SATELLITE CATEGORY GUIDE
CubeSat Directory: Small Standardized Spacecraft in Earth Orbit
CubeSats are small spacecraft built around standardized unit dimensions. The format lowered barriers for universities, research teams, agencies and commercial developers, leading to many missions with very different payloads and objectives.
CubeSat describes form factor, not one mission type
A CubeSat can carry an Earth-imaging camera, radio experiment, technology demonstration, science instrument or educational payload. Two CubeSats can therefore share a physical standard while having completely different missions and orbital lifetimes.
Many CubeSats are deployed into low Earth orbit, where atmospheric drag eventually lowers the orbit. Their small size can also make optical observation difficult even when the geometric pass is favorable.
How to explore this category
Choose an object and compare its altitude, inclination and orbital period with larger spacecraft. Use Pass Predictions for future geometric passes or Science Satellites to find research-oriented spacecraft of many sizes. The Recent Launches page is also useful because new small satellites often appear there soon after cataloging.
How this directory works
Choose one CubeSat from the directory to see that spacecraft’s own orbit rather than treating CubeSats as a single mission family. The individual tracker can then calculate current position and observer geometry from its catalogued orbital elements.
CubeSats often operate in low Earth orbit, where drag and deployment changes can make older orbital elements stale more quickly. Their small size also means that a favourable geometric pass does not automatically imply easy optical visibility.
What to remember about accuracy
Frequently asked questions
Is the position direct spacecraft telemetry?
No. The live map is calculated from public orbital elements.
Does appearing in this directory mean a satellite is operational?
No. Catalog membership and mission status are different things.
Can I track one object in more detail?
Yes. Select a CubeSat and open its individual tracker to calculate position and pass geometry for your saved observer location.
Sources and related tools
- CelesTrak: General Perturbations data formats
- NASA: SmallSats and CubeSats
- SpaceTracker.live Satellite Directory
- How SpaceTracker.live calculates positions
Educational-use note: SpaceTracker.live is an independent educational website. Positions and pass predictions are calculated from third-party orbital elements and may be delayed or approximate. Do not use them for navigation, collision avoidance or other safety-critical decisions.