Applying an Aviation Analogy to Sustained Safe Space Operations

The current framework for aviation safety is a coherent series of airspace classes to partition air safety concerns. This methodology bases performance requirements on the capabilities and purposes of the air vehicles operating in a given volume of airspace in both an absolute sense and relative to other vehicles used in the same region. It is hypothesized that there may be some lessons learned to apply to space safety initiatives from this approach. Primarily, requiring more capable safety credentials for altitudes where resident missions are most critical, and effects of accidents are most consequential is proposed. The term “consequential” not only considers the immediate debris-generating potential and the collision risk it poses to operational missions but also the persistence this collision hazard might have. This persistence issue is a dimension that is unique to space safety vis-a-vis aviation safety. The persistence feature of space operations is examined, highlighting a linkage to orbital capacity calculations. A “LEO airspace” protocol is suggested that is complimentary to ongoing efforts in formulating the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR). As a matter of fact, it might be considered as a way to characterize the minimum safety standards that responsible behavior encouraged by the SSR would serve to maintain. It is hoped that this contribution directly enables sustained safe space operations which, in turn, catalyzes the goal of space sustainability