Terms of Service

Last Updated: January 3, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using OrbitalPing ISS Tracker ("Service"), you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Service.

1.1 Eligibility

• You must be at least 13 years old to use this Service
• You must provide accurate information when requested
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account

1.2 Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting. Your continued use constitutes acceptance of modified Terms.

2. Service Description

2.1 ISS Tracking Service

OrbitalPing provides:
- Real-time International Space Station (ISS) position tracking
- Predictions of visible ISS passes over user-specified locations
- Email notifications for upcoming ISS and Starlink train passes (requires email verification)
- Weather and cloud cover information integrated with pass predictions
- Global Spotlight feature showing the top 3 upcoming passes worldwide
- Pass filtering based on viewing quality (elevation angle, twilight conditions, cloud cover)

2.2 Data Sources

Our Service uses:
- TLE (Two-Line Element) data from CelesTrak for ISS orbital calculations
- Weather and cloud cover data from Open-Meteo API
- SpaceX API for Starlink launch and orbital data
- Astronomical calculations using Skyfield and PyEphem libraries
- NASA and space agency public domain data

2.3 Service Availability

• The Service is provided "as is" and "as available"
• We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free service
• Scheduled maintenance may cause temporary unavailability
• We reserve the right to modify or discontinue features at any time

3. User Data and Email Notifications

3.1 Email Registration

• You can view ISS predictions without providing any information
• Email registration is required only for notification features
• Email verification is mandatory before notifications are activated
• Verification email contains a unique link that must be clicked
• You must provide accurate email address and location information
• There is no traditional "account" - only email-based notifications

3.2 Location Data

• Location data (latitude, longitude, elevation) is used exclusively for ISS pass calculations
• You provide location data when signing up for notifications
• Location data is stored securely in our database
• You can update your location by providing a new email/location combination
• We do not track your location continuously or in real-time

3.3 Email Notifications

• Email notifications are opt-in only and require verification
• You will receive a verification email immediately after signup
• Notifications will not be sent until you click the verification link
• Once verified, you receive notifications about:
• Upcoming ISS passes over your location
• Starlink train predictions (if enabled)
• Global Spotlight alerts when your city is featured
• You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email
• Unsubscribing stops all notifications immediately
• We never send unsolicited marketing or promotional emails
• Notification frequency: typically a few emails per month when good viewing opportunities occur

4. Acceptable Use

4.1 Permitted Use

You may use the Service to:
- Track the ISS and receive pass predictions
- Share information with others (with attribution)
- Use data for personal, educational, or non-commercial purposes

4.2 Prohibited Activities

You may not:
- Use automated systems to access the Service excessively (beyond rate limits)
- Attempt to circumvent security measures or authentication
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Service
- Use the Service for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
- Impersonate others or provide false information
- Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers
- Collect user data without authorization
- Use the Service to transmit malware or harmful code

4.3 Rate Limiting

• API requests are subject to rate limiting to prevent abuse
• Excessive requests may result in temporary blocking (HTTP 429 status)
• Current rate limits per IP address:
• /api/passes: 20 requests per minute
• /api/save-user: 3 requests per minute
• /api/check-user: 10 requests per minute
• /api/spotlight/data: 60 requests per minute
• /api/spotlight/health: 60 requests per minute
• Contact us if you need higher limits for legitimate use cases (research, education)

5. Intellectual Property

5.1 Service Content

• The Service interface, design, and code are protected by copyright
• Original content and compilation of data are owned by OrbitalPing
• Trademarks, logos, and service marks are owned by their respective owners

5.2 Proprietary Software

• This application is proprietary software
• All code, design, and intellectual property are owned by OrbitalPing
• Unauthorized copying, distribution, or reverse engineering is prohibited

5.3 User Content

• You retain ownership of any content you submit
• By submitting content, you grant us a license to use it for Service operation
• You represent that you have rights to any content you submit

5.4 Third-Party Data

• ISS orbital data is public domain from CelesTrak
• Weather data is provided by third-party services
• NASA imagery and data is used under public domain or applicable licenses

6. Disclaimers and Limitations

6.1 Accuracy Disclaimer

• ISS pass predictions are estimates based on orbital mechanics and TLE data
• TLE data is updated regularly from CelesTrak but orbital perturbations may affect accuracy
• Pass times are typically accurate to within 1-2 minutes
• Weather and cloud cover forecasts are provided by third-party APIs and may not be accurate
• Global Spotlight rankings are based on elevation angle and may not reflect your personal viewing preferences
• We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information
• Actual visibility conditions may vary from predictions due to:
• Local weather conditions
• Light pollution and atmospheric conditions
• Timing variations in ISS orbit
• Obstructions (buildings, trees, mountains)

6.2 No Warranty

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
- Warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
- Warranties of non-infringement
- Warranties regarding accuracy or reliability of results
- Warranties of uninterrupted or error-free operation

6.3 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:
- We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages
- We are not liable for loss of profits, data, or use
- Our total liability shall not exceed $100 USD
- Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of liability, so this may not apply to you

6.4 Astronomical Events

We are not responsible if you miss an ISS pass or Starlink train due to:
- Inaccurate predictions or timing variations
- Email delivery delays or failures
- Spam filters blocking our emails
- Failure to verify your email address
- Weather conditions or cloud cover
- Technical issues with our Service or third-party APIs
- User error or misconfiguration

7. Third-Party Services

7.1 External Links

• The Service may contain links to third-party websites
• We are not responsible for content or practices of external sites
• Your use of third-party sites is at your own risk

7.2 Third-Party APIs

• We rely on external APIs (CelesTrak, Open-Meteo, SpaceX API, AWS SES)
• Availability of third-party services may affect our Service
• We are not responsible for third-party service interruptions or data inaccuracies

8. Privacy and Data Protection

8.1 Privacy Policy

• Your use is also governed by our Privacy Policy
• Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference
• Available at: https://orbitalping.com/privacy

8.2 Data Collection

• We collect only email and location data necessary for notifications
• No user accounts, passwords, or personal profiles are created
• You have rights to access and delete your data
• We comply with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable privacy laws
• We do not sell or share your data with advertisers

8.3 Security

• We implement industry-standard security measures (HTTPS, HttpOnly cookies, CSP)
• Email verification prevents unauthorized signups
• Rate limiting prevents abuse and automated attacks
• No system is completely secure - use at your own risk

9. User Conduct and Community

9.1 Responsible Use

• Use the Service respectfully and lawfully
• Do not abuse or overload the Service
• Report security vulnerabilities responsibly

9.2 Feedback and Contributions

• Feedback and suggestions are welcome
• We may use feedback without compensation
• Open source contributions are subject to the project license

9.3 Termination

We may terminate or suspend access to the Service:
- For violation of these Terms
- For illegal or harmful activity
- For extended inactivity
- At our discretion with or without notice

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless OrbitalPing, its developers, contributors, and partners from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:
- Your use of the Service
- Your violation of these Terms
- Your violation of any rights of another party
- Your violation of applicable laws

11. Dispute Resolution

11.1 Governing Law

• These Terms are governed by the laws of your jurisdiction
• Disputes shall be resolved in accordance with applicable law

11.2 Arbitration

• Disputes may be subject to binding arbitration
• You may opt out of arbitration within 30 days
• Small claims court option remains available

11.3 Class Action Waiver

• Disputes must be brought individually
• You waive the right to participate in class actions
• You waive the right to jury trial

12. Modifications and Updates

12.1 Service Changes

We reserve the right to:
- Modify or discontinue features
- Update calculation algorithms
- Change rate limits or usage restrictions
- Add or remove third-party integrations

12.2 Notification

• Material changes will be communicated via email or Service notification
• Continued use constitutes acceptance of changes

13. Contact and Support

13.1 Contact Information

For questions, support, or concerns:
- Email: support@orbitalping.com
- Website: https://orbitalping.com/contact

13.2 Response Time

• We aim to respond to inquiries within 48-72 hours
• Support is provided on a best-effort basis
• No guaranteed response time or resolution

13.3 Bug Reports

• Please report bugs via email to support@orbitalping.com
• Security vulnerabilities should be reported privately to security@orbitalping.com
• Provide detailed information to help us resolve issues

14. Special Provisions

14.1 Educational Use

• Teachers and students may use the Service for educational purposes
• Bulk access for classroom use may require approval
• Contact us for educational partnerships

14.2 Research Use

• Researchers may use the Service for non-commercial research
• Proper attribution is required in publications
• Contact us for API access for research projects

14.3 Commercial Use

• Commercial use of the Service requires prior written permission
• Open source license terms apply to code usage
• Contact us for commercial licensing inquiries

15. Miscellaneous

15.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and OrbitalPing regarding the Service.

15.2 Severability

If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.

15.3 No Waiver

Failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

15.4 Assignment

You may not assign these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms to any party at any time.

15.5 Force Majeure

We are not liable for failures due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including:
- Natural disasters
- Acts of government
- Network or infrastructure failures
- Third-party service outages

16. Acknowledgments

16.1 Data Sources

We acknowledge and thank:
- CelesTrak for providing ISS TLE data (public domain)
- Open-Meteo for weather and cloud cover data
- SpaceX for Starlink launch and orbital data (public API)
- Skyfield and PyEphem library developers
- NASA for space imagery and public domain data
- Open source community contributors

16.2 Technology Stack

This Service is built using industry-standard technologies and frameworks. All proprietary code and implementations remain confidential.

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Acceptance

By using OrbitalPing ISS Tracker, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.

Effective Date: January 3, 2026

Version: 2.1

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For the most current version of these Terms, please visit https://orbitalping.com/terms