What Space Data Association does

The Space Data Association (SDA) is a not-for-profit international membership association, registered as Space Data Association Ltd. in the Isle of Man, that operates a shared space-safety infrastructure for the global satellite operator community. Founded in 2009 and representing more than thirty public and private satellite operators, the organisation pools flight dynamics data from its members to support collision avoidance, conjunction assessment, RF interference identification, geolocation support, and the provision of authoritative contact information for space objects. Its membership spans major commercial fleets (SES, Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, Iridium, Avanti, ABS, Embratel Star One, SKY Perfect JSAT, Spire, Planet Labs), defence primes (Airbus Defence and Space, Boeing, Babcock), and government/agency operators (NASA, NOAA, DLR, Eumetsat, Optus, Arabsat, Hispasat).

The SDA's core technology is the Space Safety Portal (SSP), a next-generation safety-of-flight system that became operational in January 2026 after being developed by GMV using its FOCUS suite and ecosstm software. The platform ingests member ephemeris, manoeuvre data, and observation data through a machine-to-machine interface, performs reference-frame and time-system conversion, generates synthetic covariance to enable probability-of-collision calculations, and distributes only processed screening results to affected members under a trusted-third-party confidentiality model. The architecture is distributed and high-availability, hosted on AWS infrastructure in the US and EU, and carries forward 16 years of operational experience from the legacy Space Data Centre previously operated by AGI's ComSpOC unit.

SDA is funded entirely by membership dues paid by participating satellite operators under binding legal agreements governed by Isle of Man law, with unlimited financial liability for deliberate violations. It has no external shareholders, no disclosed revenue, and operates with approximately six staff plus a board of directors drawn from member operators. The association's strategic positioning has expanded beyond commercial GEO operators to include LEO constellations, Earth observation operators, defence primes, and government agencies, and it has secured institutional roles through Permanent Observer Status at UN COPUOS, signature of the ESA Zero Debris Charter, and alignment with EU SST and U.S. TraCSS initiatives.

Name

Space Data Association

Legal name

Space Data Association Ltd.

Website

https://space-data.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Space Data Association is a not-for-profit, Isle of Man-registered association of 30+ global satellite operators that operates the Space Safety Portal to deliver pooled-data conjunction assessment, collision avoidance, and RF interference services to commercial, civil, and defence space operators worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Situational Awareness Software

NAICS

Satellite Telecommunications (5174)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Defense & Missile Warning (BPAIAHAF)

Keywords

• Space situational awareness
• Satellite conjunction assessment
• Orbital collision avoidance
• Space traffic management
• Satellite operator data sharing

Headquarters

HQ city

Douglas

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The SDA operates as a not-for-profit organization funded by membership fees from satellite operators. Organizations who have signed agreements with SDA receive secure, reliable and immediate access to accurate information and analysis that greatly improves operations for conjunction assessment, RF interference and geo-location support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Space Data Association (SDA) is an international not-for-profit association of satellite operators that operates the Space Safety Portal (SSP), a next-generation safety of flight system. The SSP ingests flight dynamics information from more than 30 member companies and other space situational awareness data sources to provide conjunction assessment, collision avoidance warnings, RF interference identification, geolocation support, and authoritative contact information for space objects. Members contribute operational data through a trusted third-party framework (Space Data Centre) and receive pooled analysis results while retaining control over their own raw data.

Product overview

The Space Data Association offers the Space Safety Portal (SSP) as its core product - a next-generation safety of flight system that replaced the legacy Space Data Centre in 2026. The SSP operates alongside conjunction assessment services, RF interference and geolocation support, and authoritative contact information services for space objects. The organization also provides space situational awareness resources including guidelines and best practices documents. GMV operates the SSP using Ecosstm® software solution and Focusoc operations centre, leveraging sixteen years of operational experience to address challenges from rapid increases in satellites in orbit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Space Safety Portal (SSP): Next generation safety of flight system to support mission critical space operations, providing conjunction assessment and warning services. Operated by GMV.
• Space Data Centre (SDC)

Products and services

• Space Safety Portal (SSP) A next-generation safety of flight system that ingests flight dynamics information from member companies and other available sources of space object information to provide conjunction assessment and warning services for mission-critical space operations. Operated by GMV using ecosstm software solution and Focusoc operations centre.
• Conjunction Assessment Service that enables satellite operators to assess when there may be a close approach between a satellite and another object, so necessary action such as an avoidance manoeuvre can be taken. Delivered via the Space Safety Portal with synthetic covariance generation for probability of collision calculations.
• RF Interference and Geolocation Support Members receive access to accurate information and analysis for RF interference identification and geolocation support services, helping operators resolve signal interference incidents affecting their satellites.
• Authoritative Contact Information for Space Objects Service providing authoritative contact information for given space objects to enable coordination between operators in case of conjunctions, interference events, or other operational anomalies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 years of operational experience in space situational awareness and conjunction assessment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, former core partner, strategic and supporting.

• GMVcoreTechnology or Integration · 16 September 2025GMV was selected through a competitive process to develop SDA's next generation safety of flight system, the Space Safety Portal (SSP). GMV demonstrated leading technical, operational, customer-focused, and cybersecurity credentials and is fully aligned with SDA's non-profit model and commitment to space sustainability. GMV operates the SSP using its FOCUS suite software technology.
• GMV (continued)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMV has become one of the leading European and worldwide players in space safety, covering space surveillance and tracking, space traffic management, space weather and debris. GMV operates the ecosstm software solution and Focusoc operations centre.
• European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMV's involvement includes development and support of critical public STC initiatives including EU SST. SDA won the 2023 T.S. Kelso Award recognizing EU SST's outstanding contributions to space flight safety.
• U.S. Department of Commerce Traffic Coordination for Space (TraCSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMV is involved in TraCSS, which will help retain SDA's position at the forefront of space safety capabilities alongside EU SST involvement.
• Analytical Graphics Inc. (AGI)former core partnerTechnology or IntegrationAGI (ComSpOC) was SDA's previous nominated service provider for SDA services. AGI shared personal data with SDA as their current nominated service provider. AGI's Center for Space Standards & Innovation (CSSI) provided technical leadership including Dr. T.S. Kelso and Dan Oltrogge.
• European Space Agency (ESA)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDA signed the Zero Debris Charter with ESA in December 2024, strengthening cooperation on space safety and sustainability. ESA and SDA are working together on space debris mitigation and long-term sustainability guidelines.
• UN COPUOSstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDA has been granted Permanent Observer Status at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, enabling participation in international space governance discussions.
• Amazon Web ServicessupportingOthersAWS provides secure data centre infrastructure for SDA operations in Reston, Virginia, USA and EU member states.
• MailChimpsupportingOthersThird-party mailing service provider for SDA email communications, located in the United States.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST): EU SST is a public-sector partnership providing space surveillance and tracking services to European satellite operators. It is a complementary/coordinating entity rather than a direct competitor, as SDA and EU SST share data and recognize each other's contributions (EU SST won SDA's 2023 T.S. Kelso Award).
• U.S. Department of Commerce TraCSS (Traffic Coordination System for Space): TraCSS is the US government's planned civil space traffic management system providing SSA services to commercial and international operators. It is positioned as a public-sector complement to commercial services like SDA, with GMV also supporting its development.

Emerging players

• Slingshot Aerospace: Slingshot Aerospace provides commercial SSA, space traffic management, and training solutions for satellite operators and governments. It competes with SDA in providing SSA data products, though via commercial analytics rather than an operator-pooled model.
• Privateer Space: Privateer Space is building space situational awareness and orbital data products, including the Wayfinder platform for satellite operators. It represents a new entrant competing for the same conjunction-data workflows SDA serves.
• LeoLabs: LeoLabs is a commercial Space Situational Awareness provider operating a global radar network for LEO object tracking and collision-avoidance services. It is a partial competitor to SDA in conjunction data, focused primarily on LEO rather than SDA's GEO/MEO-heavy operator base.
• Kayhan Space: Kayhan Space provides commercial space traffic management and collision-avoidance software for satellite operators. It is an emerging commercial alternative in the STM/SSA services space where SDA operates.

Direct peers

• ExoAnalytic Solutions: ExoAnalytic Solutions operates a global network of optical telescopes providing SSA tracking data to commercial and government customers. It is both an SDA member and a competing commercial SSA data provider to satellite operators.
• Analytical Graphics Inc. (AGI) / ComSpOC: AGI operated the Commercial Space Operations Center (ComSpOC), which was SDA's previous nominated service provider for conjunction assessment. AGI is a direct prior peer in providing pooled SSA data products to commercial and government satellite operators.

Others

• GMV: GMV is SDA's current nominated service provider operating the Space Safety Portal using its FOCUS suite and ecosstm software. While a strategic technology partner rather than a competitor, GMV also serves EU SST and other SSA initiatives, making it an adjacent player in the same capability area.
• NORAD / US Space Command: US Space Command and the former US Space Force provide the foundational space-track catalog and conjunction warnings used globally. While not a commercial peer, it is the upstream public-sector source of much of the data that flows through SDA's pooled-data system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SDAspacedata
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/space-data-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Space Data Association