Project Description

The formation of the Space Data Association (SDA) represents an interesting model for international cooperation in space activities. The SDA is a not for profit organization incorporated in the Isle of Man, part of the British Isles, and was formed by the world’s three largest satellite operators, SES, Intelsat, and Inmarsat. What makes the SDA unique is that unlike other international organizations that are largely focused on the pursuit of either academic or scientific goals, the SDA is focused on directly improving the safety of the orbital operational environment by focusing on both radio frequency interference mitigation and collision avoidance. The SDA is also of interest in that it has been formed voluntarily by commercial interests to act as an industry self-regulating body whose beneficiaries are the customers, shareholders, and ultimately the general public which the satellite communications industry serves.

Read more: The Space Data Association Sanders Stott

This paper was first published as part of International Cooperation for the Development of Space, published by the Aerospace Technology Working Group (ATWG) and included on this site through the courtesy of ATWG, ISU and the individual authors.

For reference, we are also providing the front cover and table of contents.

Other extracts from this publication can be found here.