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The purpose of this paper is to address STM through an unconventional but pragmatic angle to help optimize efficient compliance governance. This paper proposes using antitrust mechanisms in space as a pragmatic and utilitarian tool for sustainable purposes with regards to STM within a soaring space ecosystem. In the context of accelerated space commercialization and privatization, having a new space antitrust framework at the helm of such transition might indeed prove to be a flexible yet decisive tool into shaping the future of STM and ensuring perennial protection of higher space principles which are enshrined in the Outer Space Treaty and form the essence of space law. On one hand, examples of antitrust key components include fair competition while, on the other hand, higher ethical principles of space law include non-discrimination and benefits sharing. Furthermore, in between these two extremes, security and commerce both rely, respectively on non-harmful interference and competitiveness. To navigate through all these factors, a new space antitrust framework might indeed prove strategic and beneficial to incentivizing the creation of an adaptive, polycentric and action-oriented governance mechanism with great resonance among the commercial new space players and reaffirm the importance of sustainable space traffic management before return on investment, while still making a profit in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the number of artificial satellites put into orbit around Earth is growing very rapidly for scientific, commercial, defence or educational purposes, the need to take measures to improve safety of space operations and to contribute to the long-term sustainability of outer space activities are becoming more and more important. This paper provides an analysis of the main identified challenges to be addressed by space traffic management (STM) and an overview of a set of actions considered to tackle those challenges. The complementarity of political guidelines, regulation, standardization and operational capabilities is discussed, taking into account the need to combine the expected efficiency of the proposed actions with European industry competitiveness and also national and European security constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]