of Cislunar space makes global networks of diverse sensors valuable to robust SSA, highlighting the value of international and private sector collaboration. The United States will pursue Cislunar SSA sharing with international collaborators, private sector actors, and academic institutions operating in Cislunar space. This could include joint research and development efforts, joint efforts on standards, and other areas. Due to the global importance of Cislunar SSA, the U.S. government will explore opportunities to increase the volume and speed of science and avoid duplication while coordinating critical overall efforts.

Develop an integrated Cislunar object catalog. Data formatting and standards between the U.S. government and private and international space missions will need to be coordinated to ensure compatibility. The U.S. government will develop and maintain an integrated catalog of Cislunar objects, both natural and human-made, utilizing data from all available sources and in collaboration with private entities. The catalog should include human-made objects on the Lunar surface. The catalog should also include information about objects that can aid in assuring compatible coexistence with spacecraft and scientific investigations, including those from the Shielded Zone of the Moon. If possible, satellite operators should periodically provide their planned maneuvers and trajectories to the catalog.

Develop procedures for publicly sharing Cislunar space situational awareness data, as well as navigation and spaceflight safety support in Cislunar space. Consistent with national policy, including Space Policy Directive-3, the U.S. government will continue to share SSA information and provide basic spaceflight safety services to all space operators. A civilian open data platform will be used to leverage Cislunar SSA data and services provided from a variety of government, commercial, academic, and international sources. Additional discovery and characterization of potentially hazardous objects may leverage the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Minor Planet Center, the longstanding U.S. contribution via NASA’s Office of Planetary Defense.