Opening TLE Files

The TLE file type is primarily associated with SGP4Propagator.

TLE	File extension: TLE
	File type:	data file

What is a TLE file?

TLE files mostly belong to SGP4Propagator. An TLE file is a satellite orbit data file that holds a standard Two-Line Element set.
It stores numerical data for a satellite's orbital parameters using a fixed two‐line format.

• Orbit parameters: Values such as inclination, eccentricity, and right ascension.
• Epoch details: The time at which these parameters are valid.

Programs like SGP4Propagator use this data to calculate and predict satellite positions.
FilExt.com note: For further details on the SGP4 algorithm, refer to this page.

How to open TLE files

You need a suitable software like SGP4Propagator to open a TLE file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your TLE file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a TLE file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online TLE Text Viewer

Choose your .tle file to analyze

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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TLE file format:

A file format defines how the data in the file is structured. The file format can be determined based on the file extension and the signature (the first few characters of a file). Nonetheless, different programs can utilize the same file extension to represent distinct file formats. Double-clicking on the file often results in an error when opening. When there is a problem with a file, the first step to solving it is to determine the file format. Our analysis of the TLE files produces the following result:

TLE is rarely used as a file extension and is used by many programs, each with its own file format. However, the following two file formats are common:

• 15% of all TLE files start with the magic bytes 31 20, which are always the first bytes of this file format. These files contain text and words, not binary data. A typical file size is 140 bytes.
• 8% of all TLE files use the same file format, which can be identified by the letters "TLE" at the beginning. The content consists of illegible binary data, which can only be read and interpreted by the associated programs. The files are often between 18 MB and 70 MB in size.

All the rest of the TLE files (77%) have different formats, the following 6 formats exist: Canyon, Content, ISS and Sat. These files are often connected to satellite, constellation, three, character, entity, export, labels, planet or pool. Just click the "Choose your .tle file to analyze" button on this page to find out what your TLE file is.