Orbital Data & Attribution
A new dataset labels 1,134 satellite maneuvers
MAD-LEO checks mission-published maneuver histories against multiple orbit sources and adds a 6,785-satellite operational comparison set.
Briefed September 9, 2026 · Aliens in the Clouds
New Dataset · Conventional Space Operations
The MAD-LEO preprint presents a public maneuver-annotated dataset for low-Earth-orbit satellites. Its mission-reported subset contains 1,134 maneuvers by 11 geodetic and altimetry spacecraft from 1992 through 2026. Each event begins with a mission-published history, then is compared with two-line elements, precise orbit products, and satellite laser-ranging observations; evidence tiers reflect which independent records are available.
A second operational subset compares operator-published ephemerides for 6,785 Starlink satellites with cataloged two-line elements over a continuous 107-hour window. The authors report technical validation across seven machine-readable experiment suites. The work addresses a real gap in public maneuver labels, but it is a newly submitted dataset whose coverage, generalizability, and downstream detection performance still need independent testing.
Why it matters
A documented maneuver can otherwise look like an unexplained change in motion. Evidence-tiered orbital data helps separate known spacecraft behavior from genuinely uncorrelated tracks before stronger claims are made.
What the source establishes
Verified dataset preprint and described source checks. It catalogs conventional satellite operations and does not report a UAP detection or extraordinary maneuver.
Published by Aliens in the Clouds. These AI-assisted summaries link to their sources and distinguish reported claims from established findings. Skinny Ed is a fictional mascot; High Thoughts are comedy. Send a correction with its source.