Space Situational Awareness
Tracking objects in orbit, characterizing their behavior, and forecasting collisions — the air-traffic-control layer for space.
Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is the practice of detecting, tracking, identifying, and characterizing objects in orbit and forecasting their motion to predict collisions, conjunctions, and anomalous behavior. The civilian and commercial buildup has gone from 'Space-Track' (US Air Force) to a competitive market: LeoLabs, Slingshot Aerospace, NorthStar, ExoAnalytic. Space Domain Awareness (SDA) is the defense-oriented superset that adds intent and threat.
Tracking and conjunction warning is now a paid commercial service that constellation operators rely on daily. Government (Office of Space Commerce TraCSS) and commercial roles are being negotiated. SDA in particular is one of the fastest-growing defense space budgets.
- Collision avoidance for constellation operators
- Conjunction screening before launch
- Defense space domain awareness
- Insurance underwriting for satellite assets
NDAA Would Cut SDA, RCO Offices
The House’s annual defense authorization bill would eliminate the two offices within the Pentagon designed to speed up space acquisition. The post NDAA Would Cut SDA, RCO Offices appeared first on Payload.
Global SSA Market to Reach $61B as Governments Prioritize Space Security, Resilience, and Orbital Safety
Paris, France – May 2026 – The 2nd edition of Novaspace’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) report points to a pivotal decade ahead, with cumulative global spending projected to reach $61 […] The post Global SSA Market to Reach $61B as Governments Prioritize Space Security, Resilience, and Orbital Safety appeared first on SpaceNews.
The importance of determining an equilibrium state for space traffic management
The rapid expansion of human and robotic activity in low Earth orbit makes critically important the need to implement effective space traffic management (STM). This will be one of the […] The post The importance of determining an equilibrium state for space traffic management appeared first on SpaceNews.
Observable Space raises $90 million and wins Space Force contract for optical systems
Observable Space, a company that develops optical systems for laser communications and space domain awareness, has raised $90 million and secured a U.S. Space Force contract. The post Observable Space raises $90 million and wins Space Force contract for optical systems appeared first on SpaceNews.
House Armed Services draft bill eliminates SDA, Space RCO as separate entities
HASC 2027 NDAA supports realignment of the Space Development Agency and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office under a portfolio-based acquisition structure The post House Armed Services draft bill eliminates SDA, Space RCO as separate entities appeared first on SpaceNews.
UK Inaugurates New Space Domain Awareness Software Borealis
A new space domain awareness (SDA) software for the U.K. government is now operational, six months ahead of schedule. The new software, called Borealis, improves tracking of satellites and space […] The post UK Inaugurates New Space Domain Awareness Software Borealis appeared first on Via Satellite .
Rocket Lab to Build First GEO Satellites for Space Force Space Domain Awareness Mission
Rocket Lab has secured its first orders for two Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites from the U.S. Space Force for a space domain awareness (SDA) mission. Rocket Lab announced a $90 million […] The post Rocket Lab to Build First GEO Satellites for Space Force Space Domain Awareness Mission appeared first on Via Satellite .