The European Defence Agency (EDA) made a key contribution to the new EU report on civilian and military requirements for space traffic management. Tasked by the EU Member States to represent the defence community, the Agency collected and conveyed views of military space operators and other constituents.
As space traffic is increasing with more satellites and debris orbiting around the Earth, closer coordination between civilian, security and defence communities has become essential. To enhance safety and prevent collisions, the EU is developing a clear understanding of what civilian and military space operators require, their constraints, and the potential impact of future trends on space traffic management.
The report outlines general principles for civilian and military actors, as well as a set of requirements from space operators, including on governance, operations, safety, and data-sharing. In defence, these requirements relate for example to operating military satellites and payloads, or civilian satellites used for defence purposes.
EDA identified and harmonised the defence requirements of participating Member States, ensuring that military perspectives are fully integrated into the overall process. This also involved facilitating communication between the military community and other EU institutions.
The report is an important milestone stemming from the EU approach for Space Traffic Management. The requirements will serve as a basis for EU policymakers to shape the implementation and roll out other EU policy initiatives in the field of space safety, sustainability, and space traffic management, while considering EU Member States’ competences in the domain of national security.
By ensuring that military requirements are considered from the outset, EDA helps guarantee that future space traffic management policies are fit for purpose across all user communities. The Agency will continue working with the European Commission, EEAS, and other partners and contribute to the implementation of the requirements.