Operator TypesCAP
Collision Avoidance Provider
An entity providing space situational awareness services including conjunction assessment and collision avoidance support.
Collision Avoidance Providers (CAPs) offer critical services for space safety, helping operators avoid collisions with other space objects and debris.
Services Provided
- Conjunction data messages (CDMs)
- Collision probability assessment
- Maneuver planning support
- Post-maneuver verification
- Anomaly detection and alerting
Data Sources CAPs typically aggregate data from:
- Space surveillance networks (US SSN, EU SST)
- Commercial tracking providers
- Operator-provided ephemeris data
- Radar and optical observations
Regulatory Status Under the EU Space Act proposal (COM(2025) 335, not in force), collision avoidance space services providers (Art. 5(24)) are space services providers:
- Union spacecraft operators would have to subscribe to the collision avoidance services of the EU SST provider for all mission phases except re-entry (Art. 64(1)-(2))
- Third-country spacecraft operators would have to subscribe to a public or commercial provider that meets Annex IV point 1 (Art. 15(1))
- The Union provider would report to competent authorities on request (Art. 102)
Key Providers
- EU SST (governmental)
- LeoLabs (commercial)
- ExoAnalytic Solutions (commercial)
- Privateer (commercial)