[Satellite TODAY 09-23-11] The Space Data Association’s (SDA) Full Operational Capability (FOC) analysis system in its Space Data Center (SDC) has successfully met SDA objectives and was declared operational on Sept. 15, SDA announced.

   The FOC aims to provide SDA members with full conjunction assessment (CA) capability to assess the physical proximity of objects in space, and will support data sharing for radio frequency interference (RFI) mitigation.

   The SDC began initial operations in July 2010 for SDA founding members Inmarsat, Intelsat and SES. The SDC now provides CA processing for more than 65 percent of all operational satellites in geostationary orbit.

   “The SDC FOC system converts disparate operator data to a common ‘normalized’ format and performs integrity checks on contributed ephemerides, making the information more reliable. By accessing this authoritative SDA operator-owned orbital data, the system is able to provide SDA members with the most up-to-date SSA reports available for their assets,” SDA said in the announcement.

   Commercial satellite operators established the SDA to improve the safety and efficiency of space operations. The association’s chairman, Stewart Sanders, said the operational milestone will the SDA to expand its membership. “The SDA is also pursuing data-sharing agreements with a variety of government and industry data providers to enhance the scope and quality of data available for these critical operations,” Sanders said in a statement.