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thkruz/keeptrack.space

Browser-based 3D satellite tracker built on real orbital mechanics, aimed at students, educators and space operations teams.

Open-source alternative to:Ansys STKHeavens-Above

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What is it?

KeepTrack.space is a TypeScript web application that visualizes satellites, space debris and the ground sensors that track them in 3D. It runs in any modern browser with WebGL 2.0 support, with no installation required, and it can also be built and run locally from source.

The project computes satellite positions from orbital element data using its own orbital mechanics library (OOTK), with orbit calculations offloaded to Web Workers so the interface stays responsive. Users can search for satellites by name, NORAD ID or country, view ground tracks and orbit lines, calculate look angles and access times for sensors, and run analysis tools such as launch simulation, breakup modeling and collision screening.

The codebase is organized as a rendering engine, an application layer and a plugin system, where optional features are isolated plugins that can be enabled or disabled. It is licensed under AGPL-3.0, and the project states it is used by operations centers, universities and outreach programs.

Key features

  • 01Tracks tens of thousands of satellites with live position updates in 3D.
  • 02Computes sensor look angles, pass predictions and access times.
  • 03Includes launch simulation, breakup modeling and collision detection tools.
  • 04Supports orbit lines, ground tracks, trail mode and a time machine for past or future dates.
  • 05Offers a plugin architecture for adding custom analysis tools and visualizations.
  • 06Can load custom TLE catalogs and run offline after loading.

Use cases

  • Teaching orbital mechanics and satellite motion in a classroom with interactive 3D visualization.
  • Monitoring sensor coverage and satellite passes for space situational awareness operations.
  • Visualizing debris fields and breakup events for outreach or public engagement.
  • Embedding a satellite tracking view on a website or museum exhibit.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/thkruz/keeptrack.space
  2. 2

    Enter the project folder

    cd keeptrack.space
  3. 3

    Install dependencies with pnpm

    pnpm install
  4. 4

    Start the dev server, then open http://localhost:5544

    pnpm start

Things to know

  • Requires Node.js 18+ (the troubleshooting section mentions 24+) and pnpm or npm to build locally.
  • Needs WebGL 2.0 support in the browser.
  • The first load downloads a satellite catalog of about 5 MB, which takes around 30 seconds.
  • Licensed under AGPL-3.0, a copyleft license that requires source disclosure for networked modifications.

Topics

#satellite-tracking#orbital-mechanics#webgl#typescript#visualization#space-debris#education#orbit#radar#satellite

FAQ

What is keeptrack.space?
Browser-based 3D satellite tracker built on real orbital mechanics, aimed at students, educators and space operations teams. KeepTrack.space is a TypeScript web application that visualizes satellites, space debris and the ground sensors that track them in 3D. It runs in any modern browser with WebGL 2.0 support, with no installation required, and it can also be built and run locally from source.
Is keeptrack.space free to use? What license does it have?
keeptrack.space is open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is keeptrack.space still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to keeptrack.space was on Oct 19, 2026.
What can I use keeptrack.space for?
Teaching orbital mechanics and satellite motion in a classroom with interactive 3D visualization. Monitoring sensor coverage and satellite passes for space situational awareness operations. Visualizing debris fields and breakup events for outreach or public engagement. Embedding a satellite tracking view on a website or museum exhibit.
How do I install keeptrack.space?
Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/thkruz/keeptrack.space Enter the project folder: cd keeptrack.space Install dependencies with pnpm: pnpm install Start the dev server, then open http://localhost:5544: pnpm start
Where can I get keeptrack.space?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/thkruz/keeptrack.space

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