Space Weather Advisory Group User Needs Survey: Preliminary Results from the Space Traffic Management/Coordination Sector

NOAA established the Federal Advisory Group (SWAG) to advise the Office of Science and Technology Policy Space Weather Operations Research and Mitigation (SWORM) Subcommittee in accordance with the 2020 Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act (PL-116-181). The PROSWIFT Act requires the SWAG to conduct a comprehensive user needs survey to identify the space weather research, observations, forecasting, prediction, and modeling advances required to improve space weather products. The survey shall further assess the adequacy of Federal Government goals for lead time, accuracy, coverage, timeliness, data rate, and data quality for space weather observations and forecasting.

During Fall 2023, SWAG with support from the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI), will convene focus groups of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite operators and supporting entities to obtain feedback on their use of space weather information and how space weather information services can be improved. The survey will be conducted with both in-person and remote (via webex) participants. Voluntary participants are being solicited from entities representing: large constellation operators, collision avoidance/maneuver services, launch service providers, imagery/data/analytics providers, and services such as on-orbit refueling and orbit debris removal.

Participants will engage in moderated discussion of 18 questions designed by SWAG to gauge the level of familiarity with current space weather observations, information, and services; how they are used to reduce risk and promote resilience to space weather; and what new or improved products and services would support enhanced resilience of the power grid to space weather.

This talk will provide preliminary results of the SWAG Space Traffic Management/Coordination Sector Survey and will discuss follow-on activities and next steps for SWAG and the space weather community.