Who is this workflow for? This workflow automates the transmission of the International Space Station’s (ISS) real-time position to an MQTT topic every minute. By leveraging n8n’s automation capabilities, you can seamlessly integrate ISS tracking data into your applications or monitoring systems..

What does this workflow do?

  • Cron Node: The workflow initiates with the Cron node, which is configured to trigger the workflow every minute, ensuring timely updates of the ISS’s position.
  • HTTP Request Node: Once triggered, the HTTP Request node sends a GET request to the API endpoint https://api.wheretheiss.at/v1/satellites/25544/positions to retrieve the latest geographic coordinates of the ISS.
  • Set Node: The retrieved data is passed to the Set node, which filters and formats the information. This ensures that only the relevant position data is forwarded, maintaining a clean and efficient data flow.
  • MQTT Node: Finally, the MQTT node publishes the formatted ISS position data to a specified MQTT topic, such as iss-position. This allows subscribed clients to receive real-time updates effortlessly.

🤖 Why Use This Automation Workflow?

  • Real-Time Tracking: Receive up-to-the-minute location data of the ISS without manual intervention.
  • Integration Ready: Easily connect ISS position updates to various applications, dashboards, or IoT devices via MQTT.
  • Scalable Automation: Set it and forget it—this workflow ensures consistent data transmission without ongoing maintenance.

👨‍💻 Who is This Workflow For?

This workflow is ideal for developers, educators, hobbyists, or organizations interested in integrating space data into their projects. Whether you’re building a space monitoring dashboard, educational tools, or IoT applications that react to the ISS’s position, this workflow provides a reliable foundation.

🎯 Use Cases

  1. Space Monitoring Dashboards: Visualize the ISS’s current location on interactive maps or dashboards for educational or monitoring purposes.
  2. IoT Device Integration: Trigger actions on IoT devices based on the ISS’s proximity, such as activating lights or sending alerts.
  3. Educational Tools: Create interactive lessons or applications that teach users about satellite movements and orbital mechanics using real-time data.

TL;DR

This n8n workflow offers an efficient and automated solution to transmit the ISS’s real-time location to an MQTT topic every minute. By integrating this workflow, you can enhance your applications with up-to-date space tracking data, enabling innovative and interactive projects.

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