NAS Integration

ATO Space Collaborative Decision Making (SpCDM)

Space Collaborative Decision Making (SpCDM) is an Air Traffic Organization (ATO) program that brings together the FAA, space transport operators, and other space integration stakeholders for dialogue, education, and data/information exchange. The goal is to optimize integration of space transport operations into the National Airspace System (NAS). Space CDM is based upon the original aviation CDM founded more than 25 years ago. View the ATO Space CDM Charter and overview presentation for more information.

Space transport operations have doubled from approximately three per week in 2022 to more than six per week in 2025. As the number of operations increases, so does the need to collaborate among the FAA, space operators, and aviation stakeholders.

The tenants of Space CDM are:

  • • Better information and data exchange between the FAA and individual stakeholders and industry groups will lead to better decision-making and result in improved management of the NAS.
  • • Better tools and procedures will help operators and ANSPs more easily respond to changing conditions.

SpCDM is comprised of the following:

Space Operations Committee (SpCDM SpOC) – a forum that meets quarterly to discuss technologies, processes, and procedures that support NAS integration of space transport operations.

Space CDM Executive Steering Committee (SpCDM ESC) – provides oversight for the ATO SpCDM program, including direction, guidance, and process to the sub-teams and sub-team activities.

SpCDM Sub-teams – are created at the discretion of the ESC when a knowledge base or skill set is required to accomplish further research and/or development of space-related tools, requirements, or concepts. Sub-teams are led by FAA and space industry co-leads.

SpCDM PARTICIPANTS

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

ARCHIVE

Reference Materials

CONTACT