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Satellite Passes vs TLE

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

APISatellite PassesNEW—TLENEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Satellite Passes vs TLE: common questions

Which is more reliable, Satellite Passes or TLE?

On our scheduled checks, TLE leads on measured uptime — Satellite Passes at —% versus TLE at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do Satellite Passes and TLE need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Satellite Passes is callable with no signup, and TLE is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Satellite Passes and TLE from the browser?

Yes — both Satellite Passes and TLE send CORS headers over HTTPS, so front-end code can fetch either directly with no backend proxy. That makes them easy to swap in a client-side app while you compare responses.

Are Satellite Passes and TLE free for commercial use?

Satellite Passes has unclear commercial terms, and TLE has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.