The future of the TraCSS space traffic coordination system is being discussed in the US
Discussions have intensified in the United States over the future of the TraCSS space traffic coordination system, which the Department of Commerce is developing to take over some functions for monitoring civilian and commercial space operations from military structures. The program’s future funding is being discussed during preparations for the fiscal year 2028 budget, Breaking Defense reports.
TraCSS was announced nearly 10 years ago, and spending on the program has approached $200 million. Its goal was to allow the Pentagon to focus resources on potential threats in orbit, while transferring civilian and commercial tracking operations to the Department of Commerce. At the same time, the system still operates as a pilot project.
Funding for 2026–2027
In its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, the White House proposed cutting the budget of the US Office of Space Commerce from $65 million in 2025 to $10 million. Congress instead allocated $50 million to the office, of which approximately $40 million was to go toward continuing TraCSS.
For fiscal year 2027, the Department of Commerce requested $11 million for the office, including $1 million to move the TraCSS pilot system to a containerized format. The administration is also considering a new operational and financial model, including possible user fees. In May, the House Appropriations Committee provided $50 million for the office and separately called for TraCSS to continue, while the Senate committee has not yet made a decision.
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Scenarios for TraCSS
Government representatives, industry members and experts interviewed by the publication believe that maintaining the program’s current state is unacceptable. Critics note that TraCSS has not yet incorporated commercial data and space situational awareness analytics into its operational base.
One scenario involves shutting down TraCSS and discontinuing a similar US Department of Defense service so that satellite operators would purchase data and analytics from private companies. Critics of this approach believe that not all operators will want to or be able to pay for such services, which could increase the risk of collisions in orbit.
Another option is to eliminate TraCSS but retain the Pentagon’s existing services that provide data and warnings of possible collisions to commercial, civilian and foreign operators. These functions for non-military operators are currently performed by the 18th Space Defense Squadron at Vandenberg Base in California. Replacing TraCSS with a system owned by the government or a contractor and operating under a government contract is also being considered. Industry participants fear that without a clear decision, the system will remain a pilot project while the number of satellites and hazardous space debris in orbit grows.
