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Conjunction Data Message
What a conjunction data message is
A Conjunction Data Message is a specialized type of data output that falls under the category of Derived Data in space situational awareness systems.
This message typically contains data and information related to conjunctions, which are potential close approaches between two or more space objects, such as satellites or space debris.
The primary role of a Conjunction Data Message is to provide timely and accurate notifications about these potential close encounters to enable necessary assessments and potential collision avoidance maneuvers.
It includes details such as predicted time of closest approach, probability of collision, and miss distance, among other analytical data used in determining the risk and planning response strategies.
This message is critical in maintaining the safety and operational integrity of objects in low Earth orbit and other regions of space, supporting decision-making for satellite operators, regulatory agencies, and national defense as it pertains to space traffic management.
How operators use cdms for decision-making
A Conjunction Data Message (CDM) is the operational handoff between “there may be a close approach” and concrete action.
Operators rely on CDMs to rapidly screen conjunctions, compare events across multiple sources, quantify risk (e.g., probability and miss distance), and decide whether to request additional tracking, coordinate with other actors, or plan a collision avoidance maneuver.
In dense LEO regimes and constellation operations, consistent, timely CDMs reduce uncertainty and workload, improve maneuver decision timelines, and support traceable coordination and compliance within broader space traffic management and mission assurance processes.
How Look Up enhances cdm-driven operations
Look Up strengthens CDM-driven operations by detecting and tracking LEO objects with SORASYS, its ground-based radar network and feeding high-reactivity measurements into the SYNAPSE SSA digital platform for secure multi-source data fusion and analytics.
SYNAPSE helps operators catalogue and characterize objects, generate actionable alerts, and support collision avoidance with predictions at a 99.9% accuracy rate, delivered via API or interface (including on-premises deployment for secure operations).
When a CDM indicates elevated risk, Look Up can support on-demand tasking to refine the orbit solution and provide tailored maneuver recommendations aligned with mission constraints, enabling faster, more defensible decisions and safer fleet/constellation management.
We deliver space situational awareness (SSA) and space domain awareness (SDA) solutions that help secure active satellites and ensure safe operations in the ever-growing expanse of space.