posted 06-13-2011 01:27 PM               

The Space Station Light

Human space flight is an awesome part of living in the future. But why does it still seem so abstract? There are people in space right now! Did you know that? Do you know how many there are?

ISS-Notify is a simple attempt at making our space program more real. Many times a day the international space station passes overhead unnoticed. Often it happens during the day when it's too bright to see the tiny dot in the sky. So this light will pulse and shine whenever the station is overhead -- making the invisible visible.

Simple, Fun, Educational

This started as a simple weekend project because I thought it would be cool. I finished it in only 4 days!

The response has been overwhelming. Everyone says "I want one"! I've heard from space geeks, teachers, NASA employees, and just about everyone in between.

I'm going to use the money I raise to design and build a nicer version. Then I'm going to make as many as I can and sell them to other people who want to be in the know when it comes to space.

Part of the funds will also go towards a website where I can sell them and host an API for anyone to use.

posted 06-13-2011 01:57 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by SpaceAholic:
Clever... activated via integrated algorithm or upon receipt of an ISS beacon?

---

The hard part was figuring out when the space station was going to be overhead. No matter what, I would need the internet because the orbit of the station changes unpredictably from time to time. Luckily, rather than having to do orbital calculations myself, there is a great website out there called Heavens Above that has all the predictions of satellite passes already worked out...