3D Satellite Tracker

A real-time 3D satellite tracking application that displays satellites orbiting Earth using real data from Space-Track.org.

Features

Real-Time 3D Visualization

• True 3D rendering using Three.js and React Three Fiber
• Interactive 3D Earth with atmosphere effects
• Satellites positioned in real 3D space around Earth
• Smooth orbital animations with configurable update rates
• Starfield background with 5000+ stars

Real Satellite Data

• Space-Track.org integration for authentic TLE data
• Real-time satellite position calculations using SGP4 propagation
• Support for multiple data sources:
  • Popular satellites (ISS, Hubble, Tiangong, etc.)
  • Category filtering (Starlink, Weather, Navigation, Space Stations)
  • All active satellites (100+ satellites)

Advanced Tracking Features

• Ground Track Visualization: See the satellite's path over Earth
• Pass Predictions: Calculate when satellites will be visible from your location
• Visibility Analysis: Real-time elevation, azimuth, and range calculations
• Observer Location: Customizable ground station location
• Orbit Classification: Automatic LEO/MEO/GEO classification

Interactive 3D Controls

• Orbit Camera: Rotate around Earth with mouse/touch
• Pan & Zoom: Navigate the 3D space freely
• Satellite Selection: Click to select and track specific satellites
• Multiple Views: Tracking, Passes, and Visibility tabs

Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Node.js 16+ and npm
• A free Space-Track.org account (Sign up here)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/satellite-tracker.git
cd satellite-tracker

2. Install dependencies:

npm install

3. Start the development server:

npm run dev

4. Open your browser to http://localhost:5173

First-Time Setup

Quick Setup (Recommended)

1. Copy .env.example to .env:

   cp .env.example .env

2. Edit .env and add your Space-Track.org credentials:

   VITE_SPACETRACK_USERNAME=your_username
   VITE_SPACETRACK_PASSWORD=your_password
   

3. Reload the page - the app will automatically authenticate!

Alternative: Manual Login

1. When you first open the application, a login dialog will appear
2. Enter your Space-Track.org username and password
3. Click "Sign In" to authenticate
4. The app will fetch real satellite data and display them in 3D

See SPACE_TRACK_SETUP.md for detailed setup instructions.

Usage

3D Navigation

• Left Click + Drag: Rotate the view around Earth
• Right Click + Drag: Pan the camera
• Scroll Wheel: Zoom in/out

Selecting Satellites

• Click on a satellite name in the sidebar to select it
• Selected satellites are highlighted in the 3D view
• View detailed information, ground tracks, and pass predictions

Data Sources

Open Settings to choose your data source:

• Popular Satellites: Curated list of interesting satellites
• By Category: Filter by satellite type (Starlink, Weather, etc.)
• All Active: Display all active satellites (up to 100)

Performance Settings

• Adjust update interval (500ms - 5000ms)
• Toggle ground tracks and visibility circles
• Control rendering performance

Tech Stack

• Frontend Framework: React 19 + Vite
• 3D Rendering: Three.js + React Three Fiber + Drei
• Satellite Calculations: satellite.js (SGP4 propagation)
• Styling: Tailwind CSS
• Icons: Lucide React
• Data Source: Space-Track.org API

Project Structure

satellite-tracker/
├── src/
│   ├── components/
│   │   └── SatelliteTracker.jsx    # Main component
│   ├── services/
│   │   └── spaceTrackService.js    # Space-Track API integration
│   ├── App.jsx
│   └── main.jsx
├── SPACE_TRACK_SETUP.md             # Detailed setup guide
└── README.md

API Integration

This application uses the Space-Track.org API to fetch real TLE (Two-Line Element) data. Space-Track.org is the official source for satellite tracking data maintained by the U.S. Space Force.

Rate Limits:

• 300 requests per hour
• 30 requests per minute

The application automatically manages API calls to stay within limits.

Troubleshooting

Authentication Issues

• Verify your Space-Track.org account is approved
• Check username and password are correct
• Clear browser cache and try again

No Satellites Appearing

• Ensure you're authenticated (green indicator in header)
• Check browser console for errors
• Try selecting a different data source

Performance Issues

• Reduce the number of satellites
• Increase the update interval
• Disable ground tracks for better performance

See SPACE_TRACK_SETUP.md for more troubleshooting tips.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

Acknowledgments

• Space-Track.org for providing free access to satellite TLE data
• satellite.js for SGP4 propagation calculations
• Three.js and React Three Fiber for 3D rendering
• U.S. Space Force for maintaining the satellite catalog

Contact

For questions or support, please open an issue on GitHub.