DATA & UPDATES
How our data works
Every satellite you see on the globe is shown in its real position, based on live tracking information. Here is where that information comes from, and how we keep it fresh.
WHERE IT COMES FROM
A trusted public source
We pull our satellite positions from CelesTrak, a long-running, publicly available service that catalogues spacecraft orbiting Earth. It is the same source relied on by hobbyists, educators, and space organisations worldwide.
HOW OFTEN IT UPDATES
Refreshed every 30 minutes
Positions are automatically updated every half hour, so what you see on the globe always reflects a recent snapshot of where each satellite is travelling.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST IT
Always close to real time
Between updates, each satellite’s path is calculated from its latest known orbit. That means the globe stays smooth and accurate, without you ever needing to refresh the page.
3D MODELS
Sourced from NASA 3D Resources
Almost every 3D model shown on the detail pages comes from NASA’s 3D Resources library. The International Space Station is the exception — its model is sourced from a separate NASA Science / VTAD asset page.
Updated automatically every 30 minutes