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Space Domain Awareness (SDA)

Sensor Technology

Space domain awareness detects, tracks, and characterizes objects in orbit — satellites, debris, and adversary systems.

OVERVIEW

Space domain awareness (SDA) — historically "space situational awareness" — encompasses the sensors, catalogs, and analysis that track objects in orbit around Earth. Ground-based radars and optical telescopes remain the foundation; new fielded capability increasingly relies on space-based observers that can characterize objects at close range. SDA is central to collision avoidance, adversary-satellite tracking, and counterspace planning. The catalog is federated: Space Force's 18th Space Defense Squadron maintains the primary U.S. catalog; commercial providers (LeoLabs, Slingshot Aerospace, Comspoc) contribute overlapping coverage. Space-based sensor tranches from SDA and NRO are the growth area.

AT A GLANCE
Category
Sensor
Maturity
Operational
Missions
3
Programs
2
Domains: Space
Functions: Tracking · Characterization · Collision Avoidance
Last reviewed 2026-07-23
ORGANIZATIONS USING THIS TECHNOLOGY
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The Bearings Network organizations directory can be filtered by technology. Follow the link above to browse verified and public-record organizations that reference space domain awareness (sda) in their capabilities or facilities.
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REFERENCES
Government + academic + industry public sources
Last reviewed 2026-07-23
Bearings Network content is compiled from publicly available government, academic, and industry sources and is intended as a factual reference. Analysis, forecasts, and proprietary insights are available through Bearings.