The future of space traffic coordination: simplifying collision avoidance based on protocols.

Orbital congestion is an indisputable fact. Simply by looking at the mega-constellation plans, everyone can recognise the need for governance of space traffic. Governance comes in many forms: the Zero Debris Charter, the Artemis Accords, the UN Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities Guidelines, or the Best Practices for the Sustainability of Space Operations.

How to streamline in-orbit coordination between active satellites?

The "rules of the road" and coordination agreements are turned into operational practice with OKAPI:Astrolabe. Astrolabe facilitates critical event coordination between satellite operators through streamlined rule-setting, maneuver execution, and an in-platform chat. More importantly, Astrolabe offers protocols that specify which spacecraft is supposed to maneuver under which circumstances, eliminating the need for case-by-case negotiations.

This tailored rule-setting is done through three types of protocols, each customizable and flexible.

Astrolabe's protocol system

Bilateral protocols

Created by direct agreement between operators, bilateral protocols only apply to conjunctions between those two operators and can include very spacecraft- and orbit-specific rules. This means you can craft protocols specifically tailored to the conjunctions you have with a specific counterpart, automating already existing formal and informal agreements.

Examples of bilateral protocol rules:

• If the calculated collision probability is between 1e-6 and 1e-5, you maneuver. If it is higher, then I maneuver.
• In a conjunction between TurboSat and SnailSat, TurboSat always maneuvers.
• The satellite that is not part of a constellation maneuvers. If both are in a constellation, then the satellite with the lower cross-section maneuvers.
• If TCA is less than 36 hours in the future, we negotiate. Otherwise, we take turns.

Global protocols

Global protocols have a wider scope by making your rules available for everyone else to follow. This is especially useful for operators with larger constellations, who want to agree on a coordination strategy with all counterparts they have frequent conjunctions with.

Baseline protocols

Baseline protocols are more generic, pre-defined based on recommendations by authorities and the community. They are designed to apply to most conjunction events and are available for all operators to subscribe to. They serve as a fallback for all cases in which no specific bilateral or global protocols are in place.

Two baseline protocols already implemented, based on best practices by the Space Safety Coalition:

• Assignment based on maneuvering capabilities: The spacecraft with the better maneuvering capabilities maneuvers. A vehicle with automated collision avoidance maneuvers first; vehicles that can easily change orbit maneuver before vehicles with only limited orbital adjustment capability.
• Assignment based on mission phase: If both spacecraft have the same maneuvering capabilities but one is in the nominal mission phase while the other is not, then the spacecraft not in the nominal mission phase maneuvers. This captures the idea that satellites passing through an orbit should not disturb the missions of resident satellites.

Since there cannot be one single protocol that works for all vehicles in your fleet, OKAPI:Astrolabe allows you to use different protocols for different satellites, based on their properties and their orbits.

Curious to see protocols in action? Get in touch with our team and schedule a demo.