Running Out of Space: Decentralising Space Situational Awareness to tackle Orbital Congestion

Space is a finite resource that modern life is tethered to. GPS navigation, weather forecasting, internet connection, and more all depend on the satellites orbiting Earth operating safely. As satellite populations continue to grow, we face a critical challenge: how do we maintain accurate Space Situational Awareness in increasingly crowded orbits? To protect our global infrastructure (SDG 9) and keep our communities connected (SDG 11), we need a new way to manage space traffic. This research introduces the Proof of Inter-Satellite Evaluation (PoISE) consensus mechanism, a decentralised method that allows satellites to collaborate by securely sharing and validating orbital data. By removing the need for vulnerable central controllers, PoISE provides a scalable, sustainable way to protect the future of the space environment.