Tracking, TLEs & spacecraft identification

Also known as NORAD ID, COSPAR ID, TLE, OMM, 18 SDS

NORAD/COSPAR cataloguing by the 18th Space Defense Squadron, SGP4 orbital elements (TLE/OMM), radar cross-section of 5 cm cubes and Differential Doppler identification.

Document: SQ-OP-006
Updated: 21 Oct 2026
Reading time: 1 min

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How 5 cm picosatellites are tracked and catalogued#

The US Space Force 18th Space Defense Squadron (18 SDS) maintains the public satellite catalogue (Space-Track / CelesTrak), assigning each tracked object a five-digit Catalog Number and an international COSPAR designator (e.g., 2022-002 for Falcon 9 Transporter-3)[1]. Orbits are distributed as Two-Line Elements () or CCSDS Orbit Mean-Elements Messages (OMM) designed for propagation with the analytical theory[2].

Approximate radar cross-section (RCS) across UHF (440 MHz), S-band (3.1 GHz), and X-band (10 GHz) space-surveillance regimes

Spacecraft configuration	UHF 440 MHz (dBsm)	S-band 3.1 GHz (dBsm)	X-band 10 GHz (dBsm)	S-band scattering regime
1P PocketQube (50 × 50 × 50 mm, bare bus)	−43.0	−24.5	−16.4	Mie
1P PocketQube + 34 cm UHF dipole	−11.1	−18.4	−8.3	Optical
3P PocketQube (50 × 50 × 178 mm)	−22.5	−13.8	−3.6	Optical
1U CubeSat (100 × 100 × 100 mm)	−25.0	−12.5	−2.3	Optical
1P PocketQube + mini X-band corner reflector	−38.3	−11.7	−3.6	Mie

References

[1]nadir lab. (2026). PocketQube picosatellites: A review of standards, mission trends and miniaturization constraints, with lessons learned from Grizu-263A, Türkiye’s first PocketQube [Preprint]. nadir lab.Read on nadir lab.
[2]Vallado, D. A. (2013). Fundamentals of Astrodynamics and Applications (4th ed.). Microcosm Press.
[3]Libre Space Foundation community forum. (2022). SpaceX F9 Transporter-3, 2022-01-13 15:25 UTC (discussion thread).community.libre.space(accessed 20 October 2026)
[4]Libre Space Foundation. (2026). SatNOGS DB — satellite and transmitter database.db.satnogs.org(accessed 20 October 2026)

Cite this SatWiki entry

@misc{nadirlab2026tracking,
  author       = {{nadir lab.}},
  title        = {{Tracking, TLEs \& spacecraft identification}},
  year         = {2026},
  month        = oct,
  howpublished = {nadir lab. SatWiki SQ-OP-006 (Rev. 1)},
  url          = {https://nadirlab.space/en/wiki/tracking-identification/}
}

nadir lab. (2026). Tracking, TLEs & spacecraft identification. nadir lab. SatWiki (SQ-OP-006, Rev. 1). https://nadirlab.space/en/wiki/tracking-identification/

TY  - ENCYC
AU  - {nadir lab.}
TI  - Tracking, TLEs & spacecraft identification
T2  - nadir lab. SatWiki
PY  - 2026
ET  - Rev. 1
C1  - SQ-OP-006
UR  - https://nadirlab.space/en/wiki/tracking-identification/
ER  -