Orbital Intelligence: Space Domain Awareness at Smallsat Scale

Smallsats are playing a growing role in SDA, from maneuver detection to RF characterization and optical tracking of resident space objects. This session examines the technical advances enabling higher-fidelity observations from compact platforms, including improved sensors, on-orbit processing, and more responsive tasking architectures. Panelists will discuss how commercial SDA data is being fused with government sources to enable real-time decision support for defense and civil operators. The discussion highlights where the SDA market is maturing and where major analytic gaps remain.