Seoul – November 09, 2026 -- South Korean startup SpaceMap, founded in 2021, is pursuing a role in setting international standards for space traffic management with ASTRO-1, an AI-based platform that predicts collision risks between satellites and space debris.
ASTRO-1 recommends avoidance maneuvers and weighs secondary collision risk
The software analyzes the orbits of satellites and space debris, predicts collision risks and recommends avoidance maneuvers. It also evaluates the velocity change an avoidance maneuver requires and the potential for secondary collisions, giving operators a basis for choosing a response.
Voronoi-based algorithms target rising computational load
Founder Deoksoo Kim, a professor turned entrepreneur, built the company on his research into Voronoi Diagrams, a mathematical method for analyzing spatial relationships. SpaceMap adapted the method to analyze relationships among space objects more efficiently and to speed up calculations.
As satellite constellations expand, the volume of orbital data and potential close encounters is expected to grow. SpaceMap's proprietary algorithms aim to reduce the computational burden as the number of analyzed objects rises. Kim said the technology can also be extended to other computational problems in space.
SpaceMap runs US and Luxembourg subsidiaries to pursue commercialization
The company is pursuing global partnerships through subsidiaries in the United States and Luxembourg. It is a resident of SVC SEOUL, a startup hub in Seoul's Hongdae area that connects startups with companies, universities and investors in Korea and abroad. Through the hub's global expansion support program, SpaceMap has taken part in overseas exhibitions and built international business networks.
Kim said the company plans to turn technology demonstrations and business partnerships into tangible commercialization outcomes.
Kim aims for a core role in international standards
SpaceMap's long-term goal is to help establish international standards for space traffic management. Kim said standards for collision prediction, avoidance maneuvers, space object tracking and information sharing "will become increasingly important" as more satellites operate.