Trump plans to shut key office that prevent satellite collisions in space

India Today

09-07-2025

Hundreds of US space companies, including industry giants SpaceX and Amazon's Kuiper, have urged Congress to reject the Trump administration's proposal to slash funding for a key federal office that manages satellite traffic and prevents collisions in orbit.The move threatens to dismantle the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), a civilian initiative designed to safeguard the increasingly congested space environment.advertisementThe White House's 2026 budget proposal seeks to cut funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Space Commerce (OSC) from $65 million in 2025 to just $10 million—an 84% reduction.
This drastic cut would effectively terminate TraCSS, which was launched under President Trump's first administration to centralise satellite tracking and collision avoidance, shifting responsibility away from the Department of Defense (DoD).
Experts warn that cutting TraCSS funding would cede U.S. leadership in space traffic management. (Photo: Getty)
In a joint letter to the Senate committee overseeing NOAA, 450 companies from seven industry groups warned that eliminating TraCSS would increase risks for U.S. commercial and government satellite operators, jeopardising critical missions and raising operational costs. They cautioned that such a move could drive the U.S. space industry to relocate overseas.The rise of massive satellite constellations like SpaceX's Starlink and intensified military and commercial activity have made space traffic management more vital than ever.Currently, about 12,000 active satellites share orbit with thousands of pieces of debris, creating a high risk of collisions. TraCSS was intended to serve as a civilian 'air traffic control' system for space, coordinating data from the DoD and private companies to prevent accidents.Experts warn that cutting TraCSS funding would cede U.S. leadership in space traffic management to other countries, such as China and Europe, which are developing their own systems. Audrey Schaffer of Slingshot Aerospace emphasized that coordination is essential to avoid a fragmented global system.
Currently, about 12,000 active satellites share orbit with thousands of pieces of debris. (Photo: Getty)
The Pentagon's existing space tracking system, Space-Track, is primarily military-focused, and officials argue that civilian space traffic management should be separate to avoid conflating safety with national security interests.Despite TraCSS's beta rollout in 2024, the Trump administration argues that private companies now have the capability to manage space traffic independently and that the government should step back.advertisementHowever, industry groups maintain that providing a free, basic space situational awareness service is a core government function vital to national security and commercial competitiveness.Congress now faces a critical decision on whether to preserve this crucial space safety program amid growing orbital congestion and geopolitical competition.- EndsMust Watch