Satellite Reference Databases (SRDBs) aim to manage the definition of telemetry and telecommand objects used by the ground systems to develop satellite operation procedures as well as encode and decode the flow of information between the ground system and the satellite. SRDBs have been identified as a key area of research and industry as they play a major role in the design, operation, and testing of spacecraft. This paper aims to answer research questions about SRDB data exchange formats and SRDB industrial initiatives. To this end, a comprehensive survey of existing research on SRDB has been conducted. To facilitate comprehension of this survey study, a use case is presented to illustrate the various aspects discussed in the literature.