Pentagon Ready To Hand Over Space Traffic Duties To The US Commerce Department

As they prepare for the handover to the Commerce Department, military space watchers and traffic managers face a daunting workload due to increasing congestion in space. Credit: U.S. Air Force/Capt. Christopher Merian 

Space News: U.S. military keeps sharp eyes on orbit as congestion grows 

DoD ready to hand over space traffic duties to Commerce but transition path still unclear 

U.S. Space Command crews at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, keep watch over more than 27,000 objects on orbit, estimate the probability of collisions and send warnings to satellite operators. 

These space traffic management duties will be handed to the Commerce Department in the near future, depending on when Congress authorizes and funds the effort. 

But as they prepare for the handover to Commerce, military space watchers and traffic managers face a daunting workload due to increasing congestion in space. 

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WNU Editor: Most of the satellites in space are commercial. It makes sense that the US Commerce should take responsibility for tracking what is up there.