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Summary
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Turns out there’s an API to get the real-time location of the ISS, which is great for DIY tracking projects.
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An old Raspberry Pi and a 3D printed case display the latitude and longitude of the stations using the API.
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The code is available on GitHub and the 3D model of the case can be downloaded from MakerWorld.
One thing I learned while covering DIY projects is that there is an API for things you wouldn’t think there would be an API for. For example, did you know that Some train services have their own API. Can you connect your DIY projects and create your own output boards with notifications? I guess you don’t know which services have an API until you look for it.
On that note, I didn’t know there was an API to track the exact location of the International Space Station (ISS). But there is one, and you can use it to see where it is and translate it into an interesting project where you can track it at all times. For example, this interesting project uses an old Raspberry Pi 3 and a stylish 3D printed case that makes your DIY tracker look like it came straight from NASA labs.
This amazing Raspberry Pi project lets you keep your eyes on the ISS at all times
Plus, it looks fantastic.
On the Raspberry Pi subreddit, user fil1983 created a thread to show off their ISS tracker. It combines a 3D printed case, a display, a Raspberry Pi 3b, and an API to track the location of the space station and create something that would look good on anyone’s shelf. The device uses the API to calculate the latitude and longitude of the ISS and displays it on a 3D model of the world. It will also tell you your altitude, speed, and the general geographic area you are over.
Now I know what you’re thinking; What’s with the huge switch on the left? Well, it is both a novelty and an informative tool:
The toggle switch is mainly for added whimsy. I ordered a batch of these cast aluminum lever guards a while ago and decided they would be a perfect use for one. After adding a toggle switch, it seemed silly not to give it a function, so if you move the switch to the down position, the screen changes to show data about the humans currently in space. This data is provided from one of the free APIs used by the project.
If you want to make your own or just want to see how it was made, head over to the creator’s website for the full article. You can find all the codes and instructions in the ISS tracker GitHub pageand you can find the model for the 3D shell at Creator World.
