Real-time satellite tracking, mission intelligence, orbital analysis, and spacecraft visualization.
🚀 Features • ⚙️ Setup • 🛰️ Quick Start • 🧩 Tech Stack • 👤 Credits
SPACEAPP is a desktop application designed for satellite tracking, mission exploration, and space education. It combines live orbital data, advanced search capabilities, AI-assisted mission intelligence, and interactive spacecraft visualization into a unified platform.
Whether you're monitoring Starlink satellites, researching scientific missions, exploring orbital mechanics, or tracking the International Space Station, SPACEAPP provides a streamlined environment for understanding humanity's activity in space.
Monitor satellites and spacecraft using live orbital data and project their paths.
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Live Position Tracking: Multi-satellite monitoring with real-time speed and altitude calculations.
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Satellite Path Prediction: Visualize future orbital trajectories, predicted satellite positions, historical positions, and ground-track paths.
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Raw TLE Inspection: Inspect raw Two-Line Element (TLE) data used for SGP4 orbital propagation and tracking.
Inspect spacecraft structures and physical appearances directly alongside mission information and tracking data.
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Supported Models:
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Starlink
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GPS Satellites
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Weather Satellites
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Science Satellites
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International Space Station (ISS)
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Tiangong Space Station
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James Webb Space Telescope
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Hubble Space Telescope
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CubeSat
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SpaceX Dragon
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Boeing Starliner (New in v5.6.5)
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Immersive 3D Canvas: High-fidelity gradient blue & neon purple viewport environment.
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Smart Camera Transition: Reset View and initial model loads trigger an automated smooth zoom-in effect, keeping the target spacecraft beautifully framed and detailed.
SPACEAPP now includes a dedicated reference guide explaining Two-Line Element (TLE) sets, their structural breakdown, and how they drive all geometric, SGP4 propagation, and orbital calculations across the application.
Note
Educational Reference Site
Access the full component breakdown, Keplerian element definitions, and spatial transformation math via the built-in window or by viewing TLE & Space Math Guide.
Transform raw technical telemetry into comprehensive, context-rich educational insights.
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RAG + Web Search Profiles: Mission profiles are powered by Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and web-backed research systems to provide:
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Launch date, Operator, and Country
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Detailed mission description and current operational status
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Days in space and estimated completed orbits
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Educational Insights: AI-assisted overviews helping users understand:
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Mission objectives & scientific contributions
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Historical significance & technology highlights
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Operational purpose
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Edge Function Multi-Key Rotation & Model Fallbacks: Under-the-hood upgrades support dynamic API key rotation and multi-model fallback chains to eliminate service lockups.
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Resilient Cache Fallback: Gracefully defaults to expired local caches to compile AI overviews if network retrievals fail.
Perform detailed mathematical and geometric assessments of spacecraft paths and ground footprints.
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Orbital Geometry Analysis: Explore orbit classification, orbital inclination, altitude range, orbital period, ground-track behavior, and mission-specific characteristics.
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Coverage & Footprint Metrics (Enhanced in v5.6.5): Evaluates the geometric footprint on Earth's surface enabled by the satellite's angular subtense (
$\theta$ ): -
Footprint Radius (
$R_{\text{cov}}$ ): Ground coverage radius projected along Earth's curvature:
- Footprint Surface Area: Calculates the physical ground area visible using spherical cap geometry:
- Percentage Earth Coverage: Determines the exact fraction of total global surface area within line-of-sight:
- Lifespan Analysis: View operational history and mission longevity information (time spent in orbit, original mission duration, mission extensions, and estimated service lifespan).
A consolidated workspace layout designed for deeper spacecraft exploration, unifying:
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Interactive 3D Models
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Detailed Mission Profiles & Intelligence
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Orbital & Coverage Analysis
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Lifespan and Capability assessments
Find satellites quickly using multiple pre-indexed search methods.
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Supabase Search Infrastructure: Pre-indexed data synchronized through Supabase for rapid alias searching and background sync.
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Search Methods: Name & alias searching, Category browsing, NORAD ID lookup, and Global visibility searches.
Search for satellites visible from virtually anywhere on Earth using specific parameters.
Example Query:
near: Tokyo, Japan; radius: 45
Supported Parameters:
near: <place or coordinates>;
alt: <altitude>;
radius: <0-90>;
catid: <satellite category ID>;
Note: If optional parameters are omitted, SPACEAPP uses your current values.
SPACEAPP automatically reduces API usage while maintaining a smooth tracking experience, yielding a consumption reduction of 25% or more.
A refreshed workspace experience with intuitive window management.
- Balanced Default Layout: Workspace panel split ratio (Map | 3D View) set to an optimized 60/40 ratio.
- Dynamic Splitters: Resizable panel spaces powered by
QSplitter. - Visual Hierarchy: Clean, cohesive layout organization and expanded dynamic iconography.
The application features a built-in communication system that keeps you connected with the latest development cycles.
- Check Info System: Connects to GitHub servers for release notifications, surveys, and developer announcements.
- Auto-Notification: Alerts when database updates are recommended.
- Windows x64 Installer (Inno Setup): Handles custom paths, application registration, and clean uninstallations.
- macOS ZIP Build: Native drag-and-drop deployment package for Apple ecosystems.
Create an account with N2YO and obtain an API key (License Key) here.
- Launch SPACEAPP
- Enter your API key when prompted
- Complete account creation
- Enter your created credentials
- Begin exploring
- Launch SPACEAPP (or click the Logout Icon if you're still inside the tracking window)
- Select Signup
- Start entering your new Username, Password, and API Key
- Complete your account creation This will create a different account on the application.
- Launch SPACEAPP
- Select a category
- Choose a satellite
- View real-time tracking information
- Enter a NORAD ID
- Press Search
- Review available tracking information
- Open a supported spacecraft
- Switch to Research View
- Explore mission, math, and orbital coverage metrics
Satellite information changes over time as missions launch, evolve, and conclude.
Cloud-hosted and automatically maintained.
- Pre-indexed searches
- Alias support
- Synchronization
- Search optimization
Stored on your device for fast local access. SPACEAPP may occasionally recommend updates to maintain tracking accuracy, search accuracy, satellite metadata, and operational status information.
Note
Database updates are recommended for the best experience.
Important
During setup or database updates, avoid closing the application or interrupting the process. Unexpected interruptions may corrupt local data and require recovery or reinstallation.
SPACEAPP estimates your location using your public IP address.
- VPN usage may reduce location accuracy.
- Location data remains cached until the application closes.
- Switching accounts does not refresh location information.
If your location changes significantly:
- Close SPACEAPP
- Reopen the application
Depending on availability, SPACEAPP displays the following data fields:
- Satellite Name & NORAD ID
- Live Position, Speed, & Altitude
- Ground Track & Orbital Path (TLE)
- Launch Date, Operator, & Country of Origin
- Mission Description & Operational Status
- Days in Space & Completed Orbits
- Footprint Area & Coverage %
- Orbital Geometry Analysis
- Mission Intelligence Summary
- Interactive 3D Models
SPACEAPP includes smart API-saving technology that automatically reduces calls for non-Starlink satellites.
| Satellite Type | Mode | Base Interval | Effective Update Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starlink Only | Efficient | 8 s | Every 8 s |
| Starlink Only | Non-Efficient | 3 s | Every 3 s |
| Non-Starlink Only | Efficient | 8 s | Every 16 s |
| Non-Starlink Only | Non-Efficient | 3 s | Every 6 s |
| Mixed (Equal) | Efficient | 8 s | Starlink: 8 s / Non-Starlink: 16 s |
| Mixed (Equal) | Non-Efficient | 3 s | Starlink: 3 s / Non-Starlink: 6 s |
- Efficient Mode: Recommended for daily use, long monitoring sessions, and reduced API consumption.
- Non-Efficient Mode: Recommended for faster refresh rates, short-term monitoring, and situations where API usage limits are not a concern.
- SPACEAPP uses publicly available satellite and mission data sources.
- No personal information is collected beyond what is required for normal application operation.
- Location estimates are used solely to support local tracking and visibility calculations.
| Layer | Technology |
|---|---|
| Language | Python |
| Desktop UI | PyQt6 |
| 3D Visualization | Three.js |
| Orbital Propagation | SGP4 |
| Database | Supabase |
| AI / Intelligence | Google Gemini |
| Satellite Data | N2YO |
| Web Rendering | Qt WebEngine |
| Windows Packaging | Inno Setup |
| macOS Packaging | ZIP Distribution |
Email: tanbinhvo.hcm@gmail.com
Questions, bug reports, feedback, and feature suggestions are welcome.
If SPACEAPP has been helpful to you:
- ⭐ Star the repository
- 🐞 Report bugs or suggest new features
- 📖 Cite the project in academic work using
CITATION.cff - ☕ Support via Buy Me a Coffee or Ko-fi
SPACEAPP was created and is maintained by Vo Tan Binh (Henry Vo).
Special thanks to the open-source community and the developers behind the technologies that make SPACEAPP possible, including:
- PyQt6
- Three.js
- Supabase
- SGP4
- Google Gemini
- N2YO
- Inno Setup
- Qt WebEngine
- Other open-source libraries used throughout the project
If you use SPACEAPP in research, education, demonstrations, publications, or derivative works, please consider citing the project using the provided CITATION.cff file.
© Vo Tan Binh / SPACEAPP. All rights reserved.
This software and its associated assets, models, artwork, databases, and source code are protected by copyright.
Redistribution or reuse without explicit permission from the author is prohibited.