Large Constellations: New Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainability and Space Traffic Management

Space assets provide services that deliver significant social and economic benefits to humankind while enabling the monitoring of our planet’s condition. As our lives become increasingly interconnected through satellite-enabled services and access to space becomes easier, outer space can be regarded as an extension of Earth's biosphere. In this context, the long-term sustainability of space activities will only be achievable if spacefaring nations adopt a change in behavior and embrace responsible stewardship of the space environment.

Large satellite constellations are creating new opportunities and services, including global broadband internet access and seamless connectivity worldwide. At the same time, however, the number of objects orbiting Earth is growing exponentially, following a trend that resembles many of the environmental pressures observed in Earth's natural systems.

This rapid increase in orbital objects demands more rigorous approaches to Space Traffic Management and the establishment of stronger mitigation measures to reduce the risk of collisions and preserve the long-term usability of space as a global commons.

This panel will explore the opportunities and challenges for space sustainability and space traffic management arising from the deployment of large satellite constellations. Together with representatives of major satellite operators, we will discuss recent advances in operational practices for space traffic coordination, particularly for large constellations, as well as the new Space Traffic Management infrastructure supported by the Italian Space Agency and the technical mitigation requirements introduced through the Italian Space Law.

The discussion will also address emerging challenges in Space Situational Awareness and the broader governance frameworks needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of space activities.

Programme

Moderator:
Prof.ssa Camilla Colombo, Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano

Ashutosh Pandey, VP Group Quality Eutelsat

Germano Bianchi, Telecommunication engineer INAF

Colonel Giuseppe Pariti, CSSA-COA (Space Situational Awareness Centre), Aerospace Operations Command, Poggio Renatico (Ferrara)

Luca Spazzacampagna, System Engineer Telespazio *

ASI - Italian Space Agency *

Amazon LEO *

IRIS 2 *

* Speaker participation subject to confirmation