Assuming the who and what questions can be adequately answered, should the US seek reimbursement for the SSA it provides? The answer is yes. However, the requested reimbursement should not be monetary, but should focus on gaining SSA data in return for the SSA given. In other words, the US needs to build symbiotic relationships with its customers so both can benefit. For example, instead of financial reimbursement, perhaps a foreign or commercial user would be willing to provide more precise tracking data on their spacecraft in exchange for collision avoidance support. In other words, the US would help them avoid collisions with other space objects in exchange for continual data on the location of the commercial users assets. This tracking data would provide the US with the day-to-day situational awareness they need on those assets without having to task a US resource to track the object(s). Given the fact that the US space tracking capability is heavily tasked, such an arrangement would free valuable resources to track other objects. The gained situation awareness not only benefits the US, but also makes space a safer environment for everyone by improving the US tracking database. The bottom line is to not scare away any potential customers over the issue of reimbursement. It is better to foster a relationship with the hope of future reimbursement then push them away and cause them to go elsewhere.

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Roberts, Tommy A. "Space Situation Awareness: How Much Should the US Share?." High Frontier Journal. (Winter 2005): 9-12. [ 8 quotes ] [ page 11 ]