VIA SATELLITE: What are some of the initial steps that the industry needs to take in addressing the seriousness of the collision?
HIGGINBOTHAM: The first thing we need to do is move out aggressively in getting the capabilities in place to identify and track spacecraft and debris on a global basis. It sounds easy, but it is actually quite complex. The technologies do exist. We have been supplying a number of critical components to military and some commercial efforts to attempt to establish elements of this kind of structure. Integral, as well as a number of others in the industry, are trying to provide solutions in terms of being able to integrate and deliver systems that can actually address the issue. We have the command and control, database management and telemetry capabilities as well as tracking and control services available to us now, but on a technical front, we need to move forward with some level of urgency on deploying these capabilities so that we can establish a higher degree of identification, tracking and management of space articles.
We also need political will from both the national and international perspective. For all of this to work, priorities need to be raised in all spacefaring nations in the world to enter into some sort of construct that allows us to share our data and conventions on how to manage space assets. We don’t have either of those on a national or global basis right now.
VIA SATELLITE: What do you believe is the best solution to achieve this kind of coordination?
HIGGINBOTTHAM: I think the most logical solution is a space version of the air traffic control system to achieve space situational awareness with a satellite control. That’s what we don’t have to avoid the kind of situation we’ve seen in the last week. Space traffic control is not a new concept. It is absolutely the right kind of model. In order to accomplish that, we have to have the systems to be able to identify and analyze potential situations as well as the impact and then have ability to take some action in order to avoid this problem.
VIA SATELLITE: Is the debris caused by the collision a matter of concern for the industry?
HIGGINBOTHAM: We still do not understand the full residual implications of the debris field involved and how it can affect other operations in low-Earth orbit. It is a serious matter. It underscores that the debris issue is increasing at an increasing rate that can have adverse, long-term effects for our aspirations both militarily and commercially in space.
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