Space situational awareness (SSA) is the monitoring and analysis of objects in orbit, including satellites and debris, to understand their positions, movements, and potential risks. It combines tracking observations with orbital models to estimate where objects are and how confidently their future paths can be predicted.
SSA matters for preventing collisions and maintaining reliable satellite services. Operators use it to assess conjunctions, interpret uncertainty in predicted miss distances, and decide whether a collision-avoidance maneuver or coordination is needed. In cyber security and space defense, SSA also helps identify unusual behavior, such as unexpected changes in a satellite’s orbit. A close approach alone does not prove hostile intent: conclusions depend on reliable tracking data, uncertainty ranges, and operational context.