NearSpace Traffic Management - A concept to accommodate hypersonic flights

Abstract

Operational safety is the most important requirement for managing traffic in NearSpace or at High Altitudes above FL660 (66.000 ft.). This region is essential to perform hypersonic flights but it also has to accommodate a variety of other operating modes with very different kind of users, including High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) and transiting spaceflights. A concept based on so-called 4D operating zones is suggested and will be defined, which enables a combination of a trajectory-based and performance-based traffic management. As a key element of such a concept, performance criteria associated with the type of vehicle and its intended mission will determine the size of each operating zone, taking into account the type of flight operation, the planned trajectory patterns and the uncertainty in the prediction of its position. This presentation will introduce the requirements to and related concepts for an extended traffic management for the NearSpace region, taking into account the challenges of interfacing Air Traffic Management and Space Traffic Management in this specific region. Roles and responsibilities will be addressed as as well as suggested Air and Space Traffic Services.