ESA awards contract to OKAPI:Orbits, TU Braunschweig and DLR for space-air traffic integration.

Braunschweig, Germany, 11 March 2026

Developing a harmonized STM–ATM interface to support safe and sustainable aerospace operations

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a contract to OKAPI:Orbits, in collaboration with the Institute of Space Systems from Technische Universität Braunschweig (TU Braunschweig) and the Institute of Flight Guidance from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), to lead a project that will bridge the gap between space traffic coordination (STC) and air traffic management (ATM). This development marks an important step toward integrated operations in an era of growing launch and re-entry activity.

The project responds to the growing interaction between space activities, such as launches and re-entries, and civil aviation. As launch rates increase and orbital congestion grows, air traffic authorities must be able to anticipate and manage space operations in a timely, reliable, and standardized manner. This activity represents an important step toward integrated aerospace operations in Europe.

To achieve this, OKAPI:Orbits, TU Braunschweig, and DLR will together address several key challenges in integrating space and air traffic systems. This includes defining realistic operational scenarios for launches and re-entries, developing methods to quantify uncertainties, and creating tools that allow air traffic management to respond dynamically to space activities. The interface will be designed to support both nominal and off-nominal conditions, including controlled and uncontrolled re-entries, ensuring robust coordination across domains.

Furthermore, the project will deliver prototype software and visualization tools that translate space traffic risks into actionable insights for air traffic services. These capabilities will support near-real-time decision-making and enhance operational resilience. A performance evaluation will validate accuracy, reliability, and scalability, laying the foundation for future standardization and operational deployment across Europe and beyond.

Operational and regulatory context

The need for closer integration between space and air traffic systems has become increasingly evident. An estimated 130 million space debris fragments currently orbit Earth, while only around 40,000 objects are actively catalogued and tracked. As satellite constellations expand and more spacecraft re-enter the atmosphere, the potential impact on aviation safety increases.

Although a recent incident initially led to suspicions of aircraft damage caused by space debris, later investigations showed that the impact had been caused by a component of a high-altitude weather balloon. The attention this case received demonstrated how closely space activities and aviation operations are interconnected, reinforcing the importance of treating airspace and outer space as a connected safety domain.

Alignment with European and global policy

The project supports Europe's evolving regulatory framework. The proposed EU Space Law emphasizes space safety, sustainability, and coordination across sectors, while explicitly recognizing the downstream effects of space activities on aviation and ground safety.

At the international level, the work aligns with the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Long Term Sustainability Guidelines and with cooperation between the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the International Civil Aviation Organization. These initiatives aim to reduce space debris, improve information exchange, and integrate space operations into aviation safety frameworks.

This collaboration brings together complementary expertise: TU Braunschweig, with decades of research in space systems and mission safety, brings scientific expertise in orbital dynamics and risk modeling. DLR contributes its leadership in air traffic management technologies and operational concepts, ensuring compatibility with existing ATM frameworks. Lastly, OKAPI:Orbits adds its experience in space traffic management and space situational awareness, providing solutions that already help satellite operators plan safe and sustainable missions.

While for ESA this initiative is a cornerstone in preparing for the next generation of space operations, where launches and re-entries must coexist seamlessly with global air traffic, it also gives OKAPI:Orbits the opportunity to extend its capabilities beyond space into integrated aerospace operations, contributing to a safer and more sustainable future.

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