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Arizona's Air Traffic Controller — For Space

Computer generated image of space debris
(Photo courtesy of NASA)
Computer generated image of objects in Earth orbit. Approximately 95 percent of the objects in this illustration are orbital debris (i.e., not functional satellites).

Air traffic controllers help make sure planes keep a safe distance, and don’t run into each other, among other things — but what about space?

Who makes sure all the stuff floating around above the Earth keeps a safe distance? Moriba Jah may just be that person.

Jah is the director of Space Object Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona and has been called a “space traffic controller.”

Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.