T-Minus Space Daily: Supporting the Traffic Coordination System for Space
Hosted by N2K Networks
Release Date: August 9, 2025

Introduction to TRAKS Funding Issue

In the August 9, 2025 episode of T-Minus Space Daily, host Maria Varmazas delves into the precarious state of the Office of Space Commerce and its pivotal Traffic Coordination System for Space, commonly known as TRAKS. The episode begins with an overview of recent budget proposals threatening the future of TRAKS:

Maria Varmazas [00:54]: "June 2025, NOAA's fiscal year 2026 budget proposal planned to gut the Office of Space Commerce and terminate federal funding for the traffic coordination system for Space, better known as TRAKS. Without a credible, well-resourced civilian authority, does the United States risk losing its leadership role in shaping the future of space?"

This declaration sets the stage for a critical discussion on the implications of defunding TRAKS and the potential ramifications for U.S. leadership in space governance.

Industry Response and Advocacy

Maria Varmazas hosts Audrey Schaefer, Vice President of Strategy and Policy at Slingshot Aerospace, to explore the industry's reaction to the proposed budget cuts. Schaefer provides an insider perspective on the significance of TRAKS and the industry's mobilization to defend its funding:

Audrey Schaefer [02:47]: "Earlier this year we'd heard rumors that potentially the administration might be looking to defund the program and essentially revert a lot of the responsibilities for traffic coordination back to the Defense Department."

Schaefer highlights the industry's unified stance against the proposed cuts, emphasizing the collective action taken by over 450 companies across seven industry associations to advocate for the restoration of funding:

Audrey Schaefer [04:30]: "We organized a letter by seven industry associations representing more than 450 companies, pretty much the entire US space industry and more, advocating to restore that funding."

This concerted effort underscores the critical role that TRAKS plays in maintaining the infrastructure necessary for effective space traffic management.

Government's Position and Rationale

The episode examines the administration's reasoning behind the proposed budget cuts, with Schaefer expressing confusion and skepticism regarding the justification provided:

Audrey Schaefer [06:04]: "There is of course a rationale in the budget justifications, but to be candid, it's kind of confusing and I can't really say that I fully understand it."

Schaefer speculates that the administration may believe that a combination of Department of Defense (DoD) data and private sector technologies could suffice in managing space traffic. However, she argues that this approach overlooks the necessity of a dedicated civilian authority to integrate and standardize various data sources and operational protocols.

Audrey Schaefer [06:13]: "It seems to imply that they in fact think that a combination of free DoD data and private sector technology can meet the need."

Components of TRAKS and Slingshot's Role

The discussion transitions to the technical framework of TRAKS and the integral role of Slingshot Aerospace in its development. Schaefer outlines the multifaceted architecture of TRAKS, emphasizing data acquisition, analytics, and user interface design:

Audrey Schaefer [10:18]: "TRACKS will have a number of different components. Primarily the guts of it, if you will, are the data and the analytics that they use to predict when two objects in space might come close enough to result in a potential collision."

Slingshot Aerospace contributes through its network of ground-based optical telescopes that track space objects from low Earth orbit to cislunar space. This commercial data complements the existing DoD sensors, which are primarily designed for missile warning and high-interest object tracking rather than comprehensive space traffic management.

Audrey Schaefer [11:00]: "Commerce using that DoD data is fine as a starting point, but they're really going to need that additional commercial data as the space object population grows."

She further explains the necessity of data fusion and conjunction assessments to accurately predict and mitigate potential collisions, underscoring the importance of integrating multiple data sources for a robust traffic coordination system.

AI Innovation: Talos

A significant highlight of the episode is the introduction of Slingshot Aerospace's latest AI-driven initiative, Talos. Schaefer elaborates on Talos as an autonomous AI agent designed to enhance space operations training and simulation:

Audrey Schaefer [13:07]: "We just announced Talos, the thinking agent for logical operations and strategy, which is an autonomous AI-powered agent."

Drawing an analogy to the popular game Mario Kart, Schaefer illustrates how Talos functions as intelligent adversaries or training partners in simulated space operations scenarios:

Audrey Schaefer [13:58]: "If you think about Mario Kart and... the other cars really being agentic AI. So they are, you know, they are trained to know how to drive on the road, to know how to shoot off shells... and really to make your job a little more difficult to win the race."

Talos serves multiple roles, including acting as a co-pilot providing operational recommendations, simulating adversarial satellite behavior for defense training, and serving as an educational tool to teach the fundamentals of space operations. Schaefer mentions collaboration with the U.S. Space Force, enhancing training exercises and war games with more realistic and scalable adversary simulations.

Audrey Schaefer [14:17]: "Talos is exactly like that. It's an AI agent that we can train for a number of different space operations to be either a co-pilot... or an adversary in a training scenario..."

Conclusion and Industry Alignment

As the episode draws to a close, Schaefer emphasizes the widespread industry support for maintaining funding for the Office of Space Commerce and TRAKS. She expresses optimism following the Senate and House draft bills that, although not restoring full funding to previous levels, demonstrate significant legislative backing to continue the mission:

Audrey Schaefer [16:14]: "I'm really pleased to see that Congress took note of that support, and I really hope that the funding is continued through the final appropriations and TRAKS stays on track."

Schaefer reiterates the consensus across the U.S. space industry, encompassing diverse companies and verticals, advocating for sustained governmental support to ensure the continued development and operational capability of TRAKS.

Key Takeaways

• Budget Cuts Threaten TRAKS: The proposed reduction in funding for the Office of Space Commerce poses a significant risk to TRAKS, potentially undermining U.S. leadership in space traffic management.

• Unified Industry Advocacy: Over 450 companies across seven industry associations have collectively advocated against the budget cuts, highlighting the essential role of TRAKS in space operations.

• Need for Civilian Authority: Experts argue that solely relying on DoD data and private sector technology is insufficient, stressing the importance of a dedicated government function to integrate and standardize space traffic coordination.

• Technical Framework of TRAKS: TRAKS relies on comprehensive data acquisition, advanced analytics, and user-friendly interfaces to predict and mitigate potential space collisions, with significant contributions from commercial entities like Slingshot Aerospace.

• Innovative AI Solutions: The introduction of Talos represents a leap forward in using AI to enhance space operations training, simulation, and defense preparedness.

• Positive Legislative Signs: Despite initial setbacks, draft bills from the Senate and House indicate bipartisan support to preserve and fund the Office of Space Commerce, ensuring the continuation of TRAKS.

This episode of T-Minus Space Daily provides an in-depth analysis of the current challenges facing space traffic coordination in the United States, the industry's proactive response to governmental budgetary decisions, and the innovative technologies driving the future of space operations.