CelesTrak orbital elements (TRIPWIRE cache)

CEV-OS / Data API / CelesTrak orbital elements (TRIPWIRE cache)

CEV-OS Data API · last updated 2026-11-04. Status: live. Version 1.

Use this when you need CelesTrak GP orbital elements (OMM) for a TRIPWIRE-cached group (stations, weather, resource, gps-ops, starlink) to propagate yourself with SGP4.

What it is

CelesTrak GP element sets for the groups TRIPWIRE already caches (stations, weather, resource, gps-ops, starlink). Data originates from space-track.org and is redistributed by CelesTrak (attribution required; redistribution terms uncertain). Served only from the TRIPWIRE cache — this endpoint never fetches CelesTrak per caller (CelesTrak allows one download per 2-hour update; 50 errors trigger an IP block). No ground positions. Not for navigation.

Endpoints

REST: GET /v1/satellite-elements on https://api.cev-os.com
Legacy host (same service): GET /v1/satellite-elements on https://cev-os.com
MCP tool: get_satellite_elements on https://mcp.cev-os.com/mcp

Parameters

Query parameters for `GET /v1/satellite-elements`
Name	Type	Description	Constraints
`group`	string	CelesTrak GP group already cached by TRIPWIRE.	enum: stations, weather, resource, gps-ops, starlink; example stations
`limit`	integer	Max element sets (1-500, default 100).	example 20; min 1; max 500

Example request

No account and no key. Query values below are the examples or defaults from the registry. An optional free key (header x-api-key) raises the limits; create one at https://cev-os.com/#api_keys after signing in with a verified email (Google sign-in is already verified).

curl -s "https://api.cev-os.com/v1/satellite-elements?group=stations&limit=20"

Example response

Every /v1 response is a JSON envelope (schema_version, product, timestamps, license, attribution, data). The registry example is the data member:

{
  "group": "stations",
  "count": 1,
  "available": 1,
  "cache_only": true,
  "degraded": false,
  "elements": [
    {
      "object_name": "ISS (ZARYA)",
      "norad_cat_id": 25544,
      "epoch": "2026-11-01T12:00:00.000000",
      "inclination": 51.64,
      "mean_motion": 15.5
    }
  ]
}

Update frequency

TRIPWIRE refreshes each cached group at most every 6 h (CelesTrak 2 h minimum); Data API reads cache only and caches 10 min.

Public cache: 600 seconds (Cache-Control: public, max-age=600).

Sources, license and usage

License status: cleared with attribution. CelesTrak redistributes GP/OMM element sets (stations, Starlink, weather, resource, gps-ops) that originate from space-track.org. Attribution required; redistribution terms uncertain (not a fully open license). Served from our cache only.

Underlying sources
Source	License	commercialOk	Terms
CelesTrak GP orbital elements (OMM) for stations, Starlink, weather, resource and gps-ops	CelesTrak redistributes GP/OMM element sets that originate from space-track.org (18 SDS / USSF). CelesTrak asks for attribution. space-track.org terms restrict redistribution; reuse is attribution-required / uncertain, not a fully open license. Cite CelesTrak. Served from our cache only.	pending	https://celestrak.org/webmaster.php

Attribution (show this wherever you display the data):

Orbital data: CelesTrak (https://celestrak.org/). Via cev-os TRIPWIRE cache (never fetched from CelesTrak per caller).

Privacy class: public-derived. Access: public. Price: free (price is null; pay-per-call is not active).

Gaps

No sub-satellite point (the Data API carries no coordinate fields); propagate the elements yourself.
Empty if TRIPWIRE has not yet cached that group on this instance.

Disclaimer

Informational. Not for navigation, collision avoidance or safety-of-life use.

Data API hub (all products, limits, license notes)
MCP Registry listing com.cev-os/data
OpenAPI 3.1
Machine product list: /v1/products

Reference data, not investment advice.