Privateer Space, the data and intelligence platform empowering the future of space, has announced the launch of Crow’s Nest as part of an updated Wayfinder platform. Crow’s Nest is a free and open collision risk assessment tool that seamlessly integrates into the Wayfinder application, a real-time satellite data fusion and debris visualization platform. 

These new tools are free to use, with no need to connect to a sales team first, and are the most comprehensive platform accessible to all. The tools can be used across government agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, or the average person to raise awareness and provide global transparency on current space traffic to keep space safe and accessible.

Crow’s Nest is a free tool that integrates NASA’s CARA tools for conjunction probability analysis, with free CDM download. This will allow users to gain better insight into Crow’s Nest data and have a better understanding as to if and when a collision will occur. In the near future, Crow’s Nest will also feature more robust orbital data streaming integrations, account login to access saved settings and lists, filtering, advanced risk analysis, and API access. Also on the roadmap is the ability to integrate Crow’s Nest with third-party tools to expand and customize the user experience. While basic features will always remain free, customers with more advanced needs for customization and large volumes of data will pay for premium access via Amazon’s Marketplace.

“As a circular space economy continues to develop, expecting to reach $1 trillion by 2040, the need to monitor where satellites and spacecraft are, were, and will be is critical. These easily accessible basic tools are available to everyone for free as we believe baseline universal collision analysis and risk assessment is the only path to space sustainability,” said Dr. Moriba Jah, Co-Founder, and Chief Scientist at Privateer. “Crow’s Nest keeps satellite operators, potentially preventing them from colliding with rockets and debris, to avoid a disruption of space activities, while Wayfinder with the added capabilities of Crow’s Nest helps to ensure that humanity has access to space as a finite resource, in perpetuity.”

Privateer's data engine, Wayfinder, is an open-access and near-real-time visualization of satellites and debris in Earth's orbit. The updated Wayfinder has a quick search for specific objects, shortcuts to explore interesting visualizations, ephemeris data download, and a new look and feel for a smoother, more intuitive user experience.

“Wayfinder is the premier platform for fusing data and visualizing satellites, spacecraft, and debris in space. Adding our measurement of collision risk and probability based on NASA standards, we are able to create a space ecosystem that works for everyone,” said Alex Fielding, Co-Founder, and CEO of Privateer. “It is our hope that the global space community can utilize and build upon Wayfinder to avoid collisions and conflict, share state vectors, more clearly signal intent, and maneuver safely in space.”

Privateer, which was first unveiled at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) Conference in 2021, announced its Crow’s Nest and Wayfinder applications this year. In its first year of operation, Privateer has signed multiple partnerships with companies like OMEGA, to map space objects in orbit with unprecedented accuracy and transparency, and SCOUT to enhance space operations safety. Now, its new Wayfinder and Crow’s Nest applications will further the company’s mission to build the data infrastructure to enable sustainable growth for the new space economy.

Click here to learn about Crows' Nest Collision Risk Assessment Platform.