Skip to content

Getting Started

Get an API key

  1. Visit https://orbital-data-api.davidhsu.cc/account
  2. Sign up with email + password or Google
  3. Verify your email
  4. Your API key is generated automatically

Your key and usage stats are available on the account dashboard.

Base URL

All requests go to:

https://orbital-data-api.davidhsu.cc/api/v1

Authentication

Include your API key in every request using the X-Api-Key header:

X-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY

Your first request

Get the current orbital data for the International Space Station (NORAD ID 25544):

curl -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_KEY" \
  https://orbital-data-api.davidhsu.cc/api/v1/gp/25544

import requests

response = requests.get(
    "https://orbital-data-api.davidhsu.cc/api/v1/gp/25544",
    headers={"X-Api-Key": "YOUR_KEY"},
)
data = response.json()
print(f"{data['OBJECT_NAME']} — period: {data['PERIOD_MINUTES']:.1f} min")

const response = await fetch(
  "https://orbital-data-api.davidhsu.cc/api/v1/gp/25544",
  { headers: { "X-Api-Key": "YOUR_KEY" } }
);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(`${data.OBJECT_NAME} — period: ${data.PERIOD_MINUTES.toFixed(1)} min`);

Response walkthrough

{
  "OBJECT_NAME": "ISS (ZARYA)",
  "OBJECT_ID": "1998-067A",
  "NORAD_CAT_ID": 25544,
  "EPOCH": "2026-03-12T14:22:37.000Z",
  "MEAN_MOTION": 15.50238117,
  "ECCENTRICITY": 0.000573,
  "INCLINATION": 51.6416,
  "RA_OF_ASC_NODE": 290.4299,
  "ARG_OF_PERICENTER": 30.7454,
  "MEAN_ANOMALY": 132.9751,
  "BSTAR": 0.00022936,
  "MEAN_MOTION_DOT": 0.00012769,
  "MEAN_MOTION_DDOT": 0.0,
  "REV_AT_EPOCH": 41425,
  "CLASSIFICATION_TYPE": "U",
  "ELEMENT_SET_NO": 999,
  "PERIOD_MINUTES": 92.87,
  "APOGEE_KM": 422.1,
  "PERIGEE_KM": 418.3,
  "SEMI_MAJOR_AXIS_KM": 6798.3,
  "DATA_SOURCE": "spacetrack",
  "CREATION_DATE": "2026-03-12T18:00:00.000Z",
  "_collected_at": "2026-03-12T19:15:00.000Z"
}
Field Description
OBJECT_NAME Common name of the satellite
NORAD_CAT_ID NORAD catalog number (unique identifier)
EPOCH When this element set is valid
MEAN_MOTION Revolutions per day
ECCENTRICITY Orbit shape (0 = circular, 1 = parabolic)
INCLINATION Orbit tilt relative to equator (degrees)
BSTAR Drag term (atmospheric drag coefficient)
PERIOD_MINUTES Orbital period (derived)
APOGEE_KM / PERIGEE_KM Highest / lowest altitude (derived)
DATA_SOURCE Where this record came from

Browse without an API key

You can explore satellite data without signing up using the Satellite Catalog Explorer. Click any object to view its current orbital elements, and log in to access full historical data.

Next steps