Governing Space Traffic Management: A Systematic Literature Review

The rapid growth of satellite mega-constellations and commercial space activity has made near-Earth space increasingly crowded and difficult to manage. This raises serious concerns for safety and sustainability as existing space traffic management (STM) systems struggle to keep up and remain largely an ambition, given the fragmented responsibilities and conflicting objectives among key actors. This paper examines how international organisations, state administrations and corporations contribute to STM governance. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, we conduct a systematic review of the literature to identify these actors and the forms of coordination they use – norms, regulations and market mechanisms. The findings show a multi-level governance system: international organisations promote shared guidelines, states enforce national regulations and corporations drive activity through commercial initiatives. However, gaps in oversight and growing tensions between public and private interests hinder effective governance. The study highlights the need for better coordination across all levels to address the rising risks in Earth’s orbital environment. It recommends stronger international commitments, improved inter-agency coordination at the state level and clearer regulation of private operators. Addressing these issues is essential for ensuring the long-term safety of space operations.