The concept of New Space—referring to the emerging private space industry and the democratization of space exploration—is important for several reasons. These include economic growth and innovation, strategic and security interests, scientific and technological progress, environmental monitoring and solutions, and several others, as outlined below.
The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), supported by GeoHuntsville, is seeking additional sponsors for the OGC Space Pilot. The pilot will center around three key topics, though this list is open for discussion and can easily be adapted based on sponsor interests. With a focus on the Moon, or, more precisely, the cislunar space, this pilot will address:
- Lunar navigation and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT)
- Exposing lunar data through standards
- Digital Twins (visualization, simulation, training, remote control, etc.)
Positioning and navigation are essential for precisely determining an object’s location on the lunar surface or in lunar orbit and guiding that object from one location to another. Accurate time synchronization is critical for communication, navigation, and coordination among lunar missions or systems. PNT is essential for surface exploration, orbital operations, communication systems, resource utilization, and safety. Various solutions for Lunar PNT are currently being discussed, including satellite networks, ground beacons, optical and celestial navigation, and Earth-based support. As lunar exploration grows, robust PNT systems will ensure mission success and enable sustained human and robotic activities on and around the Moon. From a PNT perspective, the OGC Space Pilot will investigate the fundamental questions “Where am I? What is around me?” and “How do I best get from here to there?”
This pilot will leverage the mature ecosystem of standards and practices for Earth PNT and look into the data models and required interfaces for reliable and interoperable data exchange among the various components related to lunar PNT. The initiative will develop the necessary language for robust, standards-based PNT data exchange and processing between all participating systems, such as landers, rovers, astronauts, and PNT support systems and base data. This includes previously collected data, such as the lunar reference and coordinate systems, and real-time data from sensors and platforms.
Once the fundamentals for positioning are defined, Digital Twins will help illustrate objects in the cislunar space and on the lunar (sub-) surface. Creating Digital Twin(s) of the Moon and lunar objects involves developing a high-fidelity, dynamic virtual representation of the lunar environment, including astronauts, rovers, landers, and other elements of lunar missions. The OGC Space Pilot will explore the various components required for such a digital twin, including:
- High-resolution lunar surface and subsurface data (topography, mineral and resource mapping, subsurface models),
- Precise spatial and temporal models,
- 3D models of real objects to be placed/built/operated on the lunar surface,
- Physics-based simulation aspects such as gravity models, environmental conditions, and lunar dust,
- Communication and networking infrastructure,
- Dynamic models of human activities,
- Activities and behavior of robotic systems.
The digital twin work will consider the fact that the Moon is significantly smaller than the Earth and thus that digital twin data models built for Earth coordinates may need modification to work in significantly different physical spatial characteristics.
The OGC will leverage its Collaborative Solutions and Innovation Program (COSI) for the OGC Space Pilot. The COSI Program is the Open Geospatial Consortium’s (OGC) research and development arm, dedicated to advancing geospatial interoperability through collaborative initiatives. By uniting expertise and funding, COSI addresses pressing environmental and societal challenges, strategically important exploration efforts, and the development of digital twins. COSI aims to progressively increase geospatial IT solutions’ Technology Readiness Level (TRL), facilitating their transition from concept to operational use. The program offers a neutral space for research and development, focusing on joint solution development without commercial biases.
OGC will soon issue an official Call For Sponsors to attract additional sponsors for the OGC Space Pilot. By combining sponsorship funds, it will be possible to effectively utilize synergies between the individual sponsors and, together with the OGC members, develop robust solutions for the various challenges based on a collaborative approach and standards. Each sponsor has the opportunity to influence the exact areas of work. The OGC takes these individual requirements, creates a common list of tasks, incorporates them into a standards-based architecture, and publicly announces the overall initiative. After that, the OGC recruits the best experts for this initiative worldwide and hires them as subcontractors. The OGC then leads the initiative and, together with the participants, develops solutions for the various fields of activity in close cooperation with the sponsors.
OGC’s previous work in the Space context
OGC’s previous work marks a significant advancement in extending geospatial standards beyond Earth-centric applications, enabling the precise representation and tracking of objects in non-terrestrial environments. By leveraging ISO 19111, OGC GeoPose, and NASA SPICE frameworks, the team has developed an innovative solution for spatial referencing and coordinate transformations applicable to celestial bodies, spacecraft, and interplanetary trajectories. This includes a robust hierarchical system of coordinate reference systems (CRS) such as inertial, terrestrial, and engineering CRS, addressing challenges posed by astronomical scales, relativistic effects, and the complexities of deep space navigation. Practical demonstrations, including the NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) and the International Space Station trajectory tracking, illustrate the successful implementation of 3D+ spatial visualizations and transformations between inertial and local reference systems. Furthermore, the GeoTIFF standard was enhanced to support extraterrestrial imaging by introducing spherical coordinate systems and celestial body referencing, enabling precise localization and mapping of planetary surfaces and space objects. Complementing these innovations, enhancements to the OGC GeoPose standard now allow seamless integration of moving features such as spacecraft motion and dynamic sensor data, paving the way for accurate visualization, synchronization, and analysis of both terrestrial and interplanetary scenarios. Collectively, this work establishes a transformative foundation for interoperable geospatial standards, enabling reliable and dynamic space-based data management across the solar system and beyond.
The following documents provide an overview of current OGC work in the context of Space.
- Advanced Standards Framework for 3D+ Space: The work successfully extends geospatial standards beyond Earth-centric applications, introducing solutions for non-terrestrial spatial data using ISO 19111, OGC GeoPose, and NASA SPICE frameworks. This supports spatial referencing and transformations for objects in orbit or deep space.
- Innovative Coordinate Systems and Data Streaming: New hierarchical coordinate systems, including inertial, terrestrial, and engineering CRS, are proposed to precisely track and represent spacecraft, planetary bodies, and trajectories across 4D spacetime, addressing challenges posed by relativity and astronomical scales.
- Practical Demonstrations with DART and Solar System Data: Experiments involving NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) scenario and International Space Station tracking showcase accurate 3D+ visualizations and transformations between inertial and local reference systems, proving feasibility for real-world applications.
- Extending GeoTIFF for Extraterrestrial Imaging: The GeoTIFF standard was expanded to support celestial objects and spherical coordinate systems, enabling precise localization and image-based referencing in non-terrestrial settings like asteroids and planetary surfaces.
- Groundbreaking Applications for GeoPose and Moving Features: By integrating dynamic features like spacecraft motion and sensor data synchronization, GeoPose enhancements allow for seamless tracking, visualization, and analysis of both terrestrial and interplanetary moving objects.
This work sets a transformative foundation for interoperable standards in space-based geospatial technology, paving the way for accurate, reliable, and dynamic data handling across the solar system and beyond.
Stay tuned for the official Call For Sponsors, coming soon.