Following our previous article 《「GIS Tutorial」Visualizing Global Satellites Online》, many readers inquired about accessing raw satellite data for custom visualizations. After extensive research, we've identified a reliable method to obtain comprehensive satellite orbital data.
Reference visualization from the original platform
Initial Scraping Approach
Analyzing the source website (https://platform.leolabs.space/visualizations/leo) revealed data endpoints: 
While GLTF-formatted data was accessible via browser developer tools, this format proves suboptimal for geospatial analysis. We therefore pursued alternative sources.
UCS Satellite Database Solution
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) maintains an authoritative satellite database with significant advantages:
- Contains 7,560 satellites operational as of May 1, 2023
Provides 28 attributes per satellite including:
- Physical characteristics (mass, power)
- Operational parameters (launch date, expected lifetime)
- Orbital elements (apogee, perigee, inclination, period)
- Ownership/operator details
- Updated periodically (current release: 2023)
Visualization Implementation
An open-source implementation using ArcGIS API for JavaScript demonstrates practical application:
- Project repository: https://github.com/RalucaNicola/satellite-explorer
- Sample visualization output:
Data Applications
- 3D orbital trajectory modeling
- Satellite collision probability analysis
- Mission planning simulations
- Space debris monitoring frameworks
Alternative Sources
Submissions of updated or complementary satellite datasets are welcomed for community sharing.
Acknowledgement: @学GIS的白胖子 for data sourcing methodology.