TLE Data Access
Retrieve raw TLE data for a satellite over a given time period
- GET /get-tle-data/
Get the raw TLE data for a satellite over a given time period - the satellite can be identified by either name or NORAD ID. The time period is optional; if not provided, all TLE data available will be returned. The data source is also provided, since occasionally satellites with a given NORAD ID can have different preliminary names after launch. This will also help distinguish between similar or identical TLEs with different
date_collectedvalues.- Query Parameters:
id – (required) – identifier of satellite (name or NORAD ID)
id_type – (required) – type of identifier: valid values are “name” or “catalog”
start_date_jd – (optional) – start date (Julian date format) of time period to retrieve TLE data for
end_date_jd – (optional) – end date (Julian date format) of time period to retrieve TLE data for
- Example Request
import requests import json url = 'https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-tle-data/' params = {'id': '25544', 'id_type': 'catalog', 'start_date_jd': '2460425', 'end_date_jd': '2460427' } r = requests.get(url, params=params) print(json.dumps(r.json(), indent=4))
curl -X GET "https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-tle-data/?id=25544&id_type=catalog&start_date_jd=2460425&end_date_jd=2460427" -H "accept: application/json"
curl.exe -X GET "https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-tle-data/?id=25544&id_type=catalog&start_date_jd=2460425&end_date_jd=2460427" -H "accept: application/json"
Example Response
[
{
"data_source": "celestrak",
"date_collected": "2024-04-26 00:35:57 UTC",
"epoch": "2024-04-25 18:22:37 UTC",
"satellite_id": 25544,
"satellite_name": "ISS (ZARYA)",
"tle_line1": "1 25544U 98067A 24116.76570894 .00062894 00000+0 10654-2 0 9996",
"tle_line2": "2 25544 51.6396 215.3361 0004566 95.7745 7.6568 15.50926567450413"
}
]
Get full TLE set at Epoch
This endpoint fetches all TLEs at a specific epoch date. It supports pagination to handle large result sets. If the epoch date is not provided, it defaults to returning the most recent TLE for every active satellite/object in the database (no decay date and current NORAD ID).
Note
For an example on how to use this endpoint to get all TLEs for the current date using Python and a Pandas DataFrame, check out the examples page.
If you need the TLE data in a single zip file, you can set the format query parameter to zip.
Endpoint
- GET /tools/tles-at-epoch/
Parameters
- Query Parameters:
epoch – (optional) – The epoch date for the TLE data, in Julian Date format. Defaults to the current date if not provided.
page – (optional) – The page number for pagination. Defaults to 1.
per_page – (optional) – The number of results per page for pagination. Defaults to 100.
format – (optional) – The format of the response. Valid values are “json” (default), “txt”, or “zip”. The “zip” option will return a zip file containing a CSV file with the TLE data.
Example Request
import requests import json url = 'https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/tles-at-epoch/' params = {'epoch': '2459488.5', 'page': '1', 'per_page': '10' } r = requests.get(url, params=params) print(json.dumps(r.json(), indent=4))
curl -X GET "https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/tles-at-epoch/?epoch=2459488.5&page=1&per_page=10" -H "accept: application/json"
curl.exe -X GET "https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/tles-at-epoch/?epoch=2459488.5&page=1&per_page=10" -H "accept: application/json"
Example Response
[ { "data": [ { "data_source": "spacetrack", "date_collected": "2024-07-17 19:06:09 UTC", "epoch": "2024-06-18 14:40:11 UTC", "satellite_id": 26967, "satellite_name": "DELTA 2 DEB", "tle_line1": "1 26967U 93017E 24170.61124217 .00016791 00000-0 44967-3 0 9995", "tle_line2": "2 26967 34.9300 154.9280 3885867 208.4643 123.3999 7.71838818573239" }, { "data_source": "spacetrack", "date_collected": "2024-07-17 19:06:09 UTC", "epoch": "2024-06-20 16:17:21 UTC", "satellite_id": 31723, "satellite_name": "FENGYUN 1C DEB", "tle_line1": "1 31723U 99025CDW 24172.67871604 .00004507 00000-0 26310-2 0 9996", "tle_line2": "2 31723 97.8187 334.7099 0122012 256.7917 101.9619 14.05166935558935" }, { "data_source": "spacetrack", "date_collected": "2024-07-17 19:06:14 UTC", "epoch": "2024-06-29 11:39:33 UTC", "satellite_id": 270291, "satellite_name": "TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED", "tle_line1": "1 T0291U 11061F 24181.48580305 .07957539 53890-5 11314-2 0 9997", "tle_line2": "2 T0291 101.6670 18.4903 0018493 268.3973 91.5188 16.34237302695039" }, { "data_source": "spacetrack", "date_collected": "2024-07-17 19:06:14 UTC", "epoch": "2024-07-02 15:04:27 UTC", "satellite_id": 59979, "satellite_name": "TITAN 3C TRANSTAGE DEB", "tle_line1": "1 59979U 68081AM 24184.62809922 -.00000169 00000-0 00000-0 0 9996", "tle_line2": "2 59979 1.0181 53.6452 0044622 145.5716 26.1521 1.03320921 55136" }, { "data_source": "spacetrack", "date_collected": "2024-07-17 19:06:14 UTC", "epoch": "2024-07-02 17:27:58 UTC", "satellite_id": 59982, "satellite_name": "TITAN 3C TRANSTAGE DEB", "tle_line1": "1 59982U 68081AQ 24184.72776552 -.00000306 00000-0 00000-0 0 9996", "tle_line2": "2 59982 1.7568 344.5114 0737782 293.5946 58.6594 0.99574789 12914" } ], "page": 1, "per_page": 5, "source": "IAU CPS SatChecker", "total_results": 385, "version": "1.X.x" } ]
Get nearest TLE
This endpoint fetches the TLE closest to a specific epoch date. It supports searching by either name or NORAD ID, but due to inconsistencies in satellite naming, it is recommended to use the NORAD ID. Sometimes the closest TLE by name might not actually be the closest TLE for a particular object if the name changed around that time. If you use the name, check the epoch of the TLE to make sure that it is suitable for your needs.
Endpoint
- GET /tools/get-nearest-tle/
Parameters
- Query Parameters:
id – (required) – The identifier of the satellite (name or NORAD ID).
id_type – (required) – The type of identifier: valid values are “name” or “catalog”.
epoch – (required) – The epoch date for the TLE data, in Julian Date format.
Example Request
import requests import json url = 'https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-nearest-tle/' params = {'id': '25544', 'id_type': 'catalog', 'epoch': '2460000' } r = requests.get(url, params=params) print(json.dumps(r.json(), indent=4))
curl -X GET "https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-nearest-tle/?id=25544&id_type=catalog&epoch=2460000" -H "accept: application/json"
curl.exe -X GET "https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-nearest-tle/?id=25544&id_type=catalog&epoch=2460000" -H "accept: application/json"
Example Response
[ { "source": "IAU CPS SatChecker", "tle_data": [ { "data_source": "spacetrack", "date_collected": "2024-06-04 19:16:53 UTC", "epoch": "2024-01-30 02:26:07 UTC", "satellite_id": 25544, "satellite_name": "ISS (ZARYA)", "tle_line1": "1 25544U 98067A 24030.10147156 .00014904 00000-0 27473-3 0 9998", "tle_line2": "2 25544 51.6414 284.5574 0002475 176.3471 287.7672 15.49357173436989" } ], "version": "1.X.x" } ]
Get adjacent TLEs
This endpoint fetches the TLEs right before and after a specific epoch date. It currently only supports searching by NORAD ID.
Endpoint
- GET /tools/get-adjacent-tles/
Parameters
- Query Parameters:
id – (required) – The identifier of the satellite (NORAD ID).
id_type – (required) – The type of identifier: valid values are “catalog”.
epoch – (required) – The epoch date for the TLE data, in Julian Date format.
Example Request
import requests import json url = 'https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-adjacent-tles/' params = {'id': '25544', 'id_type': 'catalog', 'epoch': '2460000' } r = requests.get(url, params=params) print(json.dumps(r.json(), indent=4))
curl -X GET "https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-adjacent-tles/?id=25544&id_type=catalog&epoch=2460000" -H "accept: application/json"
curl.exe -X GET "https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-adjacent-tles/?id=25544&id_type=catalog&epoch=2460000" -H "accept: application/json"
Example Response
[ { "source": "IAU CPS SatChecker", "tle_data": [ { "data_source": "spacetrack", "date_collected": "2024-11-26 17:37:22 UTC", "epoch": "2019-06-30 20:27:51 UTC", "satellite_id": 25544, "satellite_name": "ISS (ZARYA)", "tle_line1": "1 25544U 98067A 19181.85268126 -.00006926 00000-0 -10819-3 0 9995", "tle_line2": "2 25544 51.6486 293.4711 0008267 104.5225 41.1392 15.51249855177371" }, { "data_source": "spacetrack", "date_collected": "2024-06-04 19:16:53 UTC", "epoch": "2024-01-30 02:26:07 UTC", "satellite_id": 25544, "satellite_name": "ISS (ZARYA)", "tle_line1": "1 25544U 98067A 24030.10147156 .00014904 00000-0 27473-3 0 9998", "tle_line2": "2 25544 51.6414 284.5574 0002475 176.3471 287.7672 15.49357173436989" } ], "version": "1.X.x" } ]
Get TLEs around a specific epoch date
This endpoint fetches a requested number of TLEs before and/or after a specific epoch date. It currently only supports searching by NORAD ID.
Endpoint
- GET /tools/get-tles-around-epoch/
Parameters
- Query Parameters:
id – (required) – The identifier of the satellite (NORAD ID).
id_type – (required) – The type of identifier: valid values are “catalog”.
epoch – (required) – The epoch date for the TLE data, in Julian Date format.
count_before – (optional) – The number of TLEs before the specified epoch date. Defaults to 2.
count_after – (optional) – The number of TLEs after the specified epoch date. Defaults to 2.
Example Request
import requests import json url = 'https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-adjacent-tles/' params = {'id': '25544', 'id_type': 'catalog', 'epoch': '2460000' } r = requests.get(url, params=params) print(json.dumps(r.json(), indent=4))
curl -X GET "https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-adjacent-tles/?id=25544&id_type=catalog&epoch=2460000" -H "accept: application/json"
curl.exe -X GET "https://satchecker.cps.iau.org/tools/get-adjacent-tles/?id=25544&id_type=catalog&epoch=2460000" -H "accept: application/json"
Example Response
[ { "source": "IAU CPS SatChecker", "tle_data": [ { "data_source": "spacetrack", "date_collected": "2024-11-26 17:37:22 UTC", "epoch": "2019-06-30 20:27:51 UTC", "satellite_id": 25544, "satellite_name": "ISS (ZARYA)", "tle_line1": "1 25544U 98067A 19181.85268126 -.00006926 00000-0 -10819-3 0 9995", "tle_line2": "2 25544 51.6486 293.4711 0008267 104.5225 41.1392 15.51249855177371" }, { "data_source": "spacetrack", "date_collected": "2024-06-04 19:16:53 UTC", "epoch": "2024-01-30 02:26:07 UTC", "satellite_id": 25544, "satellite_name": "ISS (ZARYA)", "tle_line1": "1 25544U 98067A 24030.10147156 .00014904 00000-0 27473-3 0 9998", "tle_line2": "2 25544 51.6414 284.5574 0002475 176.3471 287.7672 15.49357173436989" } ], "version": "1.X.x" } ]