The Pentagon is ready to shed the responsibility of orbital tracking and notifications, Ross said, following a lunch Monday with Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson. Ross also met with executives from eight space companies to hear criticism of the current U.S. regulatory framework. “We want to do baby steps,” he said.
Today, 70 nations have assets operating in space, and that number is likely to grow. Ross said the department will consider ways to broaden tracking coverage; it plans to convene an international conference by January to discuss awareness and traffic management with international companies operating in space.
“If we don’t act now, someone else will,” Ross said. When asked whether China and Russia are likely to endorse the Trump administration’s plans for space traffic management, Ross said, “I really don’t know. Hopefully, they will see the need for standards.”
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.