Acquisition of space-based, optical observation data of objects in near-Earth space (space situation data)

It is a non-binding information query that serves the sole purpose of market research in accordance with Section 28 of the Procurement Ordinance (VgV). Brief of the task: The German Space Agency in the German Aerospace Center, Space Situation Division, is exploring the procurement of market-available space-based optical observation data (detection, surveillance and tracking) of space objects in the near-Earth region from existing space infrastructures (Space Based Space Surveillance, SBSS). The aim is to gain insights into the availability of standardized data formats and possible sales and pricing models. The recorded observation data, in particular angular coordinates and apparent brightness as well as the trajectory data of the sensor systems used, must be made available to the WRLageZ in a standardized form (e.g. TDM, OEM). A concrete technical specification is currently not provided in order to initially obtain a comprehensive overview of market-relevant, existing data from systems for space-based space situational awareness. In order to send documents and information, we essentially ask you to answer the following key questions: 1. Which observation modes are available? 2. For which orbital regions can observation data be provided ((V)LEO/MEO/GEO/HEO/cis-lunar)? 3. What size objects can be detected/tracked in which observable orbital regions? 4. What data can be provided on observed objects? 5. Are the observation data provided correlated or uncorrelated? 6. Which coordinate systems are used for data representation? 7. What corrections are applied to the data? 8. Is AI used in the (pre)processing of data? 9. What quality of data can be achieved? 10. How is quality assurance carried out in (pre)processing of the data? 11. What amount of data delivery would be possible and for which railway regions (measurements per day and different objects per day)? 12. What latencies can be expected between measurement and data provision? 13. (New) detection: Is it possible to filter out observation data from active (large-scale) constellations? 14. Tracking: What lead time can be expected for commissioned observation orders? 15. Can covariances be provided for the position data of the sensors? 16. Which interfaces are available for data exchange? 17. Are additional monitoring and object tracking capabilities available and/or are additional services offered? 18. What precautions are in place to ensure the integrity of the data, the reliability of the data provision/services and the confidentiality of the observation orders? 19. Is it planned that the currently available space-based sensor capacities will be expanded and if so, how and over what period of time? What improvements (quantitative and qualitative) are being sought? 20. Which billing models are conceivable regarding flat-rate retrievals, availability windows and individual retrievals? 21. Can data, e.g. from explicit observation requests (individual retrieval), also be offered for exclusive use, i.e. without use by third parties? If you can offer the service described above, in order to conduct market research, we ask that you send meaningful documents and references (to the email address below) to the following contact and information point by November 6th, 2026, 11:59 p.m. at the latest: German Space Agency in the German Aerospace Center (DLR e. V.) AR-ZF department Keyword: 2026-08-SBSS data Königswinterer Str. 522 – 524 53227 Bonn Email: RFA-BMVG@dlr.de Internet address: https://www.dlr.de/de/ar