High-Level Project Summary
We developed a website prototype that shows space debris and its trajectory in Earth orbit, taking real-time data from external sources.The website has been contructed with open source, has an easy interface, it shows the geographical position of the space debris, also, shows information in real time and lets see how the problem progresses, the website has an easy access to this information and shows some interesting information, the main target is create social conscience. It is very important to monitor space trash, because it occupies an area in the space and can cause collisions to satellites and could be prevented.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
What does it do exactly?
It is a web application that allows you to see in real time the space debris orbiting around the earth.
How does it work?
The space debris data are obtained from the API provided by www.space-track.org/. Specifically, the data used are "Period" and "Inclination" in order to locate them directly on the map.
The globe is part of the open source https://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/ site which allows us to have an intuitive navigation for any user.
What are the benefits?
It is a website that facilitates access for all people, the design is intended to be intuitive and simple, providing all the necessary information for people who visit it and want to generate interest in the problem.
What do you hope to achieve?
To have a user-friendly website, so that anyone can observe the situation of this problem in real time, to raise awareness of the repercussions that this type of problem can cause and to inform the population, since it is not a tangible problem or they are not aware of the issue.
That the site is able to generate statistics on space debris as an increase or decrease, as well as a reference point for future research.
What tools, coding languages, hardware or software did you use to develop your project?
The following were used:
- API´s
- web design
- Lenguaje de programación Python
- Google Colab
- Libraries for data analysis
- JavaScript programming language
- Files CSV
- Graphical interface
Improvments
It is neccesary to change the server to another that could support our graphic enviroment. Github server just support our html, css and some javascript programs. When we run the system in our machines as a server it runs correctly what does not happen in github servers.
Space Agency Data
The data collected by Space-Track was used to obtain the position and inclination of the space debris, these were processed using the Python language helping us to extract the data to obtain the desired information and then display them on the web page.
The data obtained from the API helped us to understand how geographic positions in space work, calculating necessary information such as the shape of the orbits, their size and location.
Hackathon Journey
How would you describe your Space Apps experience?
It is a great experience to work, to spend time, to meet and to create new things with people with different knowlegde areas and see the results that we can obtein, we figure out that doesn't matters if we live at the same country, school or degree, the main point is the commitment that each one has, to spend time to create and learn new perspectives to solve a problem and this motives to create a great ambient between us.
What did you learn?
We learned to solve a problem under pressure and with little time, ask for help when we couldn't find a solution by own, we understood that all areas of engineering we can be complemented, we only need interesting in common, share ideas and points of view to find a efficient solution.
Also we understood the importance of space debris and geolocation because this can avoid generate more space junk, each member of the team learn a lot about it and it motivated us to participate.
What inspired your team to choose this challenge?
The exponential increase of debris in Earth's orbit, the concern that at some point the orbit will be obstructed and prevent the delivery of new satellites or launches to continue researching space or that these will collide with a satellite or research vessel in operation.
To be able to get into space technical knowledge and to be able to join it with the previous knowledge of the team in each area.
What was your approach to developing this project?
To solve the project in small tasks, providing solutions and ideas, making use of our experience, using the resources that NASA provided us and conducting research on the topic.
How did your team solve the setbacks and challenges?
We requested a mentorship with an expert on the subject, we analyzed and refined the ideas that each member of the project contributed to obtain the desired result, maintaining constant communication between us and contributing ideas to solve the setbacks.
Is there anyone you would like to thank and why?
We would like to thank NASA for holding this type of event that allows us to challenge ourselves to learn and become more interested in the problems that the world faces and that worsen day by day, thus giving us the possibility to contribute our knowledge in the creation of new solutions.
We also want to thank Hackademy, Innovacción, Hackwomen and Somos Padawans for hosting the event, the good organization of the event and the continuous contact with the participants.
To all those people who share their knowledge through articles, videos and classes that allow us to generate interest and support in our tasks.
References
Planet: https://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/
Space debris Route:https://www.space-track.org/
Geographical position: https://www.space-track.org/documentation#sgp4
Library: https://github.com/shashwatak/satellite-js
General Information: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/cami/library/online_libraries/aerospace_medicine/tutorial/media/iii.4.1.4_describing_orbits.pdf
Tags
#NasaAppsChallenge #NASA #MappingSpaceTrash #DebrisFinders #RealTime #Python #SpaceTrash #Mapping #VirtualGlobe # SpaceApps #SpaceJunk #InnovaccionVirtual #SomosPadawans #Hackademy