Space Policy and Safety

3 reports
Research on Space Policy and Safety examines the missions, hardware, operations, policy, and engineering needed for science beyond Earth. Performance and scientific value are assessed through orbital debris, planetary protection, and space resource policy, with calibration and engineering limits shaping the usable evidence.

Space law and launch licensing reveal where results converge and where they diverge. The comparison asks which laws govern space activity and how launches are licensed, separating design goals from performance demonstrated in operation.

Starlink Satellites Face Near-Constant Collision Avoidance in Orbit

SpaceX's Starlink satellites have performed hundreds of thousands of collision avoidance maneuvers in the past year, highlighting the growing challenge of managing orbital traffic and the risks posed by increasing satellite numbers

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Satellite Neutron Detection Proposed for Nuclear Treaty Verification

A new analysis suggests that satellites equipped with neutron detectors could remotely identify nuclear materials in orbit, offering a potential method to verify compliance with the Outer Space Treaty and address emerging security concerns

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SpaceX Starship Flight 13 to Test Starlink V3 Deployment

SpaceX is preparing to launch Starship Flight 13 from Starbase, Texas, aiming to deploy 20 Starlink Version 3 satellites and test upgraded booster recovery systems in a mission scheduled for July 16

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