OKAPI:Astrolabe provides all the tools to manage conjunctions from start to finish with minimal effort on a single platform. It combines interoperability and decision-making with real-time access to synchronized information via event-driven data sharing. From confirming maneuver execution during critical conjunctions to uploading avoidance maneuvers and verifying their completion, the platform covers every step.

Surrey Satellite Technology, a leading UK-based satellite manufacturer and operator, and the European Space Agency (ESA) are both Early Adopters of the platform.

Critical Event Coordination in Action

For the exercise, the OKAPI team simulated a realistic conjunction data message (CDM), as if provided by the Combined Space Operations Center (CSpOC). This CDM was placed into the system imitating a critical conjunction between an ESA and an SSTL satellite, enabling both parties to coordinate their collision avoidance strategies using only Astrolabe. The goal of the exercise was for both organizations to test their internal procedures while gaining insights into how their partner operates, all within the context of OKAPI:Astrolabe's environment.

The exercise lasted one week, during which both entities were fully committed, providing continuous data, using only the in-platform chat for their negotiations, and coordinating key decisions, such as which spacecraft would need to maneuver, based on each satellite's capabilities. Throughout the week, both parties were encouraged to use the tool independently, without close guidance, to evaluate the application's intuitiveness— nevertheless, OKAPI:Orbits provided close technical support over the entire duration of the event.

In the end, ESA took on the task of maneuvering, as SSTL communicated that their satellite was not maneuverable in this specific case. The feedback we received from both parties was highly valuable and has already been incorporated into our development roadmap.

Demonstration Outcomes:

Both SSTL and ESA achieved a common understanding of the situation, accelerating data exchanges and decision-making. ESA’s decision to perform the necessary maneuver due to the SSTL satellite’s simulated constraints highlighted the tool's ability to support seamless coordination in real-world scenarios.

Key benefits included enhanced transparency, faster resolutions, and streamlined communication. The in-platform chat emerged as a standout feature, providing quick access to contact information and eliminating the delays often caused by external research or email exchanges.

Let’s talk about how you can optimize your space traffic coordination efforts while managing of one or multiple satellites, in one place.

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