Using Spaceflight Tracker
Where do launch times come from?
The launch schedule comes from The Space Devs Launch Library 2. Responses are cached for 30 minutes to limit requests to the public service. Operator announcements can be newer than the schedule.
Does Go mean the time is guaranteed?
No. A launch can still be delayed. Read the mission status and confirm timing with the operator before making viewing plans.
Does T+ mean the rocket has launched?
No. The countdown compares your clock with the listed target time. It cannot detect liftoff. Check the operator’s broadcast or mission result.
Why is a past mission on the homepage?
Selected flights may remain featured after launch. Their listed dates and provider statuses are preserved. Other recently scheduled missions can remain briefly visible around their target time.
What happens if the launch feed fails?
The site displays an unavailable message when it cannot retrieve data. It does not generate replacement dates. Previously cached provider responses can lag new announcements.
Why does an old mission link no longer work?
Launch detail pages now use the provider’s mission IDs. Old demonstration IDs do not represent confirmed records and return a not-found page. Use the current schedule to select a mission.
Can the ISS map tell me when to look outside?
It shows orbital position and ground track. For a visible pass, use a prediction for your location, including time, direction, elevation and illumination. Start with the satellite-spotting guide below.
Why is a station position marked delayed or unavailable?
The provider did not return a fresh, valid position. We show the last received timestamp or an unavailable message, not a simulated position. Tiangong depends on the site’s N2YO service configuration and quota.
Why does Tiangong only show a five-minute prediction?
Its provider returns positions starting at the request time for at most 300 seconds. Repeating that request does not extend the prediction into later hours.
Why are fewer rockets listed now?
The reference catalogue contains five vehicles with checked primary sources. Unsourced statistics and unverified reference pages were withdrawn. Other vehicles can still appear in the provider’s launch schedule.
Does a hazardous asteroid label mean an impact is predicted?
No. It is an orbital and brightness screening classification. The approach distance and impact-monitoring information must be interpreted separately. The asteroid explainer links to NASA CNEOS.
How do I report an error?
Use Contact and include the page address, the field or sentence in question and a source if available. This makes a correction easier to verify.