Space data and information transfer systems — Orbit data messages

This document specifies four standard message formats for use in transferring spacecraft orbit information between space agencies and commercial or governmental spacecraft operators: The Orbit Parameter Message (OPM), the Orbit Mean-Elements Message (OMM), the Orbit Ephemeris Message (OEM), and the Orbit Comprehensive Message (OCM). Such exchanges are used for:

a) pre-flight planning for tracking or navigation support;

b) scheduling tracking support;

c) carrying out tracking operations (sometimes called metric predicts);

d) performing orbit comparisons;

e) carrying out navigation operations such as orbit propagation and orbit reconstruction;

f) assessing mutual physical and electromagnetic interference among satellites orbiting the same celestial body (primarily Earth, Moon, and Mars at present);

g) performing orbit conjunction (collision avoidance) studies; and

h) developing and executing collaborative maneuvers to mitigate interference or enhance mutual operations.

This document includes sets of requirements and criteria that the message formats have been designed to meet. For exchanges in which these requirements do not capture the needs of the participating agencies an