GCAT: General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects
Jonathan C. McDowell
Launches
Introduction
Definitions and Conventions
Vague Date format
Space and Orbit
Orbital Parameters and Coordinate Frames
JCAT catalog identifiers
Launch and Piece Designations
SatType scheme
Phases and Status values
Launch Success Fractions
Orbit Category values
Uncataloged ('U') Launches
Space Force 'Analyst' Objects
Nomenclature Codes
Launch Service Codes
Launch Profile Codes
II: Organizations Database
Orgs File:
Text
and
TSV
III: Launch Origins Database
Sites File:
Text
and
TSV
Launch Points File:
Text
and
TSV
IV: Launch Platforms
Platforms File:
Text
and
TSV
V: Launch Vehicles
Families
Data File:
Text
and
TSV
Launch Vehicle List
Data File:
Text
and
TSV
LV Stages
Data File:
Text
and
TSV
Stages
Data File:
Text
and
TSV
Engines
Data File:
Text
and
TSV
VI: Launch Lists
Launch Time References File:
Text
and
TSV
Launch List Column Descriptions
Data:
By family
and
(TSV)
Data:
By designation
Data:
Full list (TSV)
Data:
By family (tar.gz)
Supporting files (tar.gz)
Launch Count Totals
VII: Worlds in the Solar System
Worlds file column descriptions
Spin file column descriptions
Worlds data:
Text
and
TSV
Spin data:
Text
and
TSV
VIII: Object Catalogs
Documentation
Overview
Object and payload catalog general description
Object catalog column descriptions
Payload catalog column descriptions
List of deleted catalog entries
Derived catalog: Current Catalog - column descriptions
Derived catalog: Active Catalog - column descriptions
Derived catalog: Orbital Launch Log - column descriptions
Main catalogs
satcat (Standard)
Text
and
TSV
auxcat (Auxiliary)
Text
and
TSV
ftocat (Failed to orbit)
Text
and
TSV
satcat100k (Extended)
Text
and
TSV
Temporary catalogs
tmpcat (Temporary)
Text
and
TSV
csocat (Complementary)
Text
and
TSV
satcat070k (Analyst 70000)
Text
and
TSV
satcat270k (Analyst 270000)
Text
and
TSV
satcat700M (Analyst 700M)
Text
and
TSV
vimcat (ISON VIMPEL)
Text
and
TSV
Supporting catalogs
lcat (Endoatmospheric/Low)
Text
and
TSV
rcat (Suborbital/Rockets)
Text
and
TSV
Event catalogs
ecat (Events)
Text
and
TSV
deepcat (Deep Space)
Text
and
TSV
deepcat to satcat/auxcat crossindex
Text
and
TSV
hcocat (Heliocentric Register)
Text
and
TSV
lprcat (Lunar and Planetary Register)
Text
and
TSV
landercat (Lunar and Planetary landings and impacts)
Docs,
, Data:
Text
and
TSV
Payload catalogs
psatcat (Standard, Payloads)
Text
and
TSV
pauxcat (Auxiliary, Payloads)
Text
and
TSV
pftocat (Failed to orbit, Payloads)
Text
and
TSV
psatcat100k (Extended, Payloads)
Text
and
TSV
ptmpcat (Temporary, Payloads)
Text
and
TSV
plcat (Low, Payloads)
Text
and
TSV
prcat (Suborb, Payloads)
Text
and
TSV
pdeepcat (Deep, Payloads)
Text
and
TSV
usatcat (List of Unicode satellite names)
Text
and
TSV
Derived catalogs
Current Catalog (Summary of current space object catalog):
Column descriptions
;
Data (Text)
and
Data (TSV)
Orbital Launch Log (orbital launches and payloads) -
Column descriptions
;
Data (Text)
and
Data (TSV)
Geosync Catalog -
Column descriptions
;
Data (Text)
and
Data (TSV)
Active Catalog -
Column descriptions
;
Data (Text)
and
Data (TSV)
All catalogs
(tar.gz)
Acknowledgements
GCAT Release 1.8.5 (2026 Aug 8) | Data Update 2026 Aug 12
Launch Lists by Designation
O File:
Orbital Launches
U File:
Special list of marginal (orbital-energy) launches
F File:
Orbital Launch Failures
S File:
Exoatmospheric suborbital launches
M File:
Mesospheric launches
A File:
Endoatmospheric launches
E File:
Pad explosions
TSV versions
O File:
Orbital Launches
U File:
Special list of marginal (orbital-energy) launches
F File:
Orbital Launch Failures
S File:
Exoatmospheric suborbital launches
M File:
Mesospheric launches
A File:
Endoatmospheric launches
E File:
Pad explosions