Today, every branch of the U.S. military relies on space in some way to accomplish its mission. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the United States to maintain its leadership role among countries operating satellites and remain free to operate in space. One of the major challenges for space operations, which has become increasingly important over the past decade, is that of space situational awareness (SSA). As the number of objects in orbit grows and more new organizations, both commercial and government, operate in space, the problem will only become more challenging. To continue to maintain its lead in space, the United States must lead the effort to develop a common framework for sharing SSA information with other nations and corporate space operators. This should be a coordinated effort to integrate SSA for the U.S. government, allied and partner country governments, and commercial space users. The best way to gain international support for this program is to place it under the responsibility of a new international agency for SSA. Current State of Space Situational Awareness Space situational awareness was defined by General Fogleman (Ret.), former Air Force Chief of Staff, as the idea that “the United States of America should know whenever someone sends something in space, what it is, what its function will be, and we should be able to monitor it at all times.” Breaking this definition down gives you two significant parts: data launch time and lifecycle tracking. The focus of this document will be on life cycle monitoring. The goal that the United States have the ability to independently track every object sent into space at all times is not reasonable. Th...... half of document ......ia, United States Agreement on Cooperation for Space Situational Awareness", Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, 11 November 2010.---. "ESA seeks to strengthen ties with NASA, the European Union", Aviation Week & Space Technology, 18 January 2010, 28.---. "Milspace expansion will be outlined in new space policy", Aviation Week & Space Technology, April 26, 2010, 32. U.S. Department of Defense and Director of National Intelligence. Unclassified Summary of National Security Space Strategy. Washington, D.C., 2011. “US advances 'space fence' monitoring next generation,” Defense Industry Daily. June 2, 2011, accessed November 13, 2011, http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Air-Force-Awards-First-Phase-of-Next-Generation-Space-Fence-05511. Weeden, Brian. "The Numbers Game: What's in Earth's Orbit and How Do We Know It?" July 13, 2009, http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1417/1.