Composite from Slingshot’s LEO-focused Horus optical fences. (Slingshot Aerospace)
In a move that promises to reshape how the world keeps tabs on satellites and space debris, Slingshot Aerospace has recently scored a $13.3 million contract from the US Commerce Department.
The Colorado-based company is tasked with developing a sleek, user-friendly web portal for the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), a key piece of technology aimed at making space traffic management more accessible and civilian-focused.
Think of it as air traffic control—but for orbiting satellites and space junk.
Slingshot’s new web-based interface, based on their “Slingshot Beacon” software, will serve as the public-facing tool for accessing the TraCSS database.
It’s all part of a larger effort to shift traffic coordination responsibilities from the Pentagon to the Commerce Department.
By 2025, TraCSS.gov is expected to be up and running, replacing the Defense Department’s Space-track.org for commercial satellite operators.
Making Space Data User-Friendly
This isn’t just a boring database upgrade, according to reports, as Slingshot’s interface is designed to bring space tracking into the modern age.
Richard DalBello, who heads the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC), described the interface as a way to make “technical data accessible via a modern interface reflecting the latest innovations in software and user experience design.”
In a move that promises to reshape how the world keeps tabs on satellites and space debris, Slingshot Aerospace has recently scored a $13.3 million contract from the US Commerce Department.
The Colorado-based company is tasked with developing a sleek, user-friendly web portal for the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), a key piece of technology aimed at making space traffic management more accessible and civilian-focused.
Think of it as air traffic control—but for orbiting satellites and space junk.
Slingshot’s new web-based interface, based on their “Slingshot Beacon” software, will serve as the public-facing tool for accessing the TraCSS database.
It’s all part of a larger effort to shift traffic coordination responsibilities from the Pentagon to the Commerce Department.
By 2025, TraCSS.gov is expected to be up and running, replacing the Defense Department’s Space-track.org for commercial satellite operators.
Making Space Data User-Friendly
This isn’t just a boring database upgrade, according to reports, as Slingshot’s interface is designed to bring space tracking into the modern age.
Richard DalBello, who heads the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC), described the interface as a way to make “technical data accessible via a modern interface reflecting the latest innovations in software and user experience design.”
In simpler terms? It’ll be easier for satellite operators to track what’s going on in orbit—whether it’s avoiding a collision with space debris or coordinating with other satellites—all from an intuitive, polished platform.
Slingshot Aerospace has been awarded a $13.3M contract by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC) to develop the Presentation Layer for the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) – the future of space traffic coordination!… pic.twitter.com/dlhFaDoDLK
If you think space is big enough that we don’t need to worry about traffic jams, think again.
With more satellites launching every year and debris from old missions cluttering up orbits, the risk of on-orbit collisions is growing.
That’s where TraCSS and Slingshot come in.
Slingshot Aerospace has been working with OSC for years to help build out expertise in using open-source data—gathered from commercial and non-military telescopes and radars—to predict potential collisions and warn satellite operators ahead of time.
Their work has included previous data-gathering initiatives, like the Consolidated Pathfinder project and other collaborations with NASA and the Pentagon.
A Win for Collaboration
This contract is a testament to how partnerships between public agencies and private companies can accelerate progress.
Originally, the Department of Defense managed space traffic coordination, but under Space Policy Directive 3 (SPD-3) issued in 2018, those duties were handed to OSC.
The TraCSS program is a critical step in this transition, with Slingshot playing a leading role.
“Deploying the TraCSS user interface is the next major step in operationalizing U.S. civil space traffic coordination, first codified in Space Policy Directive 3,” said Audrey Schaffer, Slingshot’s vice president of strategy and policy. “Slingshot is proud to partner with the Office of Space Commerce in delivering spaceflight safety services to the world.”
Looking Ahead
With the TraCSS interface in development, the goal is clear: make space safer and more manageable for everyone.
🚨Slingshot Orbital Alert 🚨
The Slingshot Global Sensor Network is actively tracking the debris cloud related to the October 19, 2024 breakup of Intelsat’s 33e (NORAD ID: 41748) GEO satellite at 60 degrees E. The satellite was eight years into its 15-year mission, having… pic.twitter.com/4tr3Y542ev
As the commercial space industry grows and near-Earth orbit becomes busier, tools like this will be essential for avoiding chaos. And thanks to Slingshot Aerospace, the future of space traffic control is looking a lot more user-friendly.
So, whether you’re a satellite operator or just someone curious about the growing challenges of managing space, keep an eye on TraCSS.gov—it might just be the tool that keeps the final frontier running smoothly.
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