In Avatar, what is the name of the human corporation operating on Pandora?

In Avatar, the human corporation operating on Pandora is the Resources Development Administration. Usually abbreviated RDA, it is the powerful commercial and military organization that controls the expedition from Earth.

The RDA travels to Pandora in the 22nd century seeking valuable resources, especially unobtanium, a mineral associated with the moon’s geology. Its mining operation brings humans into conflict with the Na’vi, particularly the Omaticaya clan whose home stands above a rich deposit.

The RDA is more than a mining company in the film’s story. It manages transport, security, scientific activity, and the avatar program used to interact with Pandora’s environment. Colonel Miles Quaritch commands its security forces, while Parker Selfridge serves as the administrator of the main human settlement. The organization’s initials are often confused with the names of individual mining or military units, but RDA is the film’s canonical corporate name.