Space Vehicle Debris Threat Management ConOps Presentation to COMSTAC Space Transportation Operations Working Group

1. Federal Aviation Administration Space Vehicle Debris Threat Management ConOps Presentation to COMSTAC Space Transportation Operations Working Group Megan Mitchell Office of Commercial Space Transportation 18 May 2010

2. Subject Matter Relevance to STOWG • In response to RTCA’s TF-5, FAA has a new effort, just started, entitled, National Special Activity Airspace (SAA) Project SAA definition: • Any airspace with defined dimensions within the NAS wherein limitations may be imposed upon aircraft operations • This airspace may be restricted areas, prohibited areas, military operations areas, ATC assigned airspace, and any other designated airspace areas • Commercial space operations airspace (domestic and oceanic / remote area) will be part of this new SAA definition • AST is requesting recommendations from the STOWG regarding how to share data on CST operations in the NAS, and whether our proposed procedures are adequate.

3. Subject Matter Relevance to SC-206 / WG-76 • SAA is Not yet an ICAO / EUROCONTROL term • Need SC-206 / WG-76 assistance to ensure that space-based airspace is addressed in the SPR (ED 3?) airspace and as an “AIS Product Type” that can be data linked to aircraft. • Recommendations regarding how best to display NOTAM, data, graphical depictions etc. to flight crews, • What flight technical procedures are needed to safely avoid these areas

4. Commercial Space and NextGen • While experimental launch and reentry vehicles may continue to require special handling, operational launch and reentry vehicles should lend themselves to more operational airspace management solutions • Space launches and reentries are currently unique and infrequent enough to warrant special handling, but that will change soon • Goal is to minimize airspace impacts and standardize approaches, while maximizing safety • NextGen enabling technologies should benefit commercial space • Increased situational awareness is essential

5. AIS Data Linked Space NOTAMs • Critical enabling NextGen technology for operational airspace management around space operations • Application of graphical cockpit-based information system to notify and provide depictions of space vehicle operations to NAS stakeholders • Draft concept of operations for domestic/oceanic Space Vehicle Debris Management • Further development of procedures to safely integrate space operations with oceanic / remote area civil flight operations may require an Ad Hoc group / technical discussions • Future draft document will address Global Harmonization

6. Potential Data Link System Level Architecture Air-to-Ground (Downlink) Air-to-Air (Crosslink) Satellite Link Air-to-Air (Crosslink) Air-to-Ground Ground-to-Air (Uplink/Downlink) Ground-based Network • Current Proposals • Potential Future Implementations Ground Transceiver

7. How Does AIS-DL Fit Into Space and Air Traffic Management ConOps? • AIS-DL provides means to approach problem from both directions • ADS-B DL has been identified as a potential enabling technology for transmitting space vehicle state data to ground-based systems (air-to-ground link) • AIS DL has been identified as a potential enabling technology for transmitting ground-computed data to the cockpit (ground-to-air link) • AIS-DL provides the potential for cockpit-based risk mitigation • Air-to-air and ground-to-air transmission of timely data provides cockpit situational awareness and decision support tools to VFR and IFR flight operations, globally

8. Challenges • Technical limitations may exist: • Equipment weight • Data rates, data integrity, antenna placement, plasma interference… • Contingency procedures development for aircraft flight crews • Flight crew coordination with ATC, where available • Moving aircraft without proper planning could increase risks • For example, flight operations along busy North Atlantic Track System will require careful analysis and discussion before suitable procedures can be developed for a “mass turn back” procedure • Technical standards leading to applicable guidance is considered essential to enabling NAS & global interoperability

9. Questions?

10. Proposed AIS Space Vehicle Application • Nominal operations • Ground-based system publishes planned space vehicle trajectory • Space vehicle broadcasts actual trajectory state data • Ground-based system and equipped aircraft receive space vehicle data • Ground-based system computes and broadcasts AIS NOTAM containing predicted debris hazard areas • Equipped aircraft receive broadcast space vehicle trajectory data and predicted debris hazard areas from ground and graphically display them onboard • Receipt and display of space vehicle trajectory data could help mitigate risk of collision w/ space vehicle • Receipt and display of predicted debris hazard area could help mitigate risk of aircraft impact with falling debris, allowing aircraft to plan to avoid these areas

11. Proposed AIS Space Vehicle Application (cont’d) • In the event of a space vehicle failure that produces falling debris • Ground-based system computes and broadcasts AIS NOTAM containing estimated debris hazard area • Equipped aircraft receive AIS NOTAM from ground and graphically display hazard area boundary onboard • Receipt and graphical display of estimated debris hazard area could help mitigate risk of aircraft impact with falling debris, providing information to allow aircraft to effectively maneuver to avoid these areas

12. Example Cockpit Graphical Display Predicted or actual debris hazard area Actual trajectory