Track the ISS on Your Phone!

Step 1: What Is the ISS?

The ISS stands for the international space station. The ISS serves as a microgravity laboratory. This means that tests can be conducted in 0g. The ISS is a low orbiting satellite that orbits at 330 & 435 km above Earth's surface. At certain times, the ISS can be seen by the naked eye.

Please visit: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station for more information on the ISS.

Sources: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station & https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/

Step 2: Go to the Website

In order to track the ISS on your phone or other device, you will need to visit
http://www.nasa.gov. After that, find the arrow in the top left corner and have it go down. Then click on the Follow NASA tab, then click the spot the station tab. After that, it will take you to another page.

Step 3: Getting Set Up

When you get to the new page, you will then have to sign up. I thought it was a pretty easy process. There was one thing I did find a bit tricky though. The button that lets you sign up for alerts was very small. For help I have put a picture above. The button is in the top left corner in the picture. You might want to enlarge the picture to see it. When you click on that button, you will go to another page. Same thing, just enter the info, very easy, very straightforward. You do have the choice of having it sent by text or email. They both work just fine. Choose whichever one suits you. Personally, I prefer receiving a text message.

Step 4: Receiving Alerts

Be on the lookout for your alert about the ISS to be sent to your phone. Don't just stand by your phone the whole day though. When I first signed up, I did exactly that and was disappointed. It was actually 3-4 days before I got my first message. You will get different amounts of messages each day. The other day, I got 3, but most days I get 0-1. The text message will tell you where to look at what time. If you don't get any alerts within 10 days, you might want to try to sign up again. It might have not gone through.

Step 5: Seeing the ISS

When you receive your text or email, read the info on it. At the time on the text, if it is still light out, go out and look for it. People in the city may have a more difficult time seeing it, depending on how much pollution is in the air. Telescopes or binoculars make the ISS more easy to see.

Step 6: Thank You!

This was my first Instructable that I have ever made. I had a lot of fun doing it, and I look forward to making more. I really hope that you enjoyed this Instructable, and I hope that you have some great sightings of the ISS. Please vote for this project in the Space contest! Thanks!