Hey space enthusiasts!

If you’ve been using KeepTrack.space over the past decade, you know it’s been my labor of love - a tool I’ve poured countless late nights into building and refining simply because I’m genuinely passionate about it.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce we’ve launched the KeepTrack Shop, featuring goodies like our limited Founders Edition hoodies, nerdy I 💙 Math tees you didn’t know you needed, and some awesome glassware adorned with satellites and radars!

But let me cut to the chase about something important: This isn’t about padding my wallet.

This is about sustainability

The shop isn’t funding my coffee addiction (I can do that without your help). Instead, every purchase directly supports real expenses: advancing our server infrastructure so we can keep offering those free API endpoints you rely on, providing these services to non-profits for free, and hopefully commissioning talented 3D modelers when my skills hit their limits.

Here’s the reality: this entire project currently hinges on my personal willingness to pay for servers each month. That’s not sustainable long-term. Going forward, Kruczek Labs will be responsible for ensuring KeepTrack is financially solvent (more on that below).

With your support, that means expanding our offerings and improving features like the upcoming launches we’ve been working on. Without that support, it means properly downsizing server costs so they’re no longer coming out of my personal bank account. I’d much rather see us grow than scale back.

A Weekend Sacrificed to Covariance Ellipsoids

Want a glimpse behind the curtain? This Saturday, while most people were enjoying their weekend, I was hunched over my keyboard wrestling with the math to model covariance ellipsoids for satellites.

If you’re wondering what those are - they’re basically uncertainty bubbles that show not just where we think a satellite is, but how confident we are about that position. Pretty cool, right? I’ve never seen that feature offered for free anywhere and wanted to be the first.

It was fascinating work that I genuinely enjoyed, but it also meant kissing my weekend goodbye. And that’s not even mentioning the hardware investments that made it possible in the first place.

The Unglamorous Side of Satellite Tracking

One of my biggest (and least exciting) investments was upgrading to a $4,000 workstation. This isn’t just for coding-it’s a specialized machine that handles everything from generating the high-resolution loading screens and building 3D satellite models to running massive debris simulations with over 1 million objects. The custom shaders we develop are extremely taxing on my graphics card, pushing it to its limits regularly before I optimize them for everyone else.

Sounds excessive? It might seem that way until you realize that compiling the code once used to eat up two full minutes of my life - now it takes under 15 seconds. When you’re compiling 50-100 times during a coding marathon Saturday, that’s the difference between making meaningful progress and wanting to throw your computer out the window.

This beast of a machine has also enabled some of our coolest features. Instead of shelling out hundreds monthly for AI services, I can run models locally - which is how we power those AI summaries and daily trivia bits without charging you a dime.

And don’t get me started on server costs. They’re already running a few hundred dollars monthly, and they’re climbing as we build out new satellite-by-satellite covariance matrices - data that simply doesn’t exist anywhere else.

What’s Coming Down the Pipeline

Thanks to your support, I’m excited to keep pushing KeepTrack further than ever. Here’s just a taste of what’s brewing:

• Satellite field-of-view cones that can track ground or space targets
• New launch simulations that need minimal input information
• More quick reports for both professional operators and curious hobbyists
• Additional 3D satellite models to make visualization even better
• Satellite weather features being added to the 3D app and Daily Space Brief - possibly even by tonight! (They should hit the main site next week)

For my fellow code nerds out there: I’m tackling something huge - separating KeepTrack’s code from the underlying engine.

Most users won’t notice this surgery happening behind the scenes, but long-term, this unlocks some game-changing possibilities:

• A completely revamped Astronomy Mode
• Intuitive new camera controls
• Better optimization that’ll support future growth

KeepTrack Is Evolving (In a Good Way)

As I mentioned earlier, there’s another significant update: KeepTrack is now officially under Kruczek Labs LLC - my wife Heather’s company. You’ll gradually see my name appearing less on the website.

Why the change?

Simple - I love building and coding, but money isn’t a motivator, which makes me a terrible negotiator.

Left to my own devices, I’d probably keep giving everything away forever, even as companies profit from my work without giving back. That’s precisely why Heather is taking over the financial decisions, licensing, and strategic planning - freeing me up to focus solely on building the best astrodynamics platform possible.

What isn’t changing:

• KeepTrack.space remains completely free for end users
• All code stays open source under AGPL
• The mission remains rock-solid: making orbital data accessible to everyone
• I will still be the primary contributor of code

How You Can Join the Mission

Grabbing a hoodie, t-shirt, or coffee mug isn’t about making me (or Kruczek Labs) rich. It’s about directly investing in KeepTrack’s future - helping cover the real costs of infrastructure, tools, and occasional outside help so we can keep growing without ever charging you for access.

If KeepTrack has added value to your work, studies, or space-gazing hobbies over the last decade, consider snagging some Founders Edition gear or showing off your inner nerd with an I 💙 Math shirt.

Every purchase helps keep this project sustainable.

Thank you so much for being part of this journey for the past decade. Here’s to nine more years of free, open astrodynamics for everyone.

All the best,

TK