The U.S. Office of Space Commerce (OSC) anticipates a delay in launching its next-generation space traffic coordination platform, despite its initial confidence in a September launch. A contract bid protest filed by Kayhan Space with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in December has triggered a 100-day work stoppage under the 12-month contract awarded to Slingshot Aerospace in November. This contract, valued at $5.3 million with options for four additional years, is crucial for the development of the platform’s user interface.
“It stinks that we have a delay, but this is how the U.S. government is supposed to support commercial,” OSC acting director Janice Starzyk commented at the Space Foundation’s Finance Forum. The platform, TraCSS.gov, is designed to replace Space-Track.org, serving as a primary interface for the Traffic Coordination System for Space initiative. Its implementation is a cornerstone of efforts to modernize U.S. space traffic management and enhance the safety and sustainability of civil and commercial satellite operations.
Kayhan Space, along with Slingshot Aerospace and other companies, holds separate contracts to support TraCSS by providing data and services. Kayhan's protest alleges issues in the proposal evaluation and contract award. Kayhan co-founder and chief technology officer Araz Feyzi stated, “We at Kayhan Space remain hopeful that the GAO will address these issues to ensure fair competition and compliance with applicable public procurement laws and regulations.” The GAO's decision is anticipated by March 20.