Artist’s rendition of space debris in LEO. Photo: ESA

[Via Satellite 08-12-2014] The Space Data Association, an international consortium of commercial satellite operators dedicated to safe conduct in space, has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to play a role in the DoD’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Data Sharing Program. The agreement with U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is the first of its kind with a non-satellite operator.

SDA members share information to prevent problems such as in-orbit collisions and interference. USSTRATCOM is tasked with increasing the safety, security, and sustainability of the space domain through the SSA Data Sharing Program. The agreement enables the DoD and SDA to work together on SSA issues, including addressing electromagnetic and radiofrequency interference.

“This agreement represents a major milestone in space situational awareness, creating a framework to exchange data. The benefit is that critical analyses will be far more robust, improving our knowledge of the space operational environment,” said SDA Chairman Ron Busch.