New Feature Rocket tracking using FlightClub Data

[R2robot]

Is it possible to track/plot rocket trajectories some time after launch? SpaceX sometimes, but not always, includes graphics showing part of the rocket's first track after launch.

These launches usually generate quite a few sighting reports, so it would be cool to just pull up the track on demand if possible.

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[MICK: Yes, see: https://www.metabunk.org/threads/rocket-tracking.14726/post-362357 ]

 

[Mick West]

I don't think so, which is a shame, as that data presumably exists, and is used to display the telemetry on SpaceX launch broadcasts. We could scrape that, but there's no lat/lon

 

[GM4AJK]

Yesterday, I became aware of the unofficial r/SpaceXAPI and was going to have a look at what info is available. Maybe worth a look @Mick West ?

[edit: doesn't look useful for this application, can't see any tracking data]

 

[Mick West]

Yesterday, I became aware of the unofficial r/SpaceXAPI and was going to have a look at what info is available. Maybe worth a look @Mick West ?

[edit: doesn't look useful for this application, can't see any tracking data]

I saw that, but it has not been updated for four years, so I didn't think it would be useful.

 

[flarkey]

https://flightclub.io/ offers 3d modelling of rocket launches, particularly upcoming ones. Its a bit harder to find historical launches but they can be found...

https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/launch/falcon-9-block-5-starlink-group-6-103/

https://flightclub.io/result/3d?llId=a0ed15aa-4d23-48ac-a712-950228663b43

I'm not sure if the trajectory data is available though,

@R2robot - to find historic launches goto this page to select the year and then the particular mission: https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/2020-2026-launch-schedule/

Most starlink & USA launches include a Trajectory link to flightclub.io

 

[Mick West]

I'm not sure if the trajectory data is available though,

It somewhat is

 

[Mick West]

I've lightly updated Sitrec to import both the JSON files you can (theoretically) scrape from the 3D viewer,
https://flightclub.io/result/3d?missionId=mis_1oygy1eww
You'd want the call to simulation, like: https://api.flightclub.io/v3/simulation?simulationId=sim_jj60s7utu
You'd need API access for this to work properly.

There's the files you can freely download from the "path Tracker" exporter
https://flightclub.io/path-tracker

Path tracker wants a view location to generate Az and El values, but it also exports the Lat, Lon, and Alt of the track. No time though, and I don't have a great way of setting a track start time right now. It also seems to just be future launches.

Full use might require API usage. I don't know if this has historical data. It also costs money.
https://flightclub.io/pricing/commercial-usage

 

[jdog]

I've seen people touting apps that are supposed to alert you when a launch is going to be visible, but I don't know where they get their data from or how well they work. Most of the Vandenberg launches seem to come over us in Southern California, so maybe it's just a "tends to go over you" estimate rather than an actual calculation. (The SpaceX launch page for Vandenberg always seems to say "There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.")

Looks like there's a Vandenberg launch scheduled for tomorrow at 7:37 a.m. to keep an eye out for.

 

[jdog]

I've seen people touting apps that are supposed to alert you when a launch is going to be visible, but I don't know where they get their data from or how well they work. Most of the Vandenberg launches seem to come over us in Southern California, so maybe it's just a "tends to go over you" estimate rather than an actual calculation. (The SpaceX launch page for Vandenberg always seems to say "There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.")

Looks like there's a Vandenberg launch scheduled for tomorrow at 7:37 a.m. to keep an eye out for.

Meh, turns out all those apps really do is scrape the launch schedule and tell you when they're happening so you can watch the live stream, plus keep a database of past activity. Not useful here.

 

[Mick West]

There's the files you can freely download from the "path Tracker" exporter
https://flightclub.io/path-tracker

Path tracker wants a view location to generate Az and El values, but it also exports the Lat, Lon, and Alt of the track. No time though, and I don't have a great way of setting a track start time right now. It also seems to just be future launches.

Flightclub's "Path Tracker" page allows you to download a file that contains the tracks of the mission. It has upcoming and past missions.
https://flightclub.io/path-tracker

So just put in any location (I used 55, -100, somewhere in Texas, but I don't think it's important). Then open the dropdown, and you can search for the mission name, e.g. 6-56 (the one @flarkey referenced above)

Then "Download all paths as CSV" (or just one at a time, if your browser does not like multi-file downloads), drag them into Sitrec, and there you go.