Request Open: January 16, 2025 9:00 am — March 15, 2025 11:59 pm (56 days left)
OGC, supported by GEOHuntsville, is seeking additional sponsors for the OGC Space Pilot. With a focus on the Moon, the Pilot will address: Lunar Positioning, Navigation, and Timing; Exposing lunar data through standards; Lunar Digital Twins; and other areas of interest to additional sponsors. Applications close March 15, 2025. Please see the OGC Space Pilot Webpage for more information.
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 in Annex C in the Call For Sponsors document available here.
The OGC Space 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.)
Lunar Navigation and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT)
The development of robust and interoperable PNT solutions is crucial for safe and efficient lunar missions. This pilot will address questions such as “Where am I?” and “How do I get from here to there?” We take answers to these questions for granted on Earth, but answering them in a Lunar context poses many challenges.
Exposing Lunar Data Through Standards
By leveraging existing standards and practices for Earth PNT, the Pilot will investigate the data models and required interfaces for reliable and interoperable data exchange among the various components related to lunar PNT, 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.
Digital Twins
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(s), from mapping to models, enabling the modeling of Lunar missions from the safety of Earth.
Additional Areas of Interest to Sponsors
OGC and GeoHuntsville are now seeking 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 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.
OGC takes the sponsors’ individual requirements, creates a common list of tasks, incorporates them into a standards-based architecture, and publicly announces the overall initiative. After that, OGC recruits the best experts for this initiative worldwide and hires them as subcontractors. OGC then leads the initiative and, together with the participants, develops solutions for the various fields of activity in close cooperation with the sponsors.
Benefits of Sponsorship
- Influence the Future of Space Exploration: Sponsors will play a crucial role in shaping the direction of the OGC Space Pilot and contribute to the development of innovative geospatial technologies.
- Collaborative Partnerships: Sponsors will have the opportunity to collaborate and foster valuable partnerships with other sponsors and OGC members.
- Project Design Input: Each sponsor will have the opportunity to provide input on the specific areas of focus within the Space Pilot.
If you are interested in sponsoring the OGC Space Pilot or have any questions, please see the OGC Space Pilot Project webpage. The Call For Sponsors document contains more detailed information on the Pilot’s goals, benefits of sponsorship, and OGC’s previous work in the context of space.
About OGC
The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) is a membership organization dedicated to using the power of geography and technology to solve problems faced by people and the planet. OGC unlocks value and opportunity for its members through Standards, Innovation, and Collaboration. Our membership represents a diverse and active global community drawn from government, industry, academia, international development agencies, research & scientific organizations, civil society, and advocates.
Visit ogc.org for more information about our work.
About GEOHuntsville
GEOHuntsville is a collaborative initiative based in Huntsville, Alabama. It capitalizes on the city’s unique position as a center of technological innovation and its history of collaboration in aerospace, defense, and engineering.
Visit geohuntsville.org to learn more.