SpaceMap Pioneers Collision Avoidance in Space

Image source: https://platform.spacemap42.com

In 2021, SpaceMap, a pioneering space technology company, emerged in South Korea under the leadership of Dr. Douglas Kim. The genesis of SpaceMap can be traced back to the foundational investments in basic research by the AFOSR/AOARD since 2016. Dr. Kim and SpaceMap have not only garnered significant attention but have also secured substantial investments, totaling over $9 million from various entities, including the South Korean Government.

SpaceMap’s success is underpinned by its groundbreaking solution to the critical challenges in the dynamic realm of Geospace. In a landscape where satellites navigate increasingly crowded orbits, the risk of collisions becomes a pressing concern. Despite the complexities posed by the surge in space catalog size, driven by a growing number of satellites and advanced sensor capabilities, accurate and efficient conjunction assessment (CA) and collision avoidance (COLA) remained elusive challenges. This is where SpaceMap steps in, introducing a revolutionary computational approach capable of conducting real-time CA and near real-time COLA for an impressive scale of one million or more objects.

At the core of SpaceMap’s innovative solution lies the Voronoi diagram, renowned for its efficiency in spatiotemporal reasoning across both 2D and 3D spaces. The technology utilizes a dynamic Voronoi diagram, enabling real-time definition of neighborhoods for moving points, such as satellites. This proves invaluable in efficiently computing solutions for complex problems involving many moving points, maintaining a near-constant computation time regardless of the number of points involved. Collaborating closely with AWS and the 18th Space Surveillance Squadron at the US Space Force, SpaceMap has successfully transitioned to Technology Readiness Level 7, promising a transformative approach to space collision prevention.

One notable application of SpaceMap’s technology is in the management of Earth satellites using the Two-Line Element Database. By efficiently processing input data from satellite movements, constructing dynamic Voronoi diagrams, and offering application-independent solutions, SpaceMap leverages the robust data structure of the Voronoi diagram to handle diverse missions with remarkable computational efficiency. This success story exemplifies SpaceMap’s dedication to advancing space technology and ensuring the safety and efficiency of operations in the dynamic expanse of Geospace.