New generation space vehicle operations in the united arab emirates - an airspace and risk assessment

Abstract

The objective of this study is to better understand how New Generation Space Vehicle Operations (NGSVO) may impact a highly dense and compact 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 initiatives 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, reentry and landing is foreseen. NGSVO will have a significant impact on existing Air Traffic Management (ATM) operations, negatively affecting levels of safety, fuel consumption, and carbon dioxide footprint of regular air traffic. Given the future expected rise in NGSVO, the traditional means of protecting civil aviation traffic from Space Vehicle Operations needs to be addressed and a new more efficient method developed to satisfy the safety requirements related to the insertion of these proposed NGSVO into the civilian ATM environment. Airspace closure is an antiquated method that addresses only one aspect of safety associated with previous debris dispersion model in case of an in-flight breakup or explosion. By applying more advanced ATM concepts such as Trajectory Based Operation (TBO), Advanced Flexible Use of Airspace (AFUA), and dynamic sectorization, and by making smaller adjustments to the aircraft during its ascent/descent phase, the NGSVO would efficiently utilize the surrounding airspace more effectively without hindering other operations. This would lead the way to integration, rather than segregation. However, to establish a benchmark for future comparisons, the current study applies the traditional approach of temporarily restricting a portion of UAE airspace to accommodate a specific type of space vehicle operations. Results of future studies applying more sophisticated and advanced ATM concepts can then be compared to results in the current study to identify operational gains. Proper coordination with the UAE's military agencies would further support efforts to protect civil aviation traffic from future NGSVO. © 2022 ICAS. All Rights Reserved.

keywords Air Traffic Management, Environment, Risk Assessment, Space Port, Space Vehicle Operation, Trajectory Based Operation