> There was a very interesting letter to the editor in Space News this week
> on the new Space-Track program, by David Finkleman of Colorado
Springs, called Data Restrictions,...
Here's the letter, posted here with permission and a typo {corrected}:
+++++++++++++
Data Restrictions
Your report of the new Air Force Space-Track service ["U.S. Air Force Web
Site Providing Orbital Data," Jan. 17, page 12] did not reveal the
scope of new restrictions imposed on the U.S. astrodynamics community.
You reported that users must agree not to share the information granted by
Space-Track. The full text is "not to transfer any data, including, but not
limited to, the analysis of tracking data, or other information received
through this Web site or any services described herein to any third party
without the prior express approval of the Secretary of Defense or his
delegatee."
Restrictions on analyses performed with the data will impair the struggling
U.S. space enterprise.
For decades satellite operators could use orbit elements derived from
Defense Department Space Surveillance Network observations. Under a
long-standing formal agreement, NASA distributed orbit data through its
Orbital Information Group (OIG) at Goddard. Dissemination and use of the
data was unrestricted to users in the United States. Similar information is
available to ESA members through the DISCOS service, which derives much of
its content from Air Force space surveillance products.
A five-year journey to expand orbit data access to non-U.S. government
entities climaxed in PL 108-136, Section 91{4}, in the fall of 2003.
Concerned that prior users might be affected, the astrodynamics community
sought guidance on the new processes but received none. Rather than
expanding the availability of information worldwide, the manner in which
this initiative has been implemented imposes new and severe restrictions
even on long-standing NASA OIG subscribers. The OIG process has operated for
decades without ever compromising national security.
PL 108-136 does not require terminating existing data sources such as the
NASA OIG. Nonetheless, the OIG will cease operation on or around April 1,
2005, 90 days from inception of Space-Track. Although there are only about
1,000 OIG users, more than 20,000 others benefit from the subsequent
value-added dissemination and analysis.
The implementation described on the Space-Track Web site could end
value-added subsequent dissemination, encourage alternative satellite
catalogs (marginalizing the United States' unique capability), impair
international efforts to mitigate space debris and prohibit all who use DoD
space surveillance data in their research from discussing or publishing
their work without the approval of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
This was not the intent of PL 108-136.
The issue will climax when the Air Force reveals the criteria for approval
and an objective process for granting approval, hopefully by interacting
with the United States' astrodynamics community. This must happen by April
1, 2005, or the trial period should be extended and the NASA OIG maintained
as long as necessary.
This is a crisis.
David Finkleman
Colorado Springs, Colo.
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