Automated Collection and Storage of International Space Station Trajectory Data
This workflow automates the collection and storage of trajectory data from the International Space Station. It periodically calls an API to obtain real-time information on latitude, longitude, and timestamps, efficiently storing this data in a TimescaleDB database to ensure its timeliness and accuracy. This solution addresses the inefficiencies of manual recording and is suitable for various scenarios such as aerospace research, educational demonstrations, and data analysis, providing reliable time-series data support for relevant personnel and enhancing the value of data applications.
Workflow Name
Automated Collection and Storage of International Space Station Trajectory Data
Key Features and Highlights
This workflow periodically calls the International Space Station (ISS) location API to obtain real-time latitude, longitude, and timestamp data of the space station, automatically storing the information into a TimescaleDB database. It achieves automated data acquisition and persistent storage. The highlights include an efficient scheduled triggering mechanism and streamlined data processing workflow, ensuring data is captured in real-time, accurately, and stored in a structured format for easy subsequent analysis and querying.
Core Problems Addressed
It solves the inefficiencies and error-prone nature of manually acquiring and recording ISS location information by implementing an automated process for continuous data retrieval and storage, significantly enhancing the timeliness and reliability of data collection.
Application Scenarios
- Real-time monitoring of space station trajectories by aerospace research institutions
- Educational demonstrations using ISS location data in academic settings
- Historical trajectory data analysis by data analysts
- Development of applications or services based on ISS location data by developers
Main Process Steps
- Scheduled Trigger (Cron): Automatically initiates the workflow every minute to ensure real-time data updates.
- API Request (HTTP Request): Sends requests to the open API at “wheretheiss.at” to fetch the current ISS location data at the given timestamp.
- Data Extraction and Formatting (Set): Extracts latitude, longitude, and timestamp from the API response and formats it into structured data.
- Data Storage (TimescaleDB): Writes the formatted data into a predefined TimescaleDB table, supporting efficient storage and querying of time-series data.
Involved Systems or Services
- wheretheiss.at API: Provides an open interface for real-time ISS trajectory data
- TimescaleDB: A PostgreSQL-based time-series database optimized for storing time-series data
- n8n Automation Platform: Facilitates automated orchestration of data collection, processing, and storage workflows
Target Users and Value
- Aerospace researchers and engineers for convenient tracking and analysis of ISS trajectory data
- Data scientists and analysts seeking quick access to reliable time-series data sources
- Educators providing authentic data to support teaching and demonstrations
- Automation developers using this as a reference case for API data collection and time-series database storage techniques
By leveraging automation, this workflow delivers a stable, efficient, and maintainable solution for ISS trajectory data acquisition, effectively reducing manual operation costs and enhancing the value of data applications.