Public Databases Related to the Space Economy 2026

The space economy depends on far more than launch schedules and satellite counts. It also relies on public databases that track spacecraft, debris, launch activity, Earth observation imagery, scientific missions, spectrum filings, procurement, grants, navigation systems, and research outputs. Together, these databases support work in manufacturing, launch services, satellite operations, insurance, regulation, finance, Earth observation services, scientific research, and downstream applications that use space-based data.

What follows is a broad, practical inventory of the main public databases and public-facing data portals connected to the space economy. The list includes fully open databases, systems that require free registration, and public-facing platforms that require approved access for full use. It covers technical infrastructure, regulatory and legal records, scientific archives, commercial and government contracting resources, and research databases that help explain how space activity turns into economic activity. In addition to the better-known catalog and imagery systems, it also includes the NASA Space Station Research Explorer, which is a public database of space station experiments, facilities, publications, objectives, results, and imagery, making it relevant to research, commercialization, technology maturation, and the broader low Earth orbit economy.

Space objects, satellites, debris, conjunctions, and re-entry

• United Nations Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space / Online Index of Objects Launched into Outer Space – official UN registry and searchable index for registered space objects. Access: open.
• Space-Track.org – U.S. public-facing space situational awareness portal with catalog, orbital data, decay, and re-entry data. Access: approval required.
• CelesTrak SATCAT – public searchable satellite catalog with related launch boxscore and catalog tools. Access:open.
• CelesTrak SOCRATES – public conjunction-screening database for close approaches between satellites and other tracked objects. Access: open.
• GCAT: General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects – broad public catalog family covering satellites, launches, current catalog summaries, auxiliary catalogs, and derived tables. Access: open.
• ESA DISCOSweb – ESA’s debris and space-object database environment, connected to fragmentation, re-entry, and statistics services. Access: public-facing, but account-based and partly restricted.
• ESA Re-entry Predictions – public ESA interface for tracking upcoming artificial-object re-entry predictions. Access: open.
• ESA Space Environment Statistics – ESA statistics portal for debris environment reporting and trend data. Access:open.
• WMO OSCAR/Space – official WMO database of Earth-observation satellites, instruments, frequencies, and space-based capabilities. Access: open.
• UCS Satellite Database – public downloadable database of operational satellites, useful for ownership, use, and operator fields. Access: open.
• N2YO Satellite Database – public searchable satellite-tracking and catalog interface. Access: open.

Launches, launch vehicles, and launch activity

• GCAT Orbital Launch Log – one of the most detailed public launch databases for orbital payloads and launch history. Access: open.
• JSR Launch Vehicle Database – public database of orbital and suborbital launch vehicle types and relationships. Access: open.
• FAA Commercial Space Data – official FAA commercial space data portal for U.S. launch and re-entry activity. Access: open.
• Spaceflight Now Launch Log – public launch log with global mission listings. Access: open.
• NASA SmallSat/CubeSat Fleet Missions Database – mission database with launch-linked records for NASA small satellites and CubeSats. Access: open.

Earth observation, satellite imagery, and geospatial data

• NASA Earthdata Search – primary public gateway to NASA Earth science datasets and search tools. Access: open, with some services requiring login.
• NASA Open Data Portal – NASA’s public metadata repository spanning science, exploration, aeronautics, and more. Access: open.
• NASA CSDA Satellite Data Explorer – discovery and access tool for NASA-acquired commercial satellite data. Access: public search; some ordering and access functions are controlled.
• Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem – main EU platform for Sentinel and related Earth-observation archives and services. Access: open ecosystem with registration for full use.
• Copernicus Browser – visual browsing and download interface for Copernicus missions. Access: open.
• Copernicus STAC and catalogue APIs – machine-readable catalog interfaces for Copernicus data discovery. Access: open APIs.
• EUMETSAT Data Store – official EUMETSAT data catalog and access portal. Access: public-facing, generally registration-based for use.
• USGS EarthExplorer – major public search portal for Landsat and other remote-sensing datasets. Access: open, with account features for downloads.
• JAXA G-Portal – free portal for satellite data from sensors developed by or involving JAXA. Access: open.
• ISRO Bhuvan – Indian geospatial and Earth-observation portal used for public dissemination of satellite-based data and maps. Access: open.
• ISRO Science Data Archive – archive of science-mission data from Indian space missions. Access: open.
• eoPortal Satellite Missions Catalogue – ESA-operated mission information database for Earth-observation missions, including past, operational, and future programs. Access: open.
• ESA Earth Observation Database – ESA business-oriented database of satellites, instruments, ground stations, software and services, and cloud platforms. Access: open.

Smallsat, components, technology, and mission-development databases

• SPOON – NASA-linked database of smallsat components including payloads, processors, antennas, propulsion, and other subsystems. Access: public-facing.
• NASA Small Satellite Reliability Initiative Knowledge Base – public searchable knowledge base of lessons learned, practices, standards, and mission resources for small satellites. Access: open.
• NASA S3VI Small Spacecraft resources – federated public entry point into SPOON and related small spacecraft resources. Access: open.
• NASA SmallSat/CubeSat Fleet Missions Database – also useful as a public database of actual flown smallsat missions. Access: open.

Navigation, timing, and GNSS operational data

• USCG NAVCEN GPS Constellation Status – official U.S. operational database and status interface for GPS constellation information. Access: open.
• USCG NAVCEN GPS NANUs, Almanacs, Operational Advisories, and SOF – official downloadable GPS operational data products. Access: open.
• Galileo Constellation Information – public service-status and constellation information portal. Access: open.
• Galileo Satellite Metadata – official metadata database for Galileo spacecraft properties used in advanced GNSS processing. Access: open.
• Galileo Almanac – public almanac data service. Access: open.
• Galileo NAGU Information – notice and event information affecting Galileo signal in space. Access: open.
• GLONASS Constellation Status and Almanac – official GLONASS operational status and almanac resources. Access: open.
• BeiDou official system portal – public BeiDou access point for official documents, ephemeris-related resources, and monitoring materials. Access: open.

Space science, astronomy, and planetary mission archives

• MAST – archive for Hubble, Webb, TESS, Kepler, and other astronomy missions. Access: largely open.
• NASA Planetary Data System – long-term archive for data returned from NASA planetary missions. Access:open.
• HEASARC – NASA multi-mission archive for high-energy astrophysics and related datasets. Access: open.
• DARTS – archive covering astrophysics, solar physics, solar-terrestrial, lunar and planetary, and microgravity science data. Access: open.
• ESO Science Archive Facility – archive for ESO observatory data and processed science products. Access: open.
• NASA Exoplanet Archive – public exoplanet and host-star catalog and data service. Access: open.
• NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database – public database and toolset for extragalactic objects. Access: open.
• European Hubble Science Archive – ESA-hosted archive environment for Hubble data. Access: public-facing.
• NASA Space Station Research Explorer – searchable public database of International Space Station experiments, facilities, publications, research objectives, results, and imagery. Access: open.

Licensing, spectrum, law, and governance databases

• FCC International Bureau Filing System – official U.S. filing database for satellite and international telecommunications applications. Access: public-facing.
• FCC Approved Space Station List – public list tied to FCC satellite licensing. Access: open.
• FCC Part 5 Experimental Licensing – public-facing route for experimental space and earth station licenses. Access: public search and filing.
• NOAA Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs – public licensing portal for private remote-sensing space systems in the United States. Access: public-facing.
• ITU SpaceExplorer / SNS – official ITU database for geostationary and non-geostationary satellite systems, earth stations, and related filings. Access: public consultation tools.
• ITU Space Network List – official ITU list of planned and existing space stations and earth stations. Access:public consultation tools.
• UNOOSA ASTRO National Space Law Database – public database of national space laws and policies. Access:open.
• UNOOSA international space law and treaties resources – public database area for treaties, principles, and related international instruments on space activities. Access: open.
• UNOOSA Treaty Status database – public status information on international agreements relating to outer space. Access: open.
• UNOOSA Documents and Resolutions Database – searchable UN documents database relevant to space law, policy, COPUOS, GNSS, and related topics. Access: open.

Procurement, grants, spending, and corporate-finance databases

• USAspending.gov – official U.S. federal spending database covering contracts, grants, and loans. Access: open.
• SAM.gov Contract Data – public U.S. federal contract-award database and opportunities environment. Access:public-facing.
• SEC EDGAR – official public filings database for public companies, useful for launch firms, satellite operators, and listed aerospace companies. Access: open.
• TED – official EU public-procurement portal, useful for European space-sector contract discovery. Access: open.
• NASA NSPIRES – public-facing NASA research-opportunity and solicitation search system. Access: public search, account-based submission.
• Grants.gov NASA page – public grants database entry point for NASA-related funding opportunities. Access:open.

Space weather and related operational data portals

• ESA Space Weather Service Network – public ESA portal for space-weather dashboards, products, archives, alerts, and tools. Access: open, with deeper services after registration.
• CelesTrak Space Weather Data – public operational space-weather data feed inside the CelesTrak ecosystem. Access: open.