Abonneren om te downloaden
Artificial satellites around Earth

This is an experimental addon containing several 3d models for artificial satellites orbiting around Earth. It also provides some orbital tracks of satellites used in scientific research.

These orbits are the result of conversions from available NORAD TLE files to keplerian elements. They are not suitable for pass predictions after few days, since there are variables like the atmospheric drag that SpaceEngine can't account for, especially important for Low Earth Orbit objects like the International Space Station. There's other software available for these calculations, see for example the online orbit visualizer from CelesTrak[celestrak.com].

However, if you want to know where a satellite is within the SpaceEngine universe with a reasonable approximation, orbital data will be regularly updated if you subscribe to one or more of these other addons:

• Last 30 days' satellites
• Visual satellites
• Science satellites
• Starlink satellites
• Active satellites

Sources of original 3d models for satellites and probes are from ESA[scifleet.esa.int] and NASA[nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov] 3d model repositories.
WIP 3d models for Starlink and SWARM satellites are built from references and images found online.
Dragon model courtesy of retrovisor.

A word of advice: Having hundreds or thousands of satellites orbiting around Earth can be taxing for your graphic card, and there are some engine limitations, for example on the labels displayed against the Earth in background.
My suggestion is to enable only the orbital data of the kind of satellite you're interested in from those above, and/or disabling them even temporarily, if you feel your framerate is not satisfying. I have a low specs laptop and graphic card, so I'm used to low framerates and I don't mind.
Hopefully I'll be able to find ways to provide a better experience.