SWF will hold side event on satellite operator best practices for minimizing collisions at 2016 SmallSat Conference

Monday, August 1, 2016

Over the last few years, there has been an explosion of interest in building and operating small satellites in orbit. Recent studies have found that there are plans to launch thousands of new satellites over the next 10 years to provide communications, remote sensing, and a host of other capabilities. While the evolution and development of small satellites, including cubesats, has greatly lowered the barriers to participating in space and increased innovation, it has also created new challenges. In particular, small satellites pose unique challenges for space situational awareness (SSA), including tracking, identification, and minimizing potential collisions with other space objects.

To help address these issues, SWF is holding a side event at the 2016 SmallSat Conference in Logan, Utah, to provide participants detailed information and best practices on how small satellite operators can work with SSA providers such as the U.S. military's Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) and the non-governmental Space Data Association (SDA) to facilitate accurate and timely tracking and identification of their satellites and process warnings of close approaches with other space objects. 

Participants will hear from and be able to interact with the following experts:

• Dr. TS Kelso, Senior Research Astrodynamicist & Space Data Center Operations Manager, Analytical Graphics, Inc.
• Ms. Diana McKissock, SSA Sharing Cell Lead, 614th/AOC
• Mr. Vivek Vittaldev, Mission Operations Analyst, Planet
• Mr. Brian Weeden, Technical Advisor, Secure World Foundation (moderator)

Those who are attending SmallSat and wish to participate in the side event can sign up here. Please direct any questions to Mr. Brian Weeden.