A review of international best practices in integrating space launch activities with air traffic management: Guidance for future space launch in the Singapore region

Abstract

The integration of space-based assets into our daily lives has seen a remarkable surge, with numerous industries and sectors heavily relying on satellite communications, remote sensing, and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology. As space emerges as an indispensable commercial domain, several countries and private companies have actively engaged in space activities. Space launch operations involve a collaborative effort among diverse stakeholders, including space agencies, space companies, the military, and aviation sectors. While space launch processes share similarities globally, each country faces unique challenges and adopts distinct mechanisms due to its specificities. Thus, initiating space launch activities requires a thorough examination of a country’s unique features. This includes assessing their impact on existing air traffic, considering safety concerns, implementing temporary restrictions, promoting communication, and mitigating operational disruptions. This is crucial as space launch trajectories intersect with established flight paths, influencing aviation operations. The proposed review aims to explore the details of space launch procedures and policies by various countries, namely the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. The objective is to lay a foundation for establishing future procedures and policies to integrate space launch activities with air traffic, particularly for countries that are new to this field. This is performed by examining international best practices in space launch operations, considering the unique challenges faced by countries, such as geographical location, collaboration with neighbors, and their familiarity with such operations. The examination exposes the diverse approaches and considerations involved in different stages of the space launch activity process, including the pre-mission, execution, and post-mission phases, with an emphasis on the best practices adopted to integrate space launch activities within air traffic. Furthermore, the current review paper aims to evaluate the suitability of potential future space launches initiated from the Singapore Flight Information Region (FIR). Singapore’s equatorial positioning makes it particularly favorable for such initiatives. Nevertheless, the initiation of space launch activities from the Singapore FIR raises significant concerns regarding its potential impact on the substantial volume of air traffic traversing the airspace in regions encompassing Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Moreover, considering Singapore’s recognition as a maritime hub, there are potential implications for maritime traffic. Consequently, this study discusses the potential implications of a future space launch conducted from Singapore FIR on the broader regional landscape. The paper also presents guidance to effectively plan and prepare for future space-launch requirements in the Singapore region. It highlights three key lessons crucial for Singapore to consider if it plans to conduct space launch operations in the future. Firstly, Singapore should establish both independent and collaborative administrative units overseeing safety, operations, licensing, policy, international relations, and spaceports. Secondly, prioritizing national and international safety considerations is fundamental. This can be achieved by implementing a robust risk management framework and fostering efficient regional and cross-border collaboration among stakeholders. Lastly, at the operational level, there is a need for effective collaborative planning processes and communication channels between space launch providers, air traffic control, and authorities to ensure real-time safety and operational efficiency. Furthermore, the present research proposes adopting a mixed air-space integration concept of operation (CONOPS) for the Singapore region, ensuring the safe and efficient conduct of future space launch activities within Singapore’s airspace while coexisting with conventional air traffic. In conclusion, this paper serves as a valuable resource for Singapore as it develops its own space industry. By studying the best practices of leading countries, Singapore can build a robust space ecosystem that prioritizes safety, collaboration, and innovation. It is worth noting that the guidance and recommendations provided regarding space launch activities from the Singapore FIR are for reference only, as there are currently no near-term plans for such activities in the region.