In this tutorial we will learn to track the in International Space Station's (ISS) GPS location to using Python and Ubidots. We'll be polling this service made possible by Nathan Bergey which will update Ubidots' cloud with the position of the ISS position in real-time. Then, with the raw position data provided, we'll explore how to measure distances and triangulate locations with Ubidots cloud software.
Send date to Ubidots' cloud and create a map on your Dashboard to track the International Space Station in real-time!
From your Computer's Terminal
Requests: HTTP for Humans
Requests is a popular Python library that simplifies making HTTP requests. To begin we will install the Python packages using pip:
$ pip install requests
Sending data to Ubidots for visualization
Create and run a Python script in your computer's terminal:
$ nano iss_tracking_ubidots.py
Then copy and paste the below code in your terminal; assigning your Ubidots TOKEN and location coordinates where indicated in the code. For more information, please see the Ubidots REST API Reference.
NOTE: This script is just tracking the ISS position and using a standard formula to calculate its distance to a specific point in earth. It doesn't reflect real sighting opportunities as this depends on more on weather and time variables than simply proximity (i.e. location relative to you).
import requests
import time
from math import *
TOKEN = 'xxxxxxxx' # Assign your Ubidots TOKEN
DEVICE_LABEL = 'iss' # Assign the device label desired
VARIABLE_LABEL = "distance"
BASE_URL = 'http://industrial.api.ubidots.com/api/v1.6/devices/'
# Assign your home coordinates
LAT_HOME = 42.361145
LNG_HOME = -71.057083
def get_iss_position():
# Get current ISS position
req_iss = requests.get('http://api.open-notify.org/iss-now.json')
dict = req_iss.json()
lat_lng = dict['iss_position']
# save the current ISS possition in new variables
lat_iss = float(lat_lng['latitude'])
lng_iss = float(lat_lng['longitude'])
return lat_iss, lng_iss
def deg2rad(deg):
return deg * (pi/180)
def getDistance(lat_iss, lng_iss, lat_home, lng_home):
R = 6371 # Radius of the earth in km
dLat = deg2rad(lat_home-lat_iss) # deg2rad below
dLng = deg2rad(lng_home-lng_iss)
a = sin(dLat/2) * sin(dLat/2) + cos(deg2rad(lat_iss)) * \
cos(deg2rad(lat_home)) * sin(dLng/2) * sin(dLng/2)
c = 2 * atan2(sqrt(a), sqrt(1-a))
d = R * c # Distance in km to Home
return d
def build_payload(variable_label, value, lat_iss, lng_iss):
# Build the payload to be sent
payload = {variable_label: value, "position": {
"value": 1, "context": {"lat": lat_iss, "lng": lng_iss}}}
return payload
def send_ubidots(device_label, payload):
# Make the HTTP request to Ubidots
url = "{0}{1}/?token={2}".format(BASE_URL, device_label, TOKEN)
status = 400
attempts = 0
while status >= 400 and attempts <= 5:
req = requests.post(url, json=payload)
status = req.status_code
attempts += 1
response = req.json()
return response
def main(device_label, variable_label, lat_home, lng_home):
# Get the current ISS position
lat_iss, lng_iss = get_iss_position()
# Caculate the distance in KM to Home
distance = getDistance(lat_iss, lng_iss, lat_home, lng_home)
distance = round(distance, 1)
# Build the payload to be sent
payload = build_payload(variable_label, distance, lat_iss, lng_iss)
# Send the HTTP request to Ubidots
response = send_ubidots(device_label, payload)
return response
if __name__ == '__main__':
while True:
try:
response = main(DEVICE_LABEL, VARIABLE_LABEL, LAT_HOME, LNG_HOME)
print("response json from server: \n{0}".format(response))
except:
pass
time.sleep(1)
Once the code has been completed with your Ubidots TOKEN and coordinates, press CONTROL + O and ENTER to save. To exit the Python editor, press CONTROL + X and return to the computer's terminal.
NOTE: This script is tracking the ISS position and using a standard formula to calculate its distance to a specific point on earth. This will not reflect real sighting opportunities as this depends on more than simply proximity (i.e. time of the day and weather).
Now back in the computer's terminal, let's run the script and confirm our work. Paste and run the below script in your computer's terminal.
python iss_tracking_ubidots.py
If successful, your terminal will immediate begin reporting server responses.
To visualize your work in Ubidots, go to the Device Management tab of your account and visualize the device created :)
