Earth-Operation

Real-Time ISS Tracking & NASA Deep Space Network Monitor

Backend:

• FastAPI (Python)
• Skyfield
• Static TLE data
• NASA DSN Now XML API

Position Calculation:

• Uses Skyfield’s EarthSatellite class
• Calculates the ISS’s real-time geocentric position
• Converts the position into a WGS84 ground subpoint
• Returns latitude, longitude, and altitude

DevLog #1:

• Served the frontend directly through FastAPI using FileResponse to keep the frontend and API under the same origin.
• Fixed routing issues that caused repeated 404 requests and occasional 500 Internal Server Errors.
• Refactored the orbital calculation logic using Skyfield’s EarthSatellite class for more reliable position calculations.
• Added a backend endpoint that fetches and parses NASA DSN Now XML data in real time.
• Extracted active antennas, tracked spacecraft, round-trip light time (RTLT), and data rates into a clean JSON API.