# Sputnik! — ISS, Starlink & Satellites

> Satellite and ISS tracking with precise sighting predictions and sky path visualization. (iPhone/iPad app by Applicate Ltd.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sputnik/id393001070 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Applicate Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/299117183)
- Category: Utilities, Lifestyle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 731 App Store ratings · 241 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.0 · 35 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2010-10-07
- Data updated: 2026-08-19
- Monetization: ad-supported
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sputnik/id393001070/reviews.md

## What is Sputnik!?

Sputnik! is an easy to use tool for predicting when the International Space Station will pass by your location or when a bright satellite will be visible in the skies above.


Sputnik! features:

- Predictions of satellite and ISS sightings accurate to the second.
- Detection of Starlink satellite trains.
- Second by second countdown to the satellite sighting.
- Set reminders of upcoming satellite sightings.
- Displays compass direction and elevation for your device to easily find the part of the sky where the sighting will occur (requires capable device).
- Rotate your device to landscape orientation to show exactly where the satellite will pass in the night sky.
- Share sightings via Twitter, Facebook, Mail, Messages and others.
- Automatic download of up to date satellite orbital data.
- Offline calculations, no need to be connected to the internet once orbital data has been downloaded.
- Input your location automatically by GPS, select from a map or enter coordinates manually.
- Save your favorite places for easy access.
- Audio cues for the last seconds before the satellite passes by.


Sputnik! on Apple Watch:

- Easily find the next and last sighting at your current location.


* Sputnik! is ad-supported *

## Key features

- Accurate satellite and ISS sighting predictions
- Starlink satellite train detection
- Second-by-second countdowns
- Sighting reminders
- Compass direction and elevation display
- Night sky path visualization
- Offline calculations

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Go ad-free | $0.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Sputnik!?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Accurate satellite tracking
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 🔭 Supports tracking of various satellites (ISS, Hubble, Starlink)
- ⏰ Provides countdown and reminders for sightings

**Cons**

- 🐛 App not working/crashing for some users
- 🔍 Unclear information about satellite visibility (e.g. what 'enters Earth's shadow' means)
- 🔧 Difficulty updating satellite data
- 🙈 Dark mode text visibility issues

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App reporting 'No Sightings' for all categories
- Null check errors when selecting satellite sightings
- Issues with location settings and data updates

**Most requested features**

- Add support for more satellite types
- Improve sky chart visualization and orientation
- Provide filtering options (e.g. by elevation, magnitude)
- Implement automatic data updates

## Recent user reviews (10 of 241)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sputnik/id393001070/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Broken app

*2026-05-11, version 3.0.9*

I'm not sure how this app has high ratings and it used to be worthy of them. Somehow, even with a currently updated version, it will not download satellite data.

### 5/5 — It's Kept Up With Newer Satellite Technology

*2024-01-21, version 3.0.4*

For several years, I enjoyed using Satellite! to reliably predict the appearance of Iridium flares from the now non-existent Iridium satellites. After they disappeared I thought the app had outlived its usefulness. I was wrong.  I soon found that I could now use Satellite! to view the International Space Station, the Chinese Space Station Tiangong, the Hubble Telescope, and now even the newer Starlink Satellites with the same pinpoint accuracy!  It’s like Satellite! has reinvented itself!  Great app!!!

### 1/5 — Used to be great but has stopped working

*2023-11-10, version 3.0.4*

I used to use this quite often and it was really handy to have on my phone. 

Recently though the app has stopped working and just says “No Sightings” for all the categories. I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling to no avail the app now just seems to be broken/useless.

### 2/5 — Changing screens

*2023-10-01, version 3.0.4*

I get very frustrated that when I press to get details of sighting I get into that stupid trace line and can’t get out.

### 5/5 — Great free app for find ISS!

*2023-08-29, version 3.0.3*

I have had this out for years! Back when it tracked iridium flares. Now it tracks the ISS, Chinese station, and Hubble. I love this app. It shows the magnitudes and device orientation from your location. Although I do miss the iridium flares.

### 5/5 — Top quality app for your celestial viewing.

*2023-07-25, version 3.0.3*

This app provides the user with top quality viewing information .

### 1/5 — Was good, now refuses to update satellite data. Also, strange error message.

*2023-07-16, version 3.0.2*

This used to be one of my favorite ISS spotting apps. However, it now refuses to update the satellite data on iPads and iPhones alike, from iOS 12-16 and iPad OS 15-16. Going to Settings and tapping on Update does NOTHING. It continues to report Outdated. And, yes, WiFi is on and working. The Sputnik! app is the latest version. On an iPad 9, iOS 16.5.1(c), it alerts me: “Warning Satellite data has never been downloaded”, but does not load it automatically as it is supposed to — and used to. The Update button doesn't work there, either. On an iPhone SE, iOS 15.7.7, when I select any of the Satellite Sightings choices, it reports: “ERROR. Null check operator used on a null value”.

### 2/5 — The app stopped working on my iPhone. I did the update and it’s not working.

*2022-10-23, version 3.0.1*

Not working

### 4/5 — Good app

*2022-08-18, version 3.0.0*

This is a good app for finding satellites especially if you are at a place where there is no or very little light pollution.

### 4/5 — What’s “Enters Earth’s shadow” mean?

*2022-05-02, version 3.0.0*

This app needs more reference information. Are satellites visible when they ENTER Earth’s shadow? Or when they LEAVE Earth’s shadow?
Why would I want to look for a satellite that rises at 10° and then enters the shadow in a few seconds?
Following this app faithfully for two years, I have been able to see less than half of what is shown on the schedule. This “shadow” mystery might be the reason.

Also, the feature where you need to turn your device sideways or landscape to see the satellite path or hear a beeping countdown needs to be explained somewhere. 

Finally, the feature to show device orientation does not seem to correspond to the actual elevation. In the settings, it says to adjust the orientation by 90° if you are recording video, but not why, or what that means.

## Frequently asked questions about Sputnik!

### What does Sputnik! do?

Sputnik! is a tool that predicts when the International Space Station (ISS) will pass by your location or when a bright satellite will be visible. It provides accurate timing, direction, and elevation data for sightings, along with countdowns and reminders.

### What are the key features of Sputnik!?

Key features include accurate second-by-second predictions for satellite and ISS sightings, detection of Starlink satellite trains, customizable reminders, compass direction and elevation display, night sky path visualization, and offline calculation capabilities.

### How much does Sputnik! cost?

The application is ad-supported. While the description mentions in-app purchases, it does not specify what these are for or if they are required for full functionality. The core tracking features are available with ads.

### What devices is Sputnik! compatible with?

The app is available for mobile devices and also has a version for Apple Watch. Some features, like compass direction and elevation display, require a capable device.

### What are common use cases for Sputnik!?

Common use cases include planning to observe the ISS or bright satellites from your location, tracking Starlink satellite trains, and sharing interesting sightings with friends. It's ideal for amateur astronomers and space enthusiasts.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.0.9 — 2026-05-11

- Support new satellite data format.

### 3.0.8 — 2026-04-23

- Fixed an issue where satellite data was not downloading.

### 3.0.7 — 2025-09-17

- Fixed an issue where settings would be reset to default values on startup.

### 3.0.6 — 2025-09-16

- Updates for increased compatibility with newer devices.

### 3.0.5 — 2024-05-15

- Minor improvements behind the scenes.

## Apps similar to Sputnik!

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Satellite Tracker Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/satellite-tracker-pro/id1518484999) | 4.3 (65) | Free | Utilities |
| [Satellite Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/satellite-tracker/id1438679383) | 3.3 (12) | Free | Utilities |
| [SatCatcher-Dish Set & Pointing](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/satcatcher-dish-set-and-pointing/id1115972770) | 4.3 (78) | Free | Utilities |
| [Satellite Transponders](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/satellite-transponders/id488579989) | 4.3 (288) | Free | Utilities |
| [Iridium SatFinder](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iridium-satfinder/id1528250647) | 2.5 (6) | Free | Utilities |
| [Starlink Satellite Passes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starlink-satellite-passes/id1624264153) | 4.3 (170) | Free | Utilities |

## More apps by Applicate Ltd

- [Airports](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airports/id299117180)
- [Floppy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/floppy/id6736647574)
- [Himmel Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/himmel-reader/id6738376226)

All apps by Applicate Ltd: https://appshunter.io/developer/299117183

## Related topics

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-19.*