Guest: Dr. Stuart Eves; Topic: Space traffic control and management, debris issues, acoustic eclipse sounds, solid metal rocket fuel and much more. Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com. Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.
We welcomed Dr. Stuart Eves back to the show to discuss space traffic control and management, debris issues. During our one segment 90 minute program (we went over the intended 60 minute schedule), Dr. Eves started the discussion with definitions for the most common terms including space traffic control, space traffic management, space situational awareness, plus the need to complete a comprehensive catalog of LEO and other debris items. We talked about taking active steps toward orbital management which Dr. Eves also defined for us. Regarding active management, he talked about new techniques involving earth based lasers to change orbit to avoid collisions. He also compared some of the issues to those of terrestrial air traffic control. Don’t miss his comparison between the two areas.
Dr. Eves suggested lots of international cooperation because tracking the items was more than one country could do. He cited examples, plus he outlined how such a system might work with objects being handed off to another country when over that country or region. He suggested collaboration and notices similar to air traffic command with NOTAM notices.
We talked about general acceptance of the concept of space traffic management but he did mention areas of resistance or pushback. Our guest made it clear that we needed to get and stay ahead of the situation to avoid a costly and perhaps fatal accident. He took a question from Sharon who asked him for our overall TRL for developing the system he was describing. Stuart suggested we would need more radar as well as ground based telescopes.
Stuart talked about the need for conjunction analysis which he explained, plus he mentioned his book on the subject, “Space Traffic Control.” Regarding the debris issues, Stuart talked extensively about the lack of space salvage law and what that meant for the industry. Don’t miss this discussion.
At this point, we switched topics to that of novel acoustic observations of the recent eclipse. Stuart explained this concept and talked about the Eclipse Soundscape Project which he explained in detail. Our guest put out a call for information on this subject from listeners who experienced audio effects while viewing the recent total eclipse of the sun. He stalked about Lawson, MO being a focal point for such acoustic effects. If you have information on this, please get in touch with Stuart.
Before our program ended, Stuart provided us with a Surrey Satellite technology and launch update report. We talked about satellite markets, cubesats, Indian rockets, and the first SSTL radar satellite. Just before we ended the discussion, a listener sent in a question about the news article he had read re Russia launching bodies to space. We talked about that re the space debris issue plus our guest had some things to say about the Daily Mail. Other last minute questions included one on UK space entrepreneurism, and metallic fuels proposed by Neumann Space in Australia, a previous Space Show guest who will be returning to the show in a few weeks.
Please post your comments/questions for Dr. Eves on The Space Show blog. You can reach Stuart through me or the SSTL website,
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