Satellite Catalog Number

The Satellite Catalog Number, SCN, ( former names NORAD number USSPACECOM object number ) is a unique five-digit identification number for artificial earth satellites.

The catalog was formerly maintained by NORAD and then USSPACECOM. It indicates the path data of the objects in the TLE format. Evidence of secret U.S. military satellites are missing.

Currently, it is estimated the number of active satellite to almost 900 (2008 ), of which almost 400 in geostationary orbit. A further 350 unregistered objects were observed there. 200 objects appear to be space debris, the remaining 150 potentially military satellites.

The open access catalog contains nearly 12,800 objects in Earth orbit from a size of about 10 cm, including 8130 fragments of destroyed satellite / drive levels and entdriftete in EVAs objects (as of March 2009). The number of objects is greater than 1 cm, it is estimated at 600,000.

Another naming scheme is the international COSPAR designation ( NSSDC ID).