Satellite Position Tracking Automation

Target Audience

• Developers: Those looking to automate tasks using n8n and MQTT.
• IoT Enthusiasts: Individuals interested in tracking satellite data in real-time.
• Data Analysts: Professionals needing to collect and analyze satellite position data.
• Automation Engineers: Engineers aiming to integrate various systems for automated data flow.

Problem Solved

This workflow automates the process of fetching satellite position data from an API every minute, eliminating the need for manual data retrieval. It integrates this data into an MQTT broker, allowing for real-time data distribution and monitoring. This addresses the challenges of timely data collection and dissemination in tracking satellite movements.

Workflow Steps

1. Cron Trigger: The workflow starts with a Cron node set to trigger every minute, ensuring the process runs on a consistent schedule.
2. HTTP Request: It sends an HTTP GET request to https://api.wheretheiss.at/v1/satellites/25544/positions, retrieving the latest position data of the International Space Station (ISS).
3. Data Processing: The data is parsed using a Set node, extracting key information such as:
   • Name: The name of the satellite.
   • Latitude: The current latitude position.
   • Longitude: The current longitude position.
   • Timestamp: The exact time of the data retrieval.
4. MQTT Publishing: Finally, the extracted data is published to the MQTT topic iss-position, making it available for other applications or devices to consume.