How Do I Follow NASA Shuttle Orbits?

Any space shuttle in orbit can be easily tracked online in real time.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, receives a considerable amount of funding from the federal government. The space missions it commissions are a paragon of the ingenuity of America. As a result of these two factors, many Americans want to know as much as possible about current space missions. Fortunately, NASA has provided simple methods to track current NASA shuttle orbits.

Instructions

1. Select a mission you would like to track. NASA's website has information on every mission currently in orbit, including data on the astronauts aboard each shuttle and space station.

2. Navigate to the Human Space Flight Orbital Tracker, available on NASA's website . This page provides a real-time view of all the manned space missions currently in orbit. You can track the location, altitude and speed of every manned spacecraft.

3. Choose one of NASA's Real Time Satellite Tracking Applications to view the location of unmanned spacecraft (satellites). There are both 2D and 3D options available, and you must have Java installed on your computer to view many of these tracking maps.

Tips & Warnings

• Many tracking maps have the functionality to suggest viewing opportunities when an individual on the ground may be able to see a spacecraft using a telescope.

References

• NASA: Human Space Flight Orbital Tracker
• NASA: Real Time Satellite Tracking Applications