Surveillance of space: An overview and a vision for Turkey´s roadmap

As the number of satellite launches increases, space debris has become a significant issue for satellite manufacturers, owners and operators. Timely and accurate information regarding possible collisions or near misses is critical not only to avoid spacecraft damage, but also to avoid unnecessary maneuvers or spacecraft downtimes. However, the information about the details and extent of collision risks is obtained from external sources and these data may contain various levels of accuracy, detail, secrecy and continuity depending on the preferences of the supplier countries. In this manner, it is important to initiate a capability to acquire space surveillance data independently for protecting the national space assets which are critical for the economy, security and scientific research. In this study, we review the space surveillance systems and related activities around the world including Turkey. Then we outline the importance of establishing a national space surveillance system and, finally, we propose a basic architecture of such a system and a roadmap to develop it.