Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is the understanding of the very large number of objects in orbit around the Earth, the complex and dynamic environment that they orbit in, and their interactions with that environment. Such understanding is critical to space traffic management, collision avoidance and space domain conduct monitoring—all necessary to ensure our secure access to space-based technologies. UNSW Canberra Space performs research in the science of SSA, including space surveillance, space physics, astrodynamics and the application of machine learning to each of these fields.
Our research capability and expertise in Space Situational Awareness includes space mission experience that quantifies the impact of astrodynamics on spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
We contribute to increased knowledge and preparedness within Defence regarding critical challenges relating to SSA.
UNSW Canberra Space is a global leader in SSA science research for a number of key reasons:
UNSW Canberra Space’s applications of our SSA research include:
Space Situational Awareness education is offered as both a fourth-year undergraduate engineering elective and as part of our delivery of the online Master of Space Engineering and Master of Space Operations programs.