Space Situational Awareness Agreement Signed

Space Situational Awareness Agreement Signed

space situational awareness

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The U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) has entered into an agreement with the Norwegian Ministry of Defense and Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries to share space situational awareness (SSA) services and information.

According to militaryspot.com, the arrangement will enhance awareness within the space domain and increase the safety of spaceflight operations. It was signed by U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Clinton E. Crosier, the USSTRATCOM director of plans and policy and Norwegian Army Maj. Gen. Odd-Harald Hagen, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense Department of Defense Policy and Long-Term Planning director general, and Arne Benjaminsen, Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries Research and Innovation Department director general.

“Keeping our freedom to navigate as an international norm is best approached via coalitions formed through an intersection of interests,” said Crosier. “Space situational agreements are a prime example of this, helping strengthen our alliances while at the same time increasing our resilience.”

“This situational space awareness understanding is an important milestone for Norway’s development as an active and responsible space nation in the High North and Arctic,” said Hagen.” This represents a practical and symbolic evidence of the strong relationship between our two nations.”

Norway has now joined 12 nations , two intergovernmental organizations and more than 60 commercial satellite owner/operator/launchers already participating in SSA data-sharing agreements with USSTRATCOM.

“Besides defending our nation against threats, we also have to protect the space environment so it is available to current and future generations,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, USSTRATCOM commander. “One of the ways we do that is through space situational awareness. So that our space systems can continue to provide national, military, civil, scientific and economic benefits to the global community.”

“We’ve worked hard over the last couple of years to make the case that we want space to be a domain that is available for everyone to use,” said Crosier. “But to do that we need to understand what is going on in space and the best way to do that is through sharing information,because just like in the air domain, we are stronger when we operate together.”