Virgin Galactic's Upcoming "Galactic 06" Spaceflight
On January 26, 2024, Virgin Galactic's "Galactic 06" mission will launch, marking its 11th spaceflight.
Features
The only astrodynamics tool designed for non-engineers.
The core app is 7 Mb and loads in 2 seconds. With addons it is only 18 Mb! It is also completely free and open source.
2.5 million pieces of debris can be simulated with SGP4 at 60 frames per second on consumer hardware.
This is not another app built with Cesium and satellite.js. Keep Track is built from the ground up with custom WebGL shaders and a high-performance render loop.
Keep Track has a database of over 30,000 satellites and debris objects including information about their orbit, design, and operators.
Pick from a list of sensors to see what a radar or telescope can see. You can also create your own sensor and see what it can see.
Simulate a breakup event in three clicks and see how the debris spreads out over time.
See what a new launch looks like from anywhere on Earth. Then quickly calculate which sensors can see it and when it's visible.
Visualize debris patterns and see how they change over time. You can also see how many objects are in orbit and how they are distributed.
Search for a satellite by name, NORAD ID, or international designator. Filter by country, type, orbit, bus, and more.
As an open source project, you can also engage with the developer community, contribute code, and help shape the future of Keep Track.
From the classroom to the control room, Keep Track has you covered.
Build a list of satellites you want to track and get popup alerts when a satellite is about to pass through a sensor field of view.
Finding out when sensors will see a priority satellite is only a few clicks and involves no math or spreadsheets!
Simulating a new launch is as easy as picking a similar satellite and clicking the New Launch button. Mission planning has never been easier.
Explore the app's features and capabilities through a hands-on experience, making learning fun and engaging.
The app is built using custom shaders and 3D models. It is designed to be as beautiful as it is functional.
Use an Xbox controller to control the app. This is great for presentations and demonstrations.
You can embed the app on your website for free. Everything is AGPL licensed and open source.
Show your customers what your satellite will look like in orbit before you launch it.
Use one of the many 3D models available in the app or load your own satellite model.
Show your audience the problem of space debris. You can show them how many objects are in orbit and how they are distributed.
Show how your mission will help improve the problem of space debris.
Visualize the debris we aren't tracking. You can use ESA estimates and see the millions of objects we can't track consistently.
From community resources to technical documentation, take a deep dive into the world of space and satellite tracking.
On January 26, 2024, Virgin Galactic's "Galactic 06" mission will launch, marking its 11th spaceflight.
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FAQs
Space is hard. Some of these answers will hopefully make it a little easier.
You can start by clicking the 'Launch App' button at the top-right of the page. There is no account required to use the app, just click the button and start exploring!
When I was a Lieutenant in the Air Force, I was responsible for tracking satellites. I was frustrated with the 1970s technology I had to use, so I decided to build my own. I hope you find it useful!
I'm a big believer in open source software. I think it's the best way to build software. I also think that space should be free and open to everyone. I hope that by making this app free, it will help people learn about space and satellites.
Please let me know! I am always looking for ways to improve the app. You can add an issue on GitHub or send me an email at [email protected].
Yes! Keep Track relies on the Orbital Object Toolkit (also free) and that is tested against USSPACECOM's official algorithms. The results are within 1mm of the official results.
Of course! You can load your own TLEs by passing the url as a parameter like this:
https://keeptrack.space/app/?tle=https://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/active.txt
This is still a bit experimental, so please let me know if you have any issues.
Not yet, but if you press shift + F1 in the app, it will give you an explanation of the screen/menu you are currently using. I hope to have a full tutorial soon.
You can download the app from the GitHub repository. It is already built and ready to go. Just download the zip file and extract it. There is a batch file that will start the app in chrome without any server required.
I have started making a resources section on the website. You can find it here. If there is something specific you would like to see, please let me know.
Just select any satellite and then highlgiht the other satellites you want to compare. You can also use the "Set Secondary Satellite" option in the right click menu to continuously compare two satellites.
The TLEs are sourced from multiple websites and then the database is updated every 12 hours. Additional information about the satellites is sourced from twenty different websites and processed by the server daily.
No. There is no paywall or premium version. Everything is free and open source. I do not plan on adding a premium version in the future. There are some features that are only available in the desktop version, but that is because they require a lot of processing power. There are also some features that are very technical and lack documentation so I have them hidden by default, but the code is still there and you can enable them if you want.
If you want to collaborate, please reach out to me at this email. If you have a non-commerical project, I am happy to help and would love to hear about it. Some of the best features in the app were inspired by users.
The most common settings are available under the settings menu (its a gear icon). If you have downloaded it you can override any setting by editing the settingsOverride.js file. For more advanced customization, you can edit the source code and build anything you want.
There is a built in screenshot feature that allows you to save images of the app. Most menus have an export to CSV option. You can also export the entire database to CSV. If there is something specific you want to export, please let me know and I will add a new export option.
Keep Track has been used in art, science, and defense across the globe. I am always looking for new collaborations, so please reach out if you are interested in incorporating my code into your project.
Whether you're curious about orbital mechanics, passionate about space sustainability, or want to visualize and track humanity's footprint in space, there's something for everyone in Keep Track.
Find out why so many people are using it to explore space.