Tracking Methods
Radar is the primary tool for tracking objects in LEO. The US Space Fence (Kwajalein Atoll) is the world's most advanced radar for space surveillance, capable of detecting objects as small as 5 cm at LEO altitudes. Phased-array radar systems can track thousands of objects simultaneously without physically moving.
Optical telescopes detect objects by the sunlight they reflect. They are most effective for objects in higher orbits (MEO, GEO) where radar range limitations apply. Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) sites are key assets.
Laser ranging provides extremely precise distance measurements for cooperative satellites equipped with retroreflectors, but cannot be used for debris.
The Space Surveillance Network
The US Space Surveillance Network (SSN) consists of approximately 30 radar and optical sensor sites worldwide. It maintains the definitive public catalogue of tracked space objects, distributing data as TLEs via Space-Track.org. The catalogue contains over 44,800 regularly tracked objects as of early 2026.
Commercial Trackers
LeoLabs operates a growing network of phased-array radars providing commercial tracking and conjunction services. ExoAnalytic Solutions runs a global network of optical telescopes. These commercial providers are filling gaps in the government-run SSN and enabling faster, more responsive tracking.
How Orbital Radar Uses This Data
Orbital Radar primarily sources its catalogue data from the public TLE catalogue provided by the 18th Space Defense Squadron via Space-Track.org. These TLEs are propagated using the SGP4 algorithm to generate real-time positions for visualisation on the 3D globe. See Data Sources for full details.