WASHINGTON, 20 June 2013 (CCSDS) – The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), announced today the publication of its newest Recommended International Standard, the Conjunction Data Message (CDM). With this milestone, providers of satellite positional data will be able to use a common format to notify satellite operators that their satellite is approaching another satellite. It took 30 months to develop and reach consensus on the CDM standard – a short period of time when developing international standards. In addition, the CCSDS standards development process requires these types of documents to be prototyped prior to approval. Several of the world’s providers of satellite conjunction assessment services conducted these prototype developments in late 2012 and early 2013 which could put CDM into operation in the relatively near future. The technical document specifying the Conjunction Data Message, CCSDS 508.0-B-1, can be downloaded from http://public.ccsds.org/publications/archive/508x0b1.pdf. # # # About CCSDS Established in 1982 by the world’s most influential space agencies, the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) provides well-engineered international space data handling standards that enhance government and commercial interoperability and cross-support, while also reducing risk, project cost, and development time.

A pioneer in international cooperation in space, CCSDS is made up of leading space communications experts representing 30 countries, its founding member space agencies, 28 observer space agencies, and over 140 private companies. CCSDS members include national space agencies from Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Russia, Canada, China, and the United States, as well as the multinational European Space Agency.

To date, more than 500 missions to space have chosen to fly with CCSDS protocols and the number continues to grow. For more information on participation or to access CCSDS standards and protocols free of charge, please visit www.CCSDS.org.

Contact for the Press:
Nick Tongson
CCSDS
+1 703 264 7515
E-mail (best contact) – nickt@aiaa.org