INTEGRATION OF SPACE VEHICLE OPERATIONS INTO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT – AN IMPACT ANALYSI

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand how future Space Vehicle Operations (SVOs) could be inte grated into a highly dense and small airspace when operating from and to a United Arab Emirates (UAE) spaceport. The National Space Sector is a main pillar of the UAE’s long-term strategic plan towards a knowledge-based economy and a sustainable scientific society. Besides several short and long-term projects spearheaded by the UAE Space Agency and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), commercial space vehicles using the nation´s own spaceport for launch, re-entry and landing is foreseen. In fact, the UAE Space Agency has recently signed an agreement with Virgin Galactic and an MOU with Abu Dhabi Airports regarding the construction of a spaceport in Al-Ain. SVOs will have a significant impact on ATM operations, affecting levels of safety, fuel consumption, and carbon dioxide footprint of regular air traffic. The UAE’s airspace is highly dense and rather small; while approximately 2 000 flights were handled daily in 2019, air traffic is expected to double in terms of aircraft movements and passengers within the next 20 years. The safe and non-disruptive integration of space vehicles – with their specific flights path and trajectory characteristics – into the UAE ATM environment is being investigated in order to identify strategies to minimize the impact on the regular air traffic.

Keywords: Space Vehicle Operation, Space Port, Environment, Risk Assessment, Air Traffic Management, Tra jectory Based Operation