CATALOG GUIDE
Satellite Directory: Browse Orbital Objects by Mission and Constellation
The Satellite Directory is the main catalog gateway for Earth-orbiting objects on SpaceTracker.live. Instead of forcing you to know a catalog number in advance, it groups spacecraft into useful CelesTrak categories such as stations, bright objects, navigation systems, weather satellites, science missions, geostationary spacecraft and major low-Earth-orbit constellations.
Choose a category, filter the loaded list, and open an individual spacecraft in the live tracker. Each tracker calculates current position from orbital elements and can add observer-relative azimuth, elevation, range and geometric pass predictions after you set a location.
NORAD catalog number and COSPAR designator
The NORAD catalog number is a numeric identifier assigned to a tracked space object. The COSPAR international designator identifies the launch year, launch sequence and object from that launch. Names can change or be reused; identifiers are therefore especially useful when two spacecraft have similar labels.
If you know the exact NORAD number, the advanced satellite search is usually the quickest route. If you are exploring rather than looking for one known object, category browsing is more useful.
What category membership means
A category is a convenient way to organize public orbital records; it should not be treated as an independent guarantee of payload status. A satellite can remain catalogued even when a mission has changed status, and constellation membership can change as spacecraft are launched, moved, replaced or retired. Use the operator or agency for official operational status.
How the live tracker uses catalog data
SpaceTracker.live retrieves general-perturbations data and propagates compatible Earth orbits with SGP4. The element epoch is the time to which the fitted orbital state refers. As the epoch gets older, propagation uncertainty generally grows, particularly for low or manoeuvring spacecraft.
The map marker is therefore a calculation based on available orbital data, not a GPS-like signal transmitted from the spacecraft. The current element panel helps you see the epoch, inclination, eccentricity, mean motion and other fields behind the calculation.
Browse by purpose
Use Space Stations for crewed orbital complexes, Starlink or OneWeb for constellation-specific tools, Weather Satellites for environmental spacecraft, and GPS Satellites for navigation. The Recent Launches page is useful when you want newly catalogued orbital objects rather than a mission category.
From directory to local sky
Once you have found an object, open its live page and set your observer location. For a broader local view, Satellites Above Me filters selected categories by current elevation. For future horizon crossings, use Satellite Pass Predictions.
Frequently asked questions
Does every catalog object represent an active satellite?
No. Public catalogs can include payloads, rocket bodies and other tracked objects, depending on the selected data group.
Why are there several identifiers for one spacecraft?
Names are human-readable; NORAD and international designators are standardized identifiers used to distinguish catalog objects.
Does the tracker receive the spacecraft's live GPS position?
No. Earth-orbit positions are propagated mathematically from orbital elements.
Source and methodology links
Educational-use note: SpaceTracker.live is an independent educational website. Positions and pass predictions are calculated from third-party orbital elements or ephemerides and may be delayed or approximate. Do not use them for navigation, collision avoidance or other safety-critical decisions.