Explore, Track, Predict the ISS in Realtime With Python

Bring the International Space Station Down to Your Laptop

This project-based course turns a live orbital tracking problem into a hands-on Python exercise. You will call a REST API to pull the ISS's real-time coordinates, plot its path on a world map, and log positions over time for later analysis.

Who it's for

Anyone comfortable with basic Python who wants a fun, visual way to practice working with APIs, mapping libraries, and simple data science techniques like linear and polynomial regression.

Key takeaways

• Fetch the ISS's current location and onboard astronaut names via a REST API
• Plot and log ISS positions for historical tracking
• Apply linear and polynomial regression to model movement
• Build and deploy a simple mobile-friendly web app to share the tracker

By the end, you will have a working real-time space tracker and a broader appreciation for how APIs and lightweight data science come together in a genuinely fun project.