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Security in Space The Next Generation - UNIDIR

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much depend on the <strong>in</strong>tegrity and reliability of space-based systems and<br />

services.<br />

In summary, air-traffi c management and space-bound traffi c management<br />

are highly <strong>in</strong>terdependent, and both will be very much dependent <strong>in</strong> the<br />

future on space-based systems. Because orbital traffi c management (to avoid<br />

collisions and <strong>in</strong>terferences) is essential to ensure the <strong>in</strong>tegrity of spacebased<br />

systems, <strong>in</strong>tegrated air and space traffi c management is essential<br />

for ensur<strong>in</strong>g aviation safety and public safety. Assign<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />

coord<strong>in</strong>ation and control of near-space traffi c management to ICAO,<br />

<strong>in</strong>stead of a separate <strong>in</strong>ternational space organization, would br<strong>in</strong>g about<br />

obvious advantages <strong>in</strong> terms of synergy and effi ciency.<br />

INTEGRATION OF AVIATION AND SPACE INFRASTRUCTURES AND SERVICES<br />

Similarly to traffi c management <strong>in</strong>tegration, the trend to operate aerospacecraft<br />

for space tourism from dual-use ground <strong>in</strong>frastructure (airport/<br />

spaceport), requires a well-<strong>in</strong>tegrated <strong>in</strong>ternational regulatory framework<br />

both for fl ightworth<strong>in</strong>ess certifi cation and ground operations, which a s<strong>in</strong>gle<br />

organization (the ICAO) could better achieve than separate <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />

space and aviation organizations. Such <strong>in</strong>tegration would become<br />

unavoidable as soon as the space tourism <strong>in</strong>dustry starts offer<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t-topo<strong>in</strong>t<br />

<strong>in</strong>ternational fl ights (via outer space).<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are then further areas of <strong>in</strong>tegration and common <strong>in</strong>terest. While<br />

it is well known that terrestrial weather forecasts are essential also for<br />

space system safety dur<strong>in</strong>g launch and re-entry operations, only recently<br />

has the aviation community become <strong>in</strong>terested and <strong>in</strong>deed concerned<br />

about dissem<strong>in</strong>ation of space weather forecasts, and plann<strong>in</strong>g of related<br />

operational responses.<br />

<strong>Space</strong> weather is a collective term for radiation from a number of vary<strong>in</strong>g<br />

conditions on the Sun plus cosmic rays, which have potential serious effects<br />

on electronic systems and on human be<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />

As airl<strong>in</strong>e cross-polar traffi c (above 78 o N) <strong>in</strong>creases, the aviation <strong>in</strong>dustry<br />

is becom<strong>in</strong>g concerned about a number of safety-related issues such as<br />

disruption <strong>in</strong> high-frequency communications, navigation system errors, the<br />

risk of failure of avionics and radiation hazards for crews. <strong>The</strong> same concern<br />

exists for high-altitude fl ights above 50 o N (for example space tourism). <strong>The</strong><br />

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