A/ What is space surveillance (SSA/SDA)? What’s the difference, and why does it matter?

Space surveillance involves the observation, tracking, and analysis of objects in orbit, such as satellites, debris, and other spaceborne entities, to understand their position, trajectory, and behavior.

1. What are SSA and SDA?

• Space Situational Awareness (SSA) refers to the tracking and monitoring of artificial objects in Earth’s orbit, particularly in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It focuses on the "what, where, and when" of space objects: their location, movement, and potential risks.
• ‍Space Domain Awareness (SDA) takes SSA a step further by analyzing not only the physical aspects but also the behavioral, operational, and strategic context. It adds the "who, why, and how", enabling more comprehensive threat detection and situational understanding.

2. Why is space surveillance critical today?

With thousands of active satellites and rapidly increasing space traffic, surveillance is essential to:

• Ensure satellite safety by preventing collisions and avoiding space debris.‍
• Enable Space Traffic Management by coordinating orbital paths, maneuvers, and passes.

• Protect critical infrastructure such as communication, navigation, weather, and Earth observation satellites.

• Promote orbital sustainability by limiting space debris and preserving safe access for future generations.

• Support operational planning for satellite maneuvers, fleet coordination, and collision avoidance.

• Assist stakeholders (governments, insurers, regulatory bodies) in managing risks, liability, and compliance.

B/ Who are our clients and partners, and what are the use cases?

1. Who benefits from Look Up’s services?

Our solutions serve a broad range of stakeholders, including:

• Civil, commercial, and defense satellite operators
• Government space agencies and regulators
• Military and national security entities
• Space insurers and underwriters
• Scientific and academic missions
• Critical industries relying on space assets (telecom, navigation, climate, Earth observation)
• NewSpace companies and startups

2. Typical use cases:

• Collision risk assessment and avoidance
• Space object cataloging and tracking
• Maneuver planning and coordination
• Behavioral monitoring (e.g., detection of unusual orbital activity)
• Regulatory compliance and liability management

C/ What does Look Up provide?

1. Detection & Tracking in LEO

Our advanced ground-based SORASYS LEO radar system is currently being deployed worldwide to provide the most responsive LEO monitoring capability on the market.

• High-frequency tracking
• Precision detection of small space debris
• Designed for 24/7 surveillance in congested LEO environments

2. Real-time SSA through our SYNAPSE platform

Our dual-use software platform, SYNAPSE, is designed to fuse and integrate data from sensors, partners, and public sources into a single, real-time operational picture of the orbital domain, either on-premise or in the cloud.

• Combines multiple data sources (radar, optical, and external)
• Accessible via an intuitive dashboard or real-time SSA API for seamless integration into client systems
• Provides secure tools for fleet monitoring, conjunction analysis, and maneuver planning

3. Actionable intelligence and collision avoidance

Two technologies, one mission. By combining SORASYS and SYNAPSE, we deliver end-to-end operational support, including:

• High-frequency tracking and autonomous threat detection
• Accurate collision prediction and rapid alerting
• Support for independent, informed decision-making
• Protection of critical space assets and long-term orbital sustainability
• Timely conjunction alerts and risk assessments
• Satellite maneuver planning and assistance
• Anomaly detection: sudden trajectory changes, suspicious behavior
• Continuous behavioral monitoring and fleet tracking
• Solutions for both civilian and defense stakeholders globally

D/ How does it work?

1. How does a LEO radar like SORASYS operate?

• Ground-based radar emits signals toward LEO
• Objects in orbit reflect these signals back to the radar
• Returned signals are analyzed to determine position, speed, and trajectory
• High revisit rates allow detection of smaller and faster objects than older systems

2. How are satellite collisions prevented?

• Continuous tracking of relevant space objects
• Automated conjunction analysis
• Early warning alerts issued to operators
• Recommended avoidance maneuvers and impact simulations provided

3. What is a "sudden trajectory change" and why is it important?

A sudden change in a satellite’s orbit may indicate:

• Routine maneuvering or station-keeping
• Emergency collision avoidance
• Natural disturbances (e.g. atmospheric drag)
• Suspicious or uncoordinated activity

Detecting such changes early is critical for mission continuity, risk mitigation, and national security.

E/ Why work with us?

Our core competencies are:

• Advanced radar systems: Design and operation of high-precision, space surveillance radars
• Software innovation: Development of real-time data platforms, sensor fusion, trajectory modeling, and alerting APIs‍
• Operational expertise: Risk assessment, maneuver planning, behavioral monitoring ‍
• Strategic support: Consulting for operators, insurers, and governments on space safety and sustainability

F/ Learn more

• Explore our SORASYS radar technology‍
• Discover our SYNAPSE software platform
• Contact us for a personalized demo or partnership inquiry