Orbital Elements

This page contains the archive of CloudSat two-line elements (TLEs) that can be used to determine the satellite's orbit.

For automation purposes, the most recent file can always be obtained from one of the following two locations:
     http://www.cloudsat.cira.colostate.edu/data_dist/TLEs/CloudSat_Current_TLE.txt
     ftp://ftp.cloudsat.cira.colostate.edu/TLE/CloudSat_Current_TLE.txt

A file with the TLEs from the entire mission is located at either of these two locations:
     http://www.cloudsat.cira.colostate.edu/data_dist/TLEs/CloudSat_All_TLEs.txt
     ftp://ftp.cloudsat.cira.colostate.edu/TLE/CloudSat_All_TLEs.txt

Satellite tracking software that uses the TLEs can be found by doing an internet search. The CloudSat DPC does not endorse any particular display program. However, we do use "WxTrack" to display the CloudSat orbit in the Data Processing Center and have found it to be extremely useful.

Note: TLE's are updated at approximately 16:00 UTC daily. TLE accurracy may be compromised when the spacecraft performs orbit-adjustment burns.

LSET naming convention update: As of 1 January 2010, the year will be 2 digits. For the filenames below, before 1 January 2010 the first digit indicates the year, otherwise the first two digits indicate the year. For all dates, the next three digits indicate the Julian day number.