Dear visual satellite observers, We've finished putting together a database of all the active satellites, with their attributes. I hope that it will be useful to you. This database differs from others you may have used in that it does not contain TLEs, nor information on debris or satellites that are known to no longer be active. Instead, we have gathered public information on operational satellites so that one can obtain aggregate information about populations of satellites or some detailed characteristics on individual satellites of interest. And it is in Excel spreadsheet format, in order to be easy to manipulate and search. I'm copying the release information below. As part of the release, I was interviewed by the Associated Press, and the reporter was very interested in amateur satellite observing. I sent her as much information as I could from the public realm. The story is a bit sensationalist, but I do hope you feel you were represented faithfully. Laura Dr. Laura Grego Staff Scientist, Global Security Program Union of Concerned Scientists AP Story: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SPOTTING_SATELLITES?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=customwire.htm The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) announces the release of the UCS Satellite Database, a searchable list of over 800 active satellites with detailed information about them. The database is free and can be downloaded from the UCS website. It is in Excel format, allowing users to easily search and sort the data. The UCS Satellite Database is the only free, comprehensive compilation of active satellites in an easy to manipulate, commonly used database format. The database uses data from publicly available sources, and its distribution and use are unrestricted. It will be updated quarterly. The database is intended to be a research tool for specialists and non-specialists alike. Users can find information about a particular satellite; identify sets of satellites having a common characteristic, such as altitude or mission; and sort or aggregate data about the whole population of satellites. Users can quickly answer questions such as *How many satellites does a given country have in orbit, and what are they used for? *How many satellites are used for military purposes versus commercial purposes? *Which countries have earth-observing satellites? At what altitudes do most satellites orbit? The database contains 21 types of data for each satellite, including technical information about each satellite (mass, power, launch date, expected lifetime) and its orbit (apogee, perigee, inclination, and period), as well as what the satellite is used for, and who owns, operates, and built the satellite. The database and Users' Manual can be downloaded at www.ucsusa.org/satellite_database. We welcome corrections, additions, and suggestions. These can be emailed to the Database manager at SatelliteData@ucsusa.org. Formed in 1969, the Union of Concerned Scientists is a nonprofit partnership of scientists and citizens combining rigorous scientific analysis, innovative policy development and effective citizen advocacy to achieve practical environmental solutions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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