Improved Conjunction Analysis via Collaborative Space Situational Awareness

Satellite operators are becoming increasingly aware of the threat of on-orbit collisions---between satellites or with orbital debris. Successful conjunction monitoring and collision avoidance activities require accurate orbital information for as many space objects as possible. Current sources of orbital data are of low fidelity, as a result of how those data are generated, and are of limited value to conjunction analysis. However, satellite operators have much better data for their own satellites. When that data is shared among operators, overall space situational awareness can be significantly improved. This paper will demonstrate the potential improvements and discuss an operational implementation--- SOCRATES-GEO---which uses operator data to improve conjunction monitoring.