Need to add a historical satellite TLE

[Martin Lewicki]

It is Echo 2 from the 1960s. The Seesat group provide me with a TLE for an epoch in December 1966. I would like to add this TLE to Stellarium so I can run if for the date which I  photographed its trail across the sky back then. But Stellarium has no way to add the TLE. I looked a the Satellite plugging bu it only allows current TLE downloads.

Martin

[JAY RESPLER]

Put that TLE in a separate file.

 Check 'Add all new satellites on update'.

Update from local files choosing that file as source.

Echo will be added.

[Paul Gilmartin]

On 4/12/26 22:25, JAY RESPLER wrote:
> Put that TLE in a separate file.
>  Check 'Add all new satellites on update'.
> Update from local files choosing that file as source.
> Echo will be added.

>     ...
Is "local files" a menu item that I can't find?  But I have done the
equivalent with a file:// URL such as:
    file:///usr/local/share/satellites/visual.txt
    (directories that I created.)

--
gil

[JAY RESPLER]

Sorry, I didn't remember the exact words.

Open SATELLITE CONFIG

UNcheck 'update..from internet sources'

Check 'on update add all new sats from the selected sources'

Click button,  "Update from files"

Browse your computer, click to open the file containing the desired TLEs.

All new sats will be added to the database.

[Paul Gilmartin]

On 4/13/26 23:30, JAY RESPLER wrote:
> Sorry, I didn't remember the exact words.
>
> Open SATELLITE CONFIG
> UNcheck 'update..from internet sources'
> Check 'on update add all new sats from the selected sources'
> Click button,  "Update from files"

>     ...
I see no "Update from files"; I clock on "Update now", which
opens a File Manager window, right?

> Browse your computer, click to open the file containing the desired TLEs.
> All new sats will be added to the database.

>     ...
What if one wants a mixture of Internet and local files?

--
gil

[JAY RESPLER]

First do one. Then do the other, choosing the options you want for each.

[Paul Gilmartin]

On 4/14/26 12:02, JAY RESPLER wrote:
> First do one. Then do the other, choosing the options you want for each.

>     ...
How should I save this to make it permanent?

How should it appear in config.ini?  (Example?)

> On Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 1:46:18 PM UTC-4 Paul Gilmartin wrote:
>
> On 4/13/26 23:30, JAY RESPLER wrote:
> > Sorry, I didn't remember the exact words.
> >
> > Open SATELLITE CONFIG
> > UNcheck 'update..from internet sources'
> > Check 'on update add all new sats from the selected sources'
> > Click button,  "Update from files"
> >     ...
> I see no "Update from files"; I clock on "Update now", which
> opens a File Manager window, right?
> > Browse your computer, click to open the file containing the desired TLEs.
> > All new sats will be added to the database.
> >     ...
> What if one wants a mixture of Internet and local files?
>

--

Thanks,
gil