Nearly everyone opposes Trump’s plan to kill space traffic control program

Astrophotography showcasing the Ground-based Electrical Optical Deep Space Surveillance facility, or GEODSS, operated by the 15th Space Surveillance Squadron, Detachment 1, at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, captured August 25, 2022. Credit: Kaitlin Castillo/US Space Force

The Trump administration's plan to gut the Office of Space Commerce and cancel the government's first civilian-run space traffic control program is gaining plenty of detractors.

Earlier this week, seven space industry trade groups representing more than 450 companies sent letters to House and Senate leaders urging them to counter the White House's proposal. A spokesperson for the military's Space Operations Command, which currently has overall responsibility for space traffic management, said it will "continue to advocate" for a civilian organization to take over the Space Force's role as orbital traffic cop.

Giveth and taketh away

The White House's budget request submitted to Congress for ...