Prototyping operational autonomy for Space Traffic Management

Current state of the art in Space Traffic Management (STM) relies on a handful providers for surveillance and collision prediction, manual coordination between operators. Neither is scalable to support expected 10x increase active spacecraft population less than 10 years, nor does it automated maneuver planning. We present software prototype an STM architecture based open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), drawing insights from NASA's low-altitude Unmanned Aerial System Management. The designed provide structure interactions operators, various regulatory bodies, service suppliers, while maintaining flexibility these ability new market participants enter easily. Autonomy will be indispensable part proposed enabling efficient data sharing, safe flight operations (e.g. select maneuvers prevent impending conjunctions multiple spacecraft). modern micro-service adhering OpenAPI standards deployed industry-standard virtualized containers, facilitating easy communication different or services. system facilitate adding replacing services with minimal disruption. have implemented some example participant space situational awareness/SSA provider, conjunction assessment supplier/CAS, advisor/AMA) within prototype. Different services, creative algorithms folded into them, can fulfill similar functional roles by flexibly connecting using pre-defined APIs models, thereby lowering barrier entry players marketplace. demonstrate scenario maneuverable spacecraft, where CAS AMA recommend optimal reward function. Such tools intelligently search potential avoidance varying parameters like lead time propellant usage, optimize customized function, as scheduling architecture. case study shows autonomous planning API-based framework. As satellite populations predicted increase, seamless information exchange related prediction mitigation among applications platforms servers. availability such network also opens up research topics planning, negotiation across disjoint entities.