Are there road traffic rules in Space?

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In space, there are no formal traffic rules akin to those on Earth, but two primary guidelines exist: avoid collisions and prevent being hit by other objects. The concept of collision avoidance is similar to aviation practices, where the likelihood of accidents decreases in less congested areas. While satellites often share orbits, significant efforts are made to track space debris to minimize collision risks. The humorous mention of a "space police" highlights the informal nature of these guidelines. Overall, the focus remains on safety and awareness in the vastness of space.
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Are there "road" traffic rules in Space?

Do you have to "stick to the left of your orbit" or "give way to the unmanned vessel"?
 
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The only strictly enforced "Rules of the Road" in outer space are:
1. Don't hit something else.
2. Don't let something else hit you.
 
In one sense, this works on the same principle as the "big air" theory of collision avoidance for planes: unless you are flying in a place where you know there will be other planes around (e.g. near an airfield), you are unlikely to hit anything purely by chance.

That said, many space satellites do share similar orbits, and there is a lot of effort put into tracking orbiting "space junk" to avoid collisions.
 
Thanks guys. I was going to try and drive to space in my Ferrari. Just needed to know so I don't get a ticket from the space police.
 

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