Europe’s space tracking program gains momentum
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European Union officials and industry leaders are increasing support for the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) program as the future of the US Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) remains uncertain.
Approximately 95 percent of European satellite operators currently use the EU SST program to exchange data and avoid collisions. The EU is also drafting laws that will require companies operating satellites for European purposes to participate in the program.
Four new nations, Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Luxembourg, joined the EU SST in June, bringing the total number of participating governments to 19, up from five in 2016. These countries, along with Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Sweden, cooperate with the EU Agency for the Space Programme to manage collective space programs.
The EU SST uses a network of around 70 radars and telescopes, primarily owned by national militaries, to monitor space and warn operators of potential collisions, re-entry risks, and debris events. While funding details are not fully public, officials expect an increase in investment in the 2028-2034 budget as European militaries prioritize building independent space capabilities. This year, contracts with eight commercial providers of space situational awareness data are valued at about $700 million.
